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The port's harbor is protected by breakwaters and has docking terminals. The best part about being in a place like Puntarenas cruise port is that volcanic beaches, lush jungles, and tall mountains surround you. That means if you’re visiting on a cruise, you’ll have lots of chances to swim, hike, or go climbing. While I don’t recommend staying here long, there are a few fun things to do and places to go for enjoyable day trips, especially if you’re coming from a cruise ship.
Costa Rica: Departure Ports
When you exit the cruise port you will see a rather nice crafts market that runs parallel to the beach directly to your left hand side. This is a great place to pick up your local souvenirs like coffee, flutes and work from the local artists. Taking the one hour drive south from Limon is worth it if you’d like to experience authentic Costa Rican living in this laid-back Caribbean-vibe coastal town. It has some of Costa Rica’s best beaches, nature and wildlife – something for everyone.
Costa Rica Travel Tips: Attractions, When to Go, Weather
Make sure to bring small bill and your beste negotiation skills. Puerto Limon is not the main reason cruise ships visit this port. It is simply the gateway to Costa Rica from the Caribbean side. From here you get to explore its wonderful capital city San Jose, visit the beautiful coffee plantations and enjoy its immens and diverse ecological wonders in the rain forest. Create the opportunity to get an encounter with the landscape and nature, because at this point Costa Rica is het “greenest” country in the world.
Port Exit
We visited Limón during a dry season, which means it doesn’t get pounded with rain every day. Instead, on this day it was simply quite cloudy and threatening. Zip line tours cost between $100 and $150 per person depending on the amount of time. A less expensive excursion to just a plantation and a canal ride cost $65 per person.
Puerto Limon (Costa Rica)
The official language is Spanish, but workers in the tourist industry will know some English. Visa and MaterCard are accepted in larger establishments, but smaller restaurants and venues may not have the ability to accept them. The currency might still be referred to as “pesos” or “canas.” U.S. dollars are accepted in most tourist establishments, but you may receive change in colones. Most of the residents have an Afro-Caribbean ancestry. It is hard to believe, but up until 1948, the Costa Rican government did not recognize anyone with Afro-Caribbean ancestry as citizens. Their movements were restricted and they were not allowed outside of the Limon province.
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly. The dryer months of December through April are the best times to cruise to Costa Rica. The best time to cruise to Costa Rica and Panama is during the dryer months of December through April.
Take a trip to San Jose
November is a transition month when rainfall averages five inches. The beach at Playa Jaco, one of the most popular locations in Costa Rica, lies closest to San Jose in the Central Valley. Playa Hermosa has family-friendly beaches and overlooks the Gulf of Papagayo. Cafes and restaurants may provide free wifi to customers.
This requires the ships to stay in Puerto Limon much longer than usual (~12 hours), so San Jose is usually visited from Puntarenas. If you are looking for just an easy day in town you can, but otherwise we recommend you to book a shore excursion or to take a taxi tour. Read all about the location of the Puerto Limon cruise port and your options for shore excursions and taxi prices underneath in the Puerto Limon cruise port guide. Then, you will visit a banana plantation, where you'll learn about the harvesting, processing, packing, and exportation of this fruit.
When we went, we parked at the official parking lot and took the shuttle, which cost $5. It’s the recommended way to get there, but lots of people just park along the road, take a taxi, or walk, which makes the entrance really busy and kind of chaotic. But if you’re exploring on your own, you can walk to the end of the pier, where there’s a security checkpoint. Once you leave the dock, you’ll be right in the middle of Puntarenas. If you’re on a cruise along the Pacific coast or taking a ferry to Nicoya Peninsula destinations such as Montezuma or Santa Teresa, you might end up here.
Markets will be setup along the beach on Paseo de los Turistas to the west from the end of the pier. The downtown area is at the end of the pier as well with shops and restaurants. An example Limón excursion from one operator cost $125 per person. It included a hike in Cahuita National Park, a visit to a banana plantation and a boat ride on the Tortuguero canal. We didn’t go there expecting great beaches or elaborate shopping districts unlike other major ports. Instead, the highlight of our visit was a ziplining excursion among tall trees and chattering monkeys.
They accept credit cards and many staff speak English. The popular dish seems to be rice and beans, which is served with a choice of protein including oxtail. If your ship is docked for the day, a trip to San Jose is three hours one way by bus. Buses might run only every three hours and bad roads and construction delays could cause you to miss your ship.
Most likely, if you are on a cruise and exit the cruise terminal there will be many people asking if you need a taxi. If you are traveling with a group of people and don’t plan on renting a car, a private shuttle is the way to go. You can all sit back and enjoy the Pacific coast scenery while a competent driver ensures you get to your destination safely. The city of Puntarenas is located in the Puntarenas Province (it’s confusing…I know) on the central Pacific coast of the country. Cruise visitors will disembark in one of two locations—Puntarenas itself or Puerto Caldera, which is about a 20-minute taxi ride from the town.
Prices per person depend on several factors, such as the length of your trip, the month you travel in and each line's included perks. Directly at the exit of the port at your left hand side you will see a line of restaurants. They all provide w-fi when you purchase a drink or lunch. This Costa Rican sauce has been on the market for more than 90 years and is eaten with most items, so you will see it on restaurant tables. It is similar to Worcestershire sauce and you can find a bottle at local grocery stores.
Puerto Limon is the primary/main seaport of Costa Rica's Limon Province. By population (around 60,000) the city is ranked the country's 7th-largest. Until 1948, Costa Rica didn't recognize Afro-Caribbeans as citizens, so their movement outside the province was restricted. Even the cold showers can feel hot during the day because of the warm water pipes in the shallow sand. And like many port towns, there’s some crime, especially in the rougher neighborhoods of the peninsula. If you find yourself at Puntarenas cruise port and looking for fun activities, it’s better to lower your expectations a little.
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If you are not looking for anything in particular the Paseo de los Turistas will suffice for food, beverage and other small items. Across from the dock perimeter there is a cruise ship terminal (Muelle de Cruceros) that has restrooms and phone stations. Complimentary shuttles will take you from the gangway to the main exit if you don’t want to walk it.
It’s better to think of Puerto Limón not as a cruise destination by itself because it isn’t as developed as other cruise ports in the western Caribbean. Instead, it’s a jumping off point for seeing Costa Rica’s famous ecotourism adventures and other tourist attractions. Costa Rica’s Puntarenas port is often visited on Panama Canal cruises and is perfect for eco-tourism. Cruise-goers land in Puntarenas or nearby Puerto Caldera. The best thing to do here is enjoy day tours to nearby towns or stroll the beach. You can get around with a rental car or by walking downtown.
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