Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica

Puntarenas is a port town on a narrow spit in the Gulf of Nicoya, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Cruise ships dock either at the Puntarenas cruise pier, at the end of the beachfront Paseo de los Turistas, or at Puerto Caldera, a cargo port… More about Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) →

Cruise ship at the Puntarenas cruise pier on the Gulf of Nicoya under a bright sky
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Ship schedule by month

October 2026 · from today · all times local (Central Standard Time)

No more ships are scheduled in Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) this month

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Cruise Ships in Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)

Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Central Standard Time)

Today · Thu 22 OctNo ships
0 people in port
No cruise ships today

Next 7 days

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    22 Oct
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    23 Oct
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    24 Oct
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  4. Sun
    25 Oct
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  5. Mon
    26 Oct
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  6. Tue
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  7. Wed
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Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) day.

Planning a day in Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)?

The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.

See the Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) cruise crowd calendar

Where is the Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) cruise port?

Ships use one of two berths: the Puntarenas cruise pier, right at the end of Paseo de los Turistas in Puntarenas town, or Puerto Caldera, a cargo port about 20 km by road to the southeast. Check the ship's itinerary for the berth: from Puntarenas pier the town and beach are a short walk, while from Caldera a taxi or tour transfer is needed.

Terminal

Getting to the Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) cruise port

Paseo de los Turistas (Puntarenas beach) → Puntarenas Cruise Pier (Muelle de Cruceros)

1 km · ~10 min by car

Walk along the Paseo de los Turistas to the pier.

Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.

TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Walk
Varies
~10 min
0.7 km. Parque Marino del Pacifico is also 0.6 km (about 10 min) from the pier on foot.

Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.

Driving to the port

Check which berth your ship uses. Bus between Puntarenas and San Jose about CRC 2,375, approximate. Distances and times are approximate.

Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera) Cruise Terminals

2 terminals

Puntarenas Cruise Pier (Muelle de Cruceros)

Cruise pier at the end of Paseo de los Turistas in Puntarenas town; a small tourist train carries passengers along the pier.

Puerto Caldera Cruise Terminal

Cruise berth at Puerto Caldera, the main Pacific cargo port, about 14 km southeast of Puntarenas (about 20 km by road).

Eating in Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)

Where to eat

Paseo de los Turistas

Beachfront promenade with sodas, cafes and seafood restaurants next to the Puntarenas cruise pier.

Destination

About Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)

Puntarenas is a port town on a narrow spit in the Gulf of Nicoya, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Cruise ships dock either at the Puntarenas cruise pier, at the end of the beachfront Paseo de los Turistas, or at Puerto Caldera, a cargo port about 20 km by road to the southeast. From the Puntarenas pier the town, beach and Parque Marino del Pacifico are a short walk; from Caldera a taxi or tour transfer is needed. Carara National Park, known for scarlet macaws, is about 33 km from Caldera.

Time zone
Central Standard Time
Currency
CRC

Things to Do in Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)

Paseo de los Turistas

Beachfront promenade in Puntarenas, next to the cruise pier.

Parque Marino del Pacifico

Marine park and aquarium a short walk from the pier. Foreign adults about USD 10, children 4-11 about USD 5 (approximate).

Carara National Park

Rainforest park known for scarlet macaws, about 33 km from Caldera. Foreign adults about USD 10 plus VAT, children 2-12 about USD 5 plus VAT (approximate).

Cruise Ships Visiting Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)