Puerto Limón Cruise Port
Puerto Limón, Costa Rica · Caribbean
Cruise ships dock at Cruceros Limón — JAPDEVA Cruise Berth, Puerto Limón.
Cruise dock is in the city centre — Parque Vargas and the market are a 10-min walk from the gangway.
At a glance
Port summary
Puerto Limón is JAPDEVA's main cruise berth, walkable to the colonial centre and a launch point for Cahuita, Veragua Rainforest and Tortuguero canal trips.
Cruise dock
🚢 Cruceros Limón — JAPDEVA Cruise Berth
Single alongside cruise berth in central Limón at Avenida 1, run by JAPDEVA. Step-free gangway leads to a small terminal building, taxi rank and tour-operator stalls; 10-min walk to Parque Vargas and the market.
📍 Latitude: 9.991783, Longitude: -83.024834
See dock on port map →Getting to Puerto Limón
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Cruise berth is in central Limón. Parque Vargas, market and the seafront are 10-min walk from the gangway. Stick to the centre during daylight.
📍 Step out of the JAPDEVA gate onto Avenida 2 — Parque Vargas is 5 blocks east.
Costa Rican red taxis have meters but most quote a flat USD fare for cruise visitors; agree the price before getting in. Cards possible if asked first.
📍 Red taxi rank with yellow triangle just outside the JAPDEVA terminal gate.
Cruise lines run paid shuttles to Cahuita, Veragua and the Banana plantation on cruise days. Convenient when an organised excursion isn't running.
📍 Cruise line shuttle desk inside the JAPDEVA terminal.
MEPE buses run hourly to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo (1-2 hr) and Sixaola border. Cheap but not aligned with cruise schedules — plan with a return-buffer.
📍 MEPE bus terminal on Avenida 4, 8-min walk south of the cruise terminal.
Uber operates in Costa Rica but legality is contested; pickups at the cruise terminal are blocked by the local taxi union. Walk out of the gate first.
📍 Walk one block out of the JAPDEVA gate onto Avenida 1 to request a pickup.
Driving is on the right but Costa Rican rural roads are narrow and rough; not recommended for first-time cruise calls. Mandatory liability insurance pushes the price up.
📍 Rental desks downtown Limón; pre-book with hotel or terminal delivery.
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Carry small USD bills for taxis and tours plus some CRC for the market and buses; cards work in restaurants and big operators.
Things to do
Limón Malecón Sea Wall
Short stop🚶 Walk
Curving concrete sea wall on the Caribbean — pelicans, fishing boats, Isla Uvita on horizon.
🕐 Late afternoon when the sun drops behind the centre
Parque Vargas
Short stop🚶 Walk
Limón's leafy seafront park with three-toed sloths in the trees and a 1923 wrought-iron bandstand.
🕐 Mid-morning when sloths are easiest to spot in the cecropia trees
Playa Cocles
🏖️ Beach
Long palm-backed surf beach 2 km south of Puerto Viejo — bars, surf schools, turtles.
🕐 Mornings before afternoon rain
Playa Bonita
🏖️ Beach
Half-moon Caribbean beach 4 km north of Limón — moderate surf, palm shade and weekend food shacks.
🕐 Morning before the afternoon thunderstorms
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
🏖️ Beach
Caribbean reggae village with palm-fringed beaches, Rastafarian flavour and dive shops.
🕐 Cruise calls 10+ hours; mornings
Mercado Municipal de Limón
Short stop🛒 Market
Local market for hot sauce, coconut sweets and Caribbean street food — best at lunchtime.
🕐 11:00-13:00 for the food stalls
Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure
🎯 Activity
Eco-park with aerial tram, zipline, frog garden and butterfly house — easy rainforest.
🕐 Whole-day cruise excursion
Tortuguero Canals Boat Tour
🎯 Activity
Half-day boat trip through Tortuguero's rainforest channels — caiman, otters, monkeys.
🕐 Full-day cruise excursion only
Isla Uvita Viewpoint
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
Tiny island offshore — Columbus's 1502 landfall; best from the malecón end.
🕐 Mid-morning for sun on the island
Cahuita National Park Coastal Trail
🌿 Nature
7-km coastal rainforest trail in Cahuita NP — sloths, capuchins, howlers and reef.
🕐 Mornings before midday rain
Veragua Hummingbird & Frog Garden
Short stop🌿 Nature
Indoor terrariums and an open-air hummingbird garden inside Veragua — easy rainforest experience.
🕐 Included in Veragua day visits
Pacuare River Whitewater Rafting
sport
18-km Class II-IV whitewater run on the Pacuare — Costa Rica's headline rafting river.
🕐 Cruise calls 10+ hours; mornings before afternoon rain
Build your perfect day in Puerto Limón
Tell us how long you have, who you're with, and what you enjoy — our AI will create a personalised itinerary just for you.
Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Puerto Limón?
- Your ship docks directly at the Puerto Limón cruise terminal in Costa Rica.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Puerto Limón?
- Yes. Puerto Limón is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Puerto Limón centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Taxi, Shuttle bus, Local bus, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Puerto Limón?
- Plan for at least 5 hours ashore to see Puerto Limón independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Puerto Limón and are cards accepted?
- Puerto Limón uses the Costa Rican Colón. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Puerto Limón cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
Have something to share about Puerto Limón Cruise Port?
Share a photo, suggest a thing to do, drop a map link, or tell us what you did in port.
Add a contributionAdmin reviews every contribution before it goes live.