Valle de Diquis
Palmar
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The small town of Palmar is a service center for the banana plantations of the Valle de Diquis and a major crossroads at the junction of the highways to/from Dominical and the Central Pacific coast (north), Golfito and the Osa Peninsula (south), and San Isidro and Valle de El General (east).
The town is divided into Palmar Norte and Palmar Sur by the RÃo Terraba. Palmar Norte is the main center, but there is nothing here of touristic appeal. Palmar Sur, southwest of the bridge over the river, displays pre-Columbian granite spheres in the plaza alongside a venerable steam locomotive that once hauled bananas.
Ciudad Cortés, seven kilometers north of Palmar, lies west of the highway and is a base for exploring the {node:26154 link Terraba-Sierpe Wetland Reserve].
Accommodations
Cabinas Ticos Alemán (tel. 506/786-6232, $14 s/d, $20 pp with a/c and TV), on the Pan-American Highway, has 25 basic but well-lit motel-style rooms with private bath; some with a/c, TV, and hot water (others have cold water only). It has secure parking.
Hotel y Cabinas Casa Amarilla (tel. 506/786-6251, $5 pp shared bath; $12 s, $18 d private bath) has 19 clean but basic rooms in an old wooden home, with shared bath and cold water only. The 16 slightly better rooms in a modern motel-style unit to the rear have private bath with cold water only. There’s a TV in the lounge.
Getting There
SANSA (tel. 506/257-9414, www.flysansa.com) and Nature Air (tel. 506/220-3054, www.natureair.com) both fly daily to Palmar.
Tracopa buses (tel. 506/222-2666) depart San José for Palmar from Calle 14, Avenidas 3/5, seven times daily (five hours, $5).
Buses for Sierpe leave from Supermercado Térraba in Palmar five times daily ($0.50).
There are three gas stations.
© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Costa Rica, 6th Edition
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