Welcome to the Puerto Limon cruise port guide. Costa Rica offers several cruise ports. Most of them (Puntarenas and Puerto Caldera) are located on the Pacific / southern side of the country. Puerto Limon is the exception because it is located on the Caribbean / northern side of Costa Rica.

Puerto Limon, also simply known as Limon, is a large city in the province of Limon. Its population is just over 55.000 inhabitants. The town offers a few places of interest not far from the cruise dock.
Although Puerto Limon is not a renowned cruise destination, it is a place where can get a glimpse of daily life in Costa Rica.

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.

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.

Puerto Limon cruise port – fast facts:

– Cruise ships dock in the regular port of Puerto Limon.
– The centre of Puerto Limon is about 250 meters / yards from the cruise dock.
– Taxis are present at the port and prices are on display. See details underneath.
– US dollars are widely accepted.
– Puerto Limon offers a small cruise terminal with some facilities.

Puerto Limon cruise port: docked

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.

Limon’s cruise pier offers good facilities and a great welcome center. Walk off the cruise pier and you will be met by the shore excursion busses of your ship. They are found directly at the end of the pier.

From cruise port to city center

The Puerto Limon’s cruise dock is located about 250 yards/meters from the city center. It is an easy walk 5 minute walk from the cruise pier to the downtown area. There is a map displayed at the exit of the port which will show you the way to the city center. However it speaks for itself when you step outside of the port.

Taxi tours for cruise passengers at Puerto Limon

Behind your ship’s shore excursion busses you will see the taxis and a desk where you will find representatives of the Taxi Union. Taxi prices are on display at the taxi counter. Obviously these prices give you a good idea for what you should pay for a taxi tour. Know that you will still need to negotiate a price before you step into any vehicle.

Prices (per person in US dollars) as they are displayed at the cruise port are:
Playa Bonita – $ 10
All about Limon – $ 35
Tortuguero Canal – Banana Plantation and city tour – $ 55
Coastal Highlights and Puerto Limon city tour – $ 35
Cahuita National Park Beach – $ 40
Historical Jungle Train – $ 35
Sloths Sanctuary – $ 30
Canopy – $35
Aerial Tram Rain Forest – $ 40
Veragua Rain Forest – $ 40
San Jose City Tour – $ 55
Horse Back Riding – $ 30
Pineapple plantation – $ 35
Volcan Irazu – $ 80
Rafting – $ 45
Coffee Plantation – $ 35
Prices above about are stated in US Dollars.
All prices apply per person, not per taxi. Please know the tours only provide transportation and no admission fees or other services are included in the price. Make sure to ask your taxi drivers about additional fees for visiting the places on your tour and check with him if you can pay in US dollars. Remember, prices are subject to change. Directly next to the desk you will find the taxis waiting there for you.

The list above as published by the taxi union is also a great inspiration of what to see and do while your ship is in port. As you can see there are a lot of options in the area.

Official taxis in Puerto Limon are red, with a yellow triangle and taxi sign on top.
Aside from the regular taxis there are also many taxi vans waiting for you here. These vans are white.

Puerto Limon Cruise terminal

When you stepped off the gangway, passed the shore excursion busses and taxi stand you will be going into the cruise terminal of Puerto Limon. This is where you will find a wonderful craft and souvenir market. There are all kinds of handcrafts and local specialties offered here like oxcarts, baskets, ceramics and lots of clothing. It is expected you will negotiate and please know prices often drop during the day. So coming back to the ship will save you cash and a lot of hustle with carrying the souvenirs around all over town. Most vendors take US dollars. 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.

Port Exit

At the port exit you will be met by more taxi drivers willing to sell you their tours. Once you have passed these drivers you will be in the downtown area of Puerto Limon. Right before you step out of the port gates you will see a map displayed with 2 recommended city walks. Take a photo and navigate yourself around town and see the 18 attractions Puerto Limon has to offer. Perhaps the best highlight in town would be the Vargas Park. This park is located directly to the right hand side as you exit the port. It is a nice public park with playgrounds, historical statues and there is even some wildlife to be found here like a sloth and owls. Other places of interest that Puerto Limon has to offer within walking distance are: Monument to Balvanero Vargas Molina Quiribri island Port Authority The Puerto Limon Cathedral Municipal Palace The Baptist missionary House Monument to Pablo Presbere Pension Costa Rica Black Star Line Post office and Telegraph building City Market Juan Goban Soccer Stadium The Culture House Tomas Guardia Gutierrez Schol Hotel Cariari Breakwater Big Boy Baseball stadium

Beaches closest to Puerto Limon cruise port

There are no beaches within walking distance of the Puerto Limon cruise port. The closest beach available would be Playa Bonita which is about a 15 to 20 minute drive from the port. If you want you can take a taxi to Playa Bonita for 10 US dollar per person.

US dollars are accepted

The official currency of Costa Rica is the Costa Rican colon (CRC), but US dollars are widely accepted in this port of call.

Shopping in port

Like any port in the Caribbean you will find that the Puerto Limon cruise port is filled with souvenir shops in abundance. You will not miss out on your souvenir shopping in this port. However if you are looking to skip the souvenir shopping and do more local shopping than you would probably like to know that Puerto Limon has a great local market about 5 to 10 minutes walk from the port in the city centre.
There is a large variety of shops from local produce, clothing, electronics etc.

Puerto Limon cruise port

Puerto Limon cruise port – fast facts:

Also visit our cruise port guides for:

Puerto Limon cruise port: docked

From cruise port to city center

Taxi tours for cruise passengers at Puerto Limon

Puerto Limon Cruise terminal

Port Exit

Beaches closest to Puerto Limon cruise port

US dollars are accepted

Shopping in port

Find your port of call:

For cruise passengers

General

Business