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The history and location of the province of Limon has brought a mix of cultures – indigenous, African, Spanish, Dutch – which has created a unique and varied cuisine in the area. Local fruits and vegetables, seafood and other meats are readily available and are often combined with coconut milk and fragrant spices. 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. There had been a license plate based driving restriction that was making it difficult to find an Uber in Costa Rica. That restriction was lifted in April 2022 and eventually it will become a standard mode of transportation for tourists, but at the moment that is not the case.
Top Sights & Attractions for Cruises to Puerto Limón
The city is fairly small, so you can walk through most of the interesting areas, but as always, it is best to stay on the beaten path and not stray from public places. There is a three block walk along the seawall that connects the port with the north part of the city. 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. The Cordillera de Talamanca (Talamanca Mountain Range) is thought to be the most unexplored area in all of Costa Rica. The rainforests in this area of Costa Rica are some of the most lush, dense forests anywhere on the planet.
Where You Dock in Limon – Costa Rica
Make sure to bring small bill and your beste negotiation skills. When you exit the market you will step into the AC part of the cruise terminal where you will find free wi-fi and some information stands that are often not open for business unfortunately. The port often doesn’t hand out any tourist maps or other sort of information although you will find there are lost of locals around which are more than happy to help you find your way. Cruise ships visiting Puerto Limon in Costa are able to dock in this port of call. Limon’s port offers a separate pier for cruise ships and is fully equipped with a cruise terminal, taxi stand and souvenir market. The rest of the port is all dedicated to the export of Costa Rican products which is mainly coffee from the central valley.
Top 10 Cruises to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
In Puerto Limón, there aren’t that many options for places to stay. To be honest, most people visit for the day from their cruise. However, if you are planning on spending a few nights in Puerto Limón, you can find an ideal place to stay. The cheapest way to get there will be to take the public bus from San Jose. The quickest way to get to Puerto Limón is to fly, as Limón is home to one of the four airports in the country. You can fly directly from locations outside of Costa Rica or take a short flight from San Jose to Puerto Limón.
Costa Rica Unveils Plans for New Cruise Terminal - Cruise Hive
Costa Rica Unveils Plans for New Cruise Terminal.
Posted: Tue, 21 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Check out this tour for an all-day whitewater rafting adventure priced at $132 USD. You will travel over 18 miles of river, and transportation from Limón is included in the package. This tour will provide transportation both ways to and from Port Limón. It also includes a guide that will be able to point out the amazing animals that live along the riverfront. Tours start at only $107 USD and start running early in the morning until late. The park was set up in 1971 to protect the rare wildlife here which includes the Green Turtle and the best way to travel these canals is to take an open-air boat tour.
It is definitely worth taking the short (three-mile) trip to Moin where you can hire a boat along the Tortuguero Canals. The journey takes three hours each way, which leaves little time there, and traffic jams could delay you and cause you to miss the ship. Even the one-hour Cahuita journey is a risk as the buses only run every two or three hours. The same applies if you hire a car from the desk in the terminal -- the roads are just not that good in Costa Rica and traffic delays are a constant problem.
Puerto Limon Shore Excursions
If you want to get up close and personal with the rainforest surrounding the Tortuguero Canal, take a zipline and canopy tour! A trip to Costa Rica is not complete until you are soaring through the canopy of the rainforest, and Tortuguero Canal is one of the most beautiful places to experience it. Exploring Cahuita is done by walking the 5-mile (8-kilometer) hiking trail (one way) through the park. Visitors can walk as far as they want before turning around. Along the trail, there are stunning beaches to explore as well as lots of wildlife.
These beaches are located near the town of Puerto Viejo, which is about a 1-hour drive from Limón. Puerto Viejo is known for its laid-back atmosphere, vibrant Caribbean culture, and stunning beaches. Playa Cocles and Playa Chiquita are great spots for surfing and relaxing. Located approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) north of Puerto Limón, Playa Bonita is known for its dark sand, rocky shores, and coral reef, making it ideal for snorkeling. Its economy was for a long time very prosperous thanks to the cultivation of coffee. Now, ecotourism is the main economic activity of the country.
Puerto Limon Cruise Reviews
Just offshore are located two small-sized islands - Isla de Pajaros, and Isla Uvita. Due to the hilly nature travel times will take longer than you would expect. The city’s main attraction is the waterfront Parque Vargas, an incongruous expanse of bench-lined sidewalks beneath a lost little jungle of tall palms and tropical flowers.
Spot monkeys in the trees, snakes, and lots of rare birds of Costa Rica. Then head to the biological exhibit for a glimpse of the wildlife researchers as they study the creatures and vegetation that inhabit this land. Cruises to Puerto Limon dock right by the city center, and the port is close to multiple forms of public and private transportation.
Small restaurants referred to as soda offer traditional meals reminiscent of what you’d find served in someone’s home. The meal served at sodas is called a casado and generally includes beans, meat, rice, and salad. Fish is typically fried or grilled with different herbs and vegetables. The typical rice and beans is “Limonified” with the addition of coconut milk, thyme and peppers and is often served with fried plantains and chicken.
We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past. This is a great choice for a few hours tour that includes pick up and drop off at Port Limón. Personally, it is one of my absolute favorite things to do in Limon. If you want true Costa Rican food, there are many small restaurants called “sodas” are located on almost every block in Limón.
They also work to conserve the rainforest that is the sloth’s natural habitat. If these gentle creatures tug on your heartstrings, you can adopt one virtually. They have tours are from 8am until 2pm daily, except Mondays. Here’s an aerial 360 degree view of the port and town (use your mouse or fingers to turn) taken from within Vargas de Limon Park, located next to the cruise terminal.
A temporary open-air welcome stand, with a list of taxi fares and other tourist information, is set up right by the pier where your ship is docked. Another 100 yards on there is a small group of individually-covered craft and souvenir market stalls right outside a distinctive green terminal building. Walk through this -- past a bizarrely-sited beauty salon with its own pedicurist and chiropractor working in full view -- and out the back door, and you'll find yourself in Limon straightaway.
This tour is a great combination adventure of both the Tortuguero Canals river cruise and zip line tour. You will see animals in the rainforest and the water as well as get a great introduction to the area. If you have your own transportation and can meet the guide at the entrance, this tour is an excellent walking tour of the park. Cahuita National Park is located just south of Cahuita town around 45 minutes south of Puerto Limón. The park is open every day from 8 am to 4 and the park asks for a $5 USD entrance donation (cash only) per person to keep the park beautiful and preserved. Puerto Limon's shopping experience is as laidback as its beachy mood.
You’ll find shopping in Puerto Limon cruise port not far from the pier. For a variety of shops in one area, head to Plaza Puerto Limon, a shopping mall in the downtown area of the city. The rainforest is one of the biggest draws of a cruise to Puerto Limon, and you have many options for how to explore it while in port. Take a river cruise with a naturalist who can explain the environment you’re seeing in depth. Embark on an open-air tram and go for a ride above the rainforest canopy for a bird’s-eye view of the trees. You can also glide above the canopy on a ziplining adventure.
