Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica)

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

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.