The Best Places to Eat, Explore & Stay in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica

Discovering Puerto Caldera: Your Costa Rican Cruise Port Guide

 

A cruise to Costa Rica is your guaranteed fast track to pura vida—the country’s famed philosophy that embraces a relaxed outlook and love for life’s pure and simple pleasures. Just for starters, Costa Rica delights travelers with its profusion of palm-fringed beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and fresh Tico cuisine.

 

But embracing the pura vida lifestyle at its best often comes down to details and a thorough understanding of what to expect in your cruise port before you embark on your ship and after your voyage has concluded.

 

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has been bringing adventurous travelers to the region for three decades. While sailing our luxury, small-ship adventure cruises in Costa Rica, we have garnered everything you need to know about Puerto Caldera, the country’s main port on the Pacific.

 

Below is an essential cruise port guide to help make the most of your time in Puerto Caldera, including what to do, what to see, where to eat and where to stay so you can keep that pura vida vibe going from sunup to sundown.

 

What to Know About Puerto Caldera Before or After Your Cruise

 

Located in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province, Puerto Caldera’s prime setting along the Pacific makes it an ideal hub for cruise ships bound for or returning from coastal gems such as Corcovado National Park and Papagayo Peninsula. A number of Costa Rica cruises that begin or end in Puerto Caldera also include a transit of the historic Panama Canal.

 

Puerto Caldera’s proximity to Costa Rica’s capital of San José and the closest major airport, Juan Santamaría International (roughly an hour’s drive away), also benefits cruisers, who will find relatively easy access to and from port.

 

Public transport options between Puerto Caldera and Juan Santamaría International include buses and taxis. Better yet: some cruise companies like National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions will handle all the transportation details for guests, arranging transfers to and from port. When booking your voyage, be sure to ask about the options your chosen operator might provide so you can plan accordingly.

 

 

Given its coveted real estate, Puerto Caldera also doubles as Costa Rica’s primary freight terminal, moving six million tons of commercial products annually. Although impressive, the terminal’s ability to multitask and its industrial feel unfortunately means it’s not the most inviting experience for travelers. In fact, there are no facilities or tourist amenities found here and walking around the dock is prohibited.

 

Outside the terminal however, in and around the town of Puerto Caldera you will find a handful of gift shops, restaurants and bars, along with some blissful stretches of beaches. For those with more time, venturing beyond Puerto Caldera is highly encouraged—as is booking shore excursions with your cruise line or a local tour provider in advance—since the port is only a short drive from a bevy of vibrant beach towns, biological reserves, beautiful waterfalls and birding sanctuaries.

 

The best time for a Costa Rica cruise is from November to April, but you can find trips throughout the year as well. Whenever you choose to go, the following suggestions will help you plan your time in Puerto Caldera either before or after your voyage.

 

Where Do Ships Dock in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica?

 

All passenger cruise and commercial freight ships that stop in Puerto Caldera dock in an industrial container terminal located a few-minutes drive from the same-named town.

 

 

What You Need to Know About the Cruise Port Shuttle Bus

 

Since walking is prohibited in the terminal, there is a free shuttle bus that takes you from the dock to the port exit where you can connect with taxis or a private vehicle. Some cruise lines may arrange a shuttle bus to the nearby town of Puntarenas, another cruise port 12 miles to the north.

 

What to Do in Puerto Caldera?

 

Though small, Puerto Caldera is an ideal hub for exploring some of Costa Rica’s best beach towns and wilderness areas. Stroll coastal promenades in nearby Puntarenas, take surf lessons in Jacó (20 miles to the south), or go hiking in a number of nearby nature reserves, including the following:

 

Vista Los Sueños Adventure Park

 

An hour’s drive from Puerto Caldera in Herradura, this 450-acre eco-playground has it all, from canyoning to horseback riding to ziplining. Chocolate-making tours teach the cultural significance of chocolate in Costa Rica. Opt for a full-day shore excursion (approximately $160) from Puerto Caldera which typically pairs two adventures and includes round-trip transfers.

 

Carara National Park

 

This biological reserve and coastal rainforest near Jacó shelters a myriad of wildlife. Look for two-toed sloths, poison-arrow frogs and some 400 avian species, including scores of nesting scarlet macaws. Independent admission to the park, which is a 30-minute drive from Puerto Caldera runs $10. Make sure you purchase your tickets online before you arrive. Guided tours can be found for around $35.

 

 

Isla Tortuga

 

Local boat tours from Puntarenas and Jacó take travelers to these deserted offshore islets to snorkel, swim or just kick back on white-sand beaches. Full-day excursions typically run around $150. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions visits Isla Tortuga directly on select Costa Rica cruises which embark and disembark in Puerto Caldera.

 

Where to Eat in Puerto Caldera?

 

Super fresh pineapples and papayas, savory fried empanadas or patacones (plantains), and Costa Rica’s ubiquitous, though endlessly varied rice-and-bean combo called gallo pinto are all featured prominently in Tico cuisine. Along the coast, you can also count on a surplus of sea-to-table restaurants. Here are a few local favorites to try around Puerto Caldera.

 

Restaurante y Marisquería Don Mario

Come for the attentive staff and generous portions, stay for the sublime seafood sopita. (Calle Salinas, Mata Limón)

 

Costa del Sol Restaurante & Hotel

A Mediterranean-inspired, multi-gen family-owned restaurant specializing in paella and Pacific lobster. Request a table on the central balcony overlooking the sea. (800 Oeste, Mata Limón)

 

La Leda

Quality cocktails, roasted red snapper and sunset views keep locals coming back, from as far as San José. (Calle Mata de Limón, Mata Limón)

 

Puntarenas Typical Sea Food

 

Seaside views and friendly service pair perfectly with house specialties such as grilled steaks, calamari and ceviche typica. (Calle 25 near Paseo de los Turistas, Puntarenas)

 

Lunarossa

 

Elegant, minimalistic design meets house-made martinis and must-try ceviche and fish tacos. (Avenida 2A near Paseo de los Turistas, Puntarenas).

 

 

Where to Stay in Puerto Caldera?

 

Although accommodations in Puerto Caldera are limited, you will find a number of worthy stays in nearby towns within close proximity to the cruise port. Consider the following options.

 

Fiesta Resort

 

This all-inclusive resort features tropical gardens, three swimming pools, a volcanic sand beach, an array of dining options and an oceanfront spa with locally inspired treatments. Cultural activities include Costa Rican coffee classes. Dedicated kids’ and teens’ clubs help keep children engaged. (El Roble 23, El Roble; five miles from Puerto Caldera)

 

Hotel Cerro Lodge

 

A ten-minute drive from Carara National Park, Hotel Cerro Lodge is a birding paradise and wildlife reserve in its own right. Scarlet macaws and troupes of howler monkeys are known to frequent its grounds. The lodge’s poolside sun terrace offers expansive views of surrounding forests and mountains. (Calle Antigua Barca, Tárcoles; 18 miles from Puerto Caldera)

 

Pacific Suites Boutique Hotel and Bistro

 

A full-service spa, outdoor pool, mini-market, art gallery, and restaurant are among the amenities at this upscale setting. A selection of luxury suite sizes, some with full kitchens, suit solo travelers through couples and larger families. (Calle Lapa Verde, Jacó; 34 miles from Puerto Caldera)

 

Puerto Caldera FAQs

 

Which International Airport Is Closest to Puerto Caldera?

 

Located 43 miles (69 km) from Puerto Caldera, Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José is the closest international airport.

 

What is the Port Code of Puerto Caldera?

 

CR-CAL is the official cruise port code of Puerto Caldera.

 

How Far Is San José, Costa Rica, from Puerto Caldera?​

 

Puerto Caldera is roughly 50 miles (80 km) west of San José.

 

Do You Need a Passport to Cruise in Costa Rica?

 

Valid passports are required to enter Costa Rica by air. Although U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (those beginning and ending in the same U.S. port) visiting Costa Rica can return to the U.S. with an Enhanced Driver’s License, many cruise lines require passports for all sailings.

 

 

Now that you have all of the finer details on where to eat, what to see, and where to stay in and around Puerto Caldera, plugging into that pura vida lifestyle should come easily. Not only during, but—equally important—before and after your Costa Rica cruise.