Costa Rica Festivals – Puntarenas Carnival (Carnivales de Puntarenas)

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Annually, thousands of tourist and visitors from around the country of Costa Rica flock in the coastal town of Puntarenas, as wild pachanga music and Latin beats fills the air every February for the 11 days Puntarenas Carnival.

• First day of the event is the choosing and crowning of the carnival queen that takes place in the Plaza Pacífico, the traditional coronation dance followed and the firework displays in the evening.

• You would not want to miss the parade of comparsas (street dancers) and the colorful mascaradas (giants with smiling painted heads). Other events include cultural activities such as art exhibitions and fishing tournaments sprouting up throughout the week.

• And on the final weekend, the real party happens, starting from the Balneario Municipal through the Paseo de los Turistas people start filing as the floor sweating concert begins.

• Visitors must book a hotel in advance as Puntarenas gets crowded yearly during this event.