Experience Pura Vida: Explore the Wonders of Costa Rica on a Memorable Cruise

Sponsored by Costa Rica

With lush, volcanic landscapes ripe for adventure, tropical rainforests rich in wildlife, and vibrant cities alive with indigenous and Latin culture, Costa Rica is the perfect destination for cruise visitors to share in the locals’ mantra of passion and positivity, or Pura Vida.

Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, abundant biodiversity, dreamy climate and dazzling beaches, it’s no surprise Costa Rica is one of the hottest cruise destinations in the world today, offering an exciting addition to sailing itineraries of the Caribbean Sea and Panama Canal, and ensuring its growth in popularity aligns with the responsible tourism goals the country holds dear.

Explore Costa Rica’s Cruise Ports

Port: Limón

Location: Caribbean Coast

Costa Rica’s main cruise port on the Caribbean Sea, Limón is the gateway to rainforest zip-lining adventures, chocolate and coffee plantation tours, the beautiful beaches of Cahuita National Park and wildlife watching in Tortuguero National Park.

Facilities: With a fully equipped cruise terminal, customs services, and passenger amenities including taxis, tour desks and a large souvenir market selling local arts and crafts, it’s just a five-minute stroll from the ship to downtown Limón or the tranquil Balvanero Vargas Park.

Capacity: The port’s dedicated cruise pier simultaneously welcomes several mid-sized to large vessels, including Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas and P&O Cruises’ Aurora.

Port: Puntarenas

Location: Pacific Coast

The Malecón, a pedestrian waterfront boulevard lined with local restaurants and boutiques, greets guests disembarking at Costa Rica’s Pacific port of Puntarenas in the Gulf of Nicoya. Lying 60 miles west of the dynamic capital, San José, visitors can join a tour to visit the city, explore Monteverde Cloud Forest, or take a boat to Isla San Lucas.

Facilities: This modern cruise terminal offers customs services and passenger amenities including WiFi, shops and a craft market on the black-sand beach.

Capacity: Puntarenas has a long pier with room for several mid-sized to large cruise ships. Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess and Celebrity Summit are both visitors.

Port: Caldera

Location: Pacific Coast

Costa Rica’s largest port lies on the Gulf of Nicoya, around 10 miles to the southeast of Puntarenas, and is perfectly positioned for visitors to enjoy excursions to many of the country’s top attractions, including the capital, San José, Carara National Park and Poás Volcano National Park.

Facilities: Caldera’s cruise terminal has tour desks, local shops, taxis and a shuttle bus to take passengers to the town of Puntarenas, where they can explore the sights of downtown, the market and the beach.

Capacity: This popular port is well-equipped to host mid-sized and large cruise ships, including Viking Neptune, Seabourn Quest, Crystal Serenity and Holland America’s MS Eurodam.

Costa Rica Has Been Investing Heavily in Infrastructure

With two long stretches of coastline to the east and west, cruise ports are hugely important to Costa Rica’s tourism industry. International tourist arrivals by sea are returning to pre-pandemic levels, and Costa Rica welcomed 298,855 international cruise passengers to its tropical shores between August 2023 and July 2024.

The country has been investing heavily in transport infrastructure, improving ports, highways, train routes and airports, and modernizing cruise terminal facilities to welcome overseas guests and allow easier access to the country’s beautiful cities, beaches and natural wonders. And with sustainability high on the country’s agenda, care has been taken to ensure Costa Rica’s precious ecosystems survive and thrive in the process.

Holiday For the Young At Heart

While most of Costa Rica’s cruise visitors arrive from the USA and Canada, recent years have seen more passengers visiting from Europe and other parts of the world. The majority are between 50 to 70 years of age, and include affluent retirees and adventurous travelers, who come to enjoy the country’s fantastic food, fascinating indigenous culture, wonderful wildlife, sun-drenched sands, wellness offerings and impressive historic landmarks.

From the country’s well-positioned cruise terminals on its Caribbean and Pacific coasts, visitors can easily access a range of eco-tourism, adventure, cultural and culinary experiences, before heading back to port.