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Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica)

Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news

Rating:
Puntarenas cruise port

Region
Hawaii - Mexico - Panama Canal

Local Time
2024-11-24 11:29

min: 72 °F (22 °C) / max: 84 °F (29 °C) 83°F
28.2°C
Wind: 353°/ 3.1 m/s Gust: 5.3 m/sWind: 353°/ 3.1 m/s Gust: 5.3 m/sLight breeze
3.1 m/s
Min / Max Temperature84 °F / 29 °C
72 °F / 23 °C
  Port Map

Port Puntarenas cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Puntarenas, Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

DayShipArrivalDeparture
2 March, 2026
Monday
Windstar Cruises Cruises cruise lineStar Pride06:0018:00
5 March, 2026
Thursday
Princess Cruises Cruises cruise lineIsland Princess07:0019:00
9 March, 2026
Monday
Lindblad Expeditions Cruises cruise lineNational Geographic Quest
14 March, 2026
Saturday
Lindblad Expeditions Cruises cruise lineNational Geographic Quest01 Jan, 02:00
18 March, 2026
Wednesday
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises cruise lineNorwegian Jade07:0017:00
28 March, 2026
Saturday
Virgin Voyages Cruises cruise lineBrilliant Lady09:0018:00

Puerto Caldera is the cruise port to Puntarenas - a major city and gateway to Costa Rica's Pacific Ocean coast. Puerto Caldera and Puntarenas both serve as cruise ports for San Jose City (Costa Rica's capital). Juan Santamaria Airport (San Jose) is located approx 85 km (50 mi) to the east from the cruise port (in Alajuela).

Puntarenas is on a long and narrow peninsula in Gulf of Nicoya. It was the country's main seaport for years but now is mainly used by cruise ships. Puntarenas City has approx 34 km2 (13 mi2) land area and population around 35,000.

Port Puntarenas has locode CRPAS. Puerto Caldera has locode CRPTC. As a cruise shore excursion option from Puntarenas are offered bus tours to the capital city of San Jose (road distance is ~90 km / 50 mi to the east) as well as boat tours to Isla San Lucas National Park (on the San Lucas Island in Nicoya Gulf/opposite to the cruise port). San Lucas Island is a former penal island (being a prison between 1873-1991) housing Costa Rica's worst criminals. In 2002, Isla San Lucas was designated "Wildlife Refuge" and since 2020 is "Parque Nacional"/National Park. All buildings on the island (dock, church, infirmary, prison cells, 3-story office, water facilities, cemetery) are now cultural heritage sites. Isla San Lucas' wildlife includes howler monkeys, deer, pheasants, snakes, spiders, bats. Marine life in the surrounding waters includes sharks, rays, turtles.

The coast features a city beach lined with bars and restaurants (although its water is a little murky). The region has numerous National Parks or protected nature reserves. Inland Monteverde is famous for its cloud forest and two reserves (Santa Elena Rain Forest and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve). Approx 30 km (20 mi) south of Puerto Caldera are located two forest reserves, best known for their diverse populations of birds - Carara Biological Reserve and the preserve encompassing the islands Negritos, Los Pajaros and Guayabo.

Puntarenas cruise terminal

Cruise ships to Puntarenas usually dock at port Puerto Caldera - Costa Rica's largest seaport, also ranked the country's most important cargo port. The port's harbor is protected by breakwaters and has docking terminals.

The distance between Puntarenas and Puerto Caldera is 28 km / 17 mi (northwest of the port). From the cruise port Caldera to Orotina City is 26 km / 16 mi (east of the port).

There is a regularly scheduled daily service by passenger ferries, linking Puerto Caldera with Puntarenas and Nicoya.

Puntarenas tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

From both cruise ports (Puntarenas and Puerto Caldera) are offered as shore excursions bus tours to San Jose - Costa Rica's capital city. Another popular tour destination is the Arenal Volcano - located approx 90 km (56 ml) northwest of San Jose. Tours to Monteverde are also often offered from the Puntarenas cruise port.

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