CULTURE and SOUL FOOD IN HISTORICAL PUERTO LIMÓN
See the highlights of Puerto Límon during this approximately four-hour excursion. A combined bus and walking tour, it includes visits to landmarks such as the historical Parque Balvanero Vargas, local food at the former United Fruit Company and souvenir shopping at an artisans’market.
Excursion details
Spend a few hours exploring the delights of Puerto Limón on this bus and walking tour, lasting around four hours.
Meet your guide at the pier and board your bus for a short journey to Parque Balvanero Vargas in downtown Límon. After disembarking, enjoy a guided walk of the peaceful seaside park, named after the governor who oversaw its construction. Continue past the former city hall and along the old jetty for views of Isla Uvita, a small island thought to have been visited by Christopher Columbus for boat repairs on his final voyage in 1502. This section of the tour lasts around one hour in total and ends at Galería del Pasaje Cristal, which showcases local art.
Next, you’ll board the bus for a coastal sightseeing drive lasting about 20 minutes. Sit back and enjoy views of the Caribbean Sea on the way to Playa Bonita, where we will make a short stop to take in the sights of the beach. Then, reboard your bus for a short return drive to Puerto Limon town. Arriving at the House of Culture, you’ll enjoy a live calypso music and dance performance (with the possibility to join in), offering a glimpse into Limón’s vibrant cultural heritage. After the show there’s some free time, which can be used for souvenir shopping.
Afterwards, board the bus again for a journey of 20 minutes or so. Arrive at the former United Fruit Company building, a historical landmark associated with Costa Rica’s colonial past, where G&E Chocolate Adventure is now based. Here, you’ll spend approximately 40 minutes watching local chefs prepare dishes such as rice and beans and plantintá, a kind of plantain turnover, before tasting them.
A short walk then brings you back to the Puerto Limón port terminal, where you’ll have approximately 20 minutes to shop for souvenirs at an artisan’s market before making the short journey back to the ship on foot, at your own pace.
Important Information: The tour order may vary. Guests with any type of food intolerance are required to communicate it to the Shore Excursions Office at least two days before the call. Guests should be able to walk at least 1.6 km (1 mile) as the tour involves a considerable amount of walking and must be able to do approximately 25 steps up to the United Fruit Company’s second floor for the cooking lesson. The tour is not unsuitable for guests of limited mobility. Guests are recommended to wear comfortable shoes and high-factor sunscreen as well as to bring a hat
