Most Popular Shore Excursions in Puerto Limon
Updated for the 2024-2025 Cruise Season
Welcome back to our two-part series on the best shore excursions in Costa Rica. If you’re just joining us, and you’ll be docking at the Pacific ports of Costa Rica, be sure to review our blog on the top shore excursions in Puntarenas & Puerto Caldera for a rundown of all the best ways to spend your free time on terra firma. In this blog, we’ll highlight all the best activities & fun things to do in Puerto Limon, on the Caribbean side of the country.
Puerto Limon Costa Rica Cruise Pier
One important thing to note is that the Pacific and Atlantic or Caribbean sides of Costa Rica have completely different vibes. Puerto Limon is a small pocket of Costa Rica with a unique culture all its own. So even if you have already visited the Pacific side of Costa Rica, a stop at Puerto Limon brings you a whole new experience. In fact, we could go on for hours about our love of Puerto Limon… and we have! Here’s an older blog post that is focused on that region. But todays focus is all the best shore excursions in Puerto Limon.
Puerto Limon Costa Rica Unique Afro-Caribbean Culture
Puerto Limon Shore Excursions for Everyone
Just like on the Pacific side, Puerto Limon shore excursions tend to revolve around nature. And why not? Lush rainforest jungles, mangroves, intensive wildlife, and incredible beaches are Costa Rica’s signature attractions after all. In fact, the Original Canopy Tour that started the whole rainforest zip line craze is in Limon. Puerto Limon is noticeably less developed, thus offering much better-preserved jungles & rainforest. Top that with the Tortuguero and Cahuita National Parks, and the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica boasts some of the top spots for wildlife viewing in the entire country! Unlike Puerto Caldera and Puntarenas, there is not a whole lot of countryside to explore on your own in Puerto Limon. So, the shore excursion providers in Puerto Limon have put together the best combo packages so you can hit more than one famous attraction while in port.
Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast
Explore the Tortuguero Canals
Speaking of nature tours in Costa Rica, you have access to one of the most wildlife-intensive destinations just north of Puerto Limon. The waterways leading to Tortuguero National Park are full of amazing Nat Geo photo-worthy opportunities. Best of all, the safari-style boat tours along the Tortuguero Canals are perfect for multi-generational families traveling together. With the help of local wildlife guides, you can hope to spot crocodiles swimming in the canals, turtles, and iguanas sunning on logs, and waterfowl dotting the shoreline hunting fish. Above, high in the trees, you will find sloths lazing about, and howler monkeys LOUDLY announcing their presence. If you’ve ever heard a howler monkey, you may be totally unsurprised to learn that they can be heard up to 6 km away!
Tortuguero Canals Tour Puerto Limon Costa Rica
The Tortuguero Canals are so popular they are a central part of several shore excursions in Puerto Limon. You can combine the Tortuguero canals with a cultural visit to a banana plantation. Or if you are more adventurous, a rainforest canopy zip line tour. Or better yet, combine your Tortuguero Canals excursion with Limon’s other wildlife lover’s dream, Cahuita National Park. It is no wonder a visit to the Tortuguero Canals tops our list of popular things to do in Puerto Limon.
Monkeys in Tortuguero Canals Costa Rica
Hike Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park Tour Puerto Limon Costa Rica
If you prefer to explore nature on foot, then the Cahuita National Park should top your list of things to do in Puerto Limon. Cahuita National Park is located along the Caribbean coast to the south of Puerto Limon. With 55,200 acres of protected marine life and 2,732 acres of protected land, Cahuita National Park is home to a huge variety of species both above and below ground. Aside from the usual suspects found on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica such as sloths, monkeys, turtles & waterfowl; Cahuita National Park is great for spotting Jesus Lizards too! Cahuita is also a popular activity in Puerto Limon. Aside from the combo with the Tortuguero canals we mentioned above, you can combine your Cahuita National Park tour with a cultural visit to a Banana Plantation.
Cahuita National Park Beaches Puerto Limon Costa Rica
Meet Costa Rica’s Signature Mascot; Sloths
One thing you will find more of than any other place in Costa Rica, and maybe even the world are both 2 & 3-toed sloths. Actually, many people consider sloths the mascot of Costa Rica. In Limon, Costa Rica, there is no shortage of sloths both in the wild and also in sanctuaries sheltering injured or orphaned sloths.
Sloth Family in Cahuita
Since sloths and Costa Rica are pretty much synonymous, it is no wonder that one of the most popular shore excursions in Puerto Limon is the Sloth Lovers Tour. If you do not know much about sloths or why they are so interesting, check out our previous blog full of fun facts about sloths in Central America. Best of all, this tour visits both Cahuita National Park and the Tortuguero canals!
Puerto Limon Costa Rica Sloth Lovers Tour
Costa Rica Chocolate Tour & Cultural Experience
Do you love chocolate? If so, you’re in luck! This shore excursion is perfect for you. Visit the Cacao Trails Takyu Cultural Center, Nature Park & Chocolate Museum in Cahuita, and explore the importance of chocolate in both the Afro-Caribbean culture and the BriBri indigenous cultures alike. A nature walk, the requisite banana plantation visit, and of course, numerous chocolate samples await you on this chocolatey fantastic shore excursion in Limon.
Puerto Limon Chocolate Lovers Tour
Visit a Banana Plantation
You may note that several of the mentioned tours visit a Banana Plantation. What is so important about the banana plantations in Costa Rica? Well, Costa Rica is currently the 4th largest banana exporter in the WORLD! Not only that, banana plantations have largely shaped the unique Limon culture that differs from the rest of Costa Rica. So a visit to a banana plantation will help you discover and learn about local culture more than any other activity in Puerto Limon.
Puerto Limon Costa Rica Banana Plantation
Puerto Limon Shore Excursions for Adventurous Families
Aside from all the nature tours in Puerto Limon, there is no shortage of adventure in Costa Rica. Even if you have done a zip line tour before, you should never miss out on the opportunity to zip line in the Costa Rica rainforest! Especially since Costa Rica is home to the Original Canopy Tour! And there is no denser rainforest anywhere in Costa Rica than the Caribbean coast. Imagine zipping through the trees and hearing howler monkeys in the very same rainforest canopy!!
Puerto Limon Costa Rica Zip Line Tour
Discover Veragua Rainforest Park
So where is the Original Canopy Tour located? In the stunning 3500 acres of old-growth rainforest of Veragua Park! And Veragua Rainforest Park is not only home to the canopy, but an Aerial Tram, beautiful nature trails, and exhibits of some of the most important rainforest research programs in Costa Rica too! For those seeking a bit of adventure in their time off the boat, Veragua is where it’s at. But be aware, Veragua does not offer tours open to the public when cruise ships are in town. So you either have to book with your cruise ship, or an authorized cruise ship tour operator like we work with that offer access to Veragua Rainforest with transportation from the pier for a discounted price.
The Original Canopy Tour Costa Rica
Of course, the Original Canopy Tour is the most popular zipline tour in Puerto Limon. In a world full of (awesome) iterations, experience the original! This shore excursion gets you access to the park, the zipline tour and also includes a mini city tour of Puerto Limon before bringing you back to the pier. Or you can combine your canopy tour with a trip to the Tortuguero Canals and get the best of both the canopy and the mangroves in one with the Puerto Limon Eco Adventure Combo!
Veragua Rainforest Aerial Tram Puerto Limon Costa Rica
If you want to explore the canopy of Veragua Rainforest Park in a slightly less adventurous way, the best option is to take the Aerial Tram, which is basically an open-air gondola ride. Pretty cool right! Aside from the Veragua Aerial Tram, the park is full of lovely and accessible hiking trails and fascinating research facilities. This is a great choice for those with mobility issues that still want to experience a little adventure in nature.
Veragua Rainforest Nature Trails Puerto Limon Costa Rica
Our staff pick for the best way to get to Veragua Rainforest Park, and what to see when you get there, is our Costa Rica Aerial Tram + Tortuguero Canal tour. Start the day exploring the Veragua Rainforest Park from the vantage point of an Aerial Tram, then travel to the Amazon-like Tortuguero Canals and explore like Indian Jones on a safari-style boat. What’s not to love?
Try White Water Rafting Reventazon River
Puerto Limon Costa Rica White Water Rafting
If you really want to pack adventure into your Puerto Limon visit, one of the most fun things to do in Costa Rica is white water rafting. The best river rafting for cruise ship passengers is on the Florida or El Carmen sections of the Reventazon River. Rafting the Reventazon River is perfect for first-timers, but still challenging and fun for experienced white water rafters. Children must be at least 12 years old to participate, but this is a great shore excursion for families traveling with teens. However, this activity is limited to very few cruise ship itineraries, so best to contact us to check availability before you book.
Important update for the 2024-25 cruise season: Unfortunately, the rafting company has a direct contract with the cruise ships now. Meaning, they cannot accept reservations from other agencies for passengers arriving on the cruise ships. This means we cannot offer you a discount, or assist you booking. You will have to book directly with your ship. However, if you have a large enough group, we can organize a private rafting group for you with a minimum group size of 3 boats (13 pax plus). We can arrange for smaller private groups, but it is really not cost effective that way.
Customize Your Own Private Shore Excursions in Costa Rica
Private Shore Excursions in Puerto Limon
Speaking of traveling with teens, now you and your family can choose your own shore excursion adventure! Customizing your trip ashore is the most economic and comfortable way to travel. After years of listening to your feedback to curate the best itinerary, we offer the Puerto Limon 6 in 1 highlights tour. As the name aptly states, it pretty much hits all the best highlights of Puerto Limon in 6 hours. You can choose to join the public tour, or get a guide and vehicle all to yourselves with the private tour option.
Alternatively, we work with local guides in Puerto Limon who can provide you with custom quotes for private groups of any size. You can keep your whole group together and do the things that sound the most fun to you. Just let us know what interests you most and we can curate a plan that fits perfectly with your time in port. With fully customizable private Costa Rica cruise excursions, you are pretty much guaranteed to get the best experience regardless of where you decide to explore!
Indigenous BriBri Cooking
Get Inspired By All The Things to do in Puerto Viejo
For those looking for something a bit different, there are a lot more activities available from Puerto Viejo. If you are a group of 4 or more, many activities will provide transportation from your cruise ship for an additional fee. There are just so many different shore excursions you can choose from, there are just too many things to list here. Just take a look at all the things to do in Puerto Viejo. You can then contact us with the date of your cruise ship arrival, name of your ship & time in port and we can arrange many of these activities just for you.
So that pretty much wraps up our reviews of all the Costa Rica shore excursion available this cruise season. We hope this helps you find the perfect shore excursion for you. Have fun planning your cruise vacation.
Happy Travels from the Real Deal Tours team!