Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica)

Puerto Caldera and Puntarenas are two distinct cruise ports in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province. Cruise ships can call at either Puerto Caldera or Puntarenas, depending on the itinerary and scheduling. They are separate ports about 20-30 km (12-17 mi) apart.

Puntarenas is the 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 approx 85 km (50 mi) east of the cruise port (in Alajuela).

Puntarenas is on a long and narrow peninsula in the 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, bus tours to the capital city of San Jose (road distance is ~90 km / 50 mi to the east) are offered. Boat tours from Puntarenas to Isla San Lucas National Park (on the San Lucas Island in Nicoya Gulf/opposite to the cruise port) are also available.

San Lucas Island is a former penal island (being a prison between 1873 and 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, and cemetery) are now cultural heritage sites. Isla San Lucas' wildlife includes howler monkeys, deer, pheasants, snakes, spiders, and bats. Marine life in the surrounding waters includes sharks, rays, and 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.