Windstar Cruises: Wind Star

The Central Pacific's largest city, Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica. For years, it was the country's principal port, and though Puntarenas handles big cruise ships, a large fishing fleet still anchors in the estuary behind town. Being the country's most important fishing port, Puntarenas is the perfect place to enjoy fresh seafood. Though the water is murky, and the beach may seem a bit urban, it's a lively town on weekends, when people from San José fill its waterfront restaurants and bars. A series of open-air cafes that line the beach are the perfect place to head for dessert, or refreshments, since they specialize in ice cream and fresh fruit drinks.

Playa Flamingo lies on the pensinsula Nicoya, in the province of Guanacaste, in the northwest of Costa Rica. The whole region of Tamarindo has miles of white sand beaches. The town of Flamingo is rather small and quiet.

The port of Corinto port is considered one of the most important ports in Nicaragua because of the vast amounts of import and exports that travel through the port every day. Just outside the harbor one can find beautifully sandy, almost empty beaches which is a perfect place to catch up on some R & R. While in town, be sure to dine on locally caught fish.

San Juan Del Sur is the port of entry on the Pacific coast to Nicaragua, the largest republic of Central America. From here you can visit Granada, which lies at the foot of Mombacho Volcano on the northwestern shore of Lake Nicaragua. Founded in 1523 Granada was raided by pirates from the Caribbean many times in the 17th century and William Walker sacked and burned the city in 1857. Granada is typically Spanish in appearance and features many fine mansions and massive ornate churches.

The waters near Playa del Coco hold all sorts of delightful surprises. Whether your pleasure is snorkel, scuba, or simply sailing, the natural wonders of Playas Huevo, Blanca, and Nacazcolo, and the Bat and Catalinas Islands, are sure to delight.

A quiet beach some ten years ago mostly frequented by Ticos and campers, Playa Herradura was an unknown paradise. A superb black sand beach with aqua green waters and a palm tree lined shoreline; Playa Herradura is today a tourist hotspot on the Northern Puntarenas coast. Ideal for those who want to get away from the hustle of Jaco, this beach has bloomed into becoming a much traveled vacation destination.

Microclimates characterize Costa Rica, but in a nation of verdant rain forest, the region around Quepos, on Coronado Bay is one of the richest and most bio-diverse places on earth. Its unspoiled natural beauty has secretly drawn visitors for decades and a cottage tourism industry has arisen to accommodate city-dwellers seeking a glimpse of the planet's vanishing wilds. Try to visit the Mangroves, rainforest and Manuel Antonio National Park where you can se howler monkeys, two and three toed sloths, crocodiles and iguanas.

The Central Pacific's largest city, Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica. For years, it was the country's principal port, and though Puntarenas handles big cruise ships, a large fishing fleet still anchors in the estuary behind town. Being the country's most important fishing port, Puntarenas is the perfect place to enjoy fresh seafood. Though the water is murky, and the beach may seem a bit urban, it's a lively town on weekends, when people from San José fill its waterfront restaurants and bars. A series of open-air cafes that line the beach are the perfect place to head for dessert, or refreshments, since they specialize in ice cream and fresh fruit drinks.