Category: Puerto Limon (Costa Rica)

SLOTH SANCTUARY & CANOE EXPLORATION

Nature-lovers will enjoy this approximately four-and-a-half-hour excursion, which includes a visit to a sloth sanctuary and a canoe ride down the Estrella River. The itinerary also includes a visit to a banana plantation.
Excursion details

Costa Rica is widely considered one of the best places in the world to see sloths. This is in large part thanks to its tropical rainforests, which provide ideal habitats for two- and three-toed sloths. Meet these chilled-out creatures during this approximately four-and-a-half-hour excursion, amongst other activities.

Board your bus at the port and set out on a journey of around 45 minutes to the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica, a non-profit rescue centre founded in 1997. Once arrived, guests are given time to get settled and use the facilities.

The visit begins with an introductory talk of around 50 minutes, during which you’ll learn all about two- and three-toed sloths and even get to meet some. Next, embark on an approximately 50-minute canoe ride down the freshwater Estrella River, during which you can look out for some of the varied wildlife that calls the surrounding vegetation home (although sightings cannot be guaranteed).

After your canoe adventure, there’s around 20 minutes to get refreshments or visit the gift shop before boarding the bus again.

A drive of about 25 minutes then transports you to a demonstrative banana plantation, where there’s initially around 15 minutes upon arrival for settling in and using the bathrooms. This is followed by approximately 25 minutes for exploring the plantation, during which you’ll learn about the cultivation of this important crop, from planting and harvesting to packaging and exportation. The 25 minutes also includes a short time for purchasing souvenirs, if desired.

A bus transfer of around 30 minutes then returns to the port.

Important Information: Guests must be at least 8 years old to participate. The tour offers guests an opportunity to fully enjoy the rainforest. All participating guests will be required to sign a waiver which may only be available in English. Guests are advised that wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, please bring a light jacket and head cap to protect yourself in to protect yourself in case of rain, insect repellent and sunblock lotion to protect from the bright sun

CARIBBEAN TRAIN, ECO CRUISE and COUNTRYSIDE

Excursion details

Over approximately four hours, you’ll have the chance to view the vibrant landscapes along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, navigating the Tortuguero Canals by boat and retracing the tracks of the early founders of the country’s banana industry onboard a restored vintage train.

It’s a roughly 30-minute bus journey from the port to the pier in Moín, near Limón, the departure point for your boat tour exploring the Tortuguero Canals, the area sometimes referred to as “the Amazon of Costa Rica ” for its tropical setting and rich biodiversity.

You’ll have around 15 minutes to make your way to the dock before taking to the water for an approximately hour-long boat ride. The Tortuguero Canals are a network of natural and human-made waterways that stretch along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Waterfowl are abundant here, but the canals are also home to a variety of other wildlife, which you may potentially spot during your boat trip, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.

After returning to the dock at Moín, you’ll have around half an hour to enjoy some fruit and even do some shopping (time permitting). Next, it’s a roughly 15-minute journey to the departure point for your train ride.

You’ll step aboard a restored vintage train for a journey of approximately 60 minutes through Costa Rica’s tropical landscape, where the railway line played a key role in developing the country’s banana industry in the late 19th century. Keep an eye out for further glimpses of the country’s wildlife hidden in the dense vegetation along the tracks. At the end of the excursion, a transfer drive of 30 minutes or so returns to the port.

Important Information: 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 are recommended to wear comfortable closed walking shoes, high-factor sunscreen, insect repellent, light clothing, a hat/sun visor as well as to bring a camera and rainwear

VERAGUA RAINFOREST & AERIAL TRAM

Excursion details

Discover the Veragua Rainforest in an excursion lasting approximately five and a half hours, which includes gliding above the jungle on an aerial tram and walking to a waterfall.

It’s an approximately one-hour journey from the port at Limón to Veragua, a nature reserve that offers a mix of wildlife education and conservation experiences for visitors. Once you’ve reached the park you’ll have about 15 minutes for an introduction at the Welcome Center. Then there’s around 75 minutes to get better acquainted with the inhabitants of the reptile and frog exhibits, which range in size from large bullfrogs to amphibians as small as your fingernail. The Butterfly Garden is another highlight, where the blue morpho is the star of the show.

Following this, you’ll take to the air in the park’s sky gondola – an aerial tram ride. You’ll walk to the top station then glide down through a canopy of trees in an experience that lasts around 15 minutes.

After disembarking at the lower station, it’s time to explore the rainforest on a nature walk. There are a couple of alternatives here: take the hiking route to see the 20-metre-high Puma Waterfall or – for wheelchair users and those who prefer walking on a flat surface – follow the Trail of the Giants, which takes its name from the huge trees you pass on this raised wooden walkway.

Whichever route you choose, you’ll have around 30 minutes to explore before returning to the lower gondola station for your journey back up through the trees to the top station, which takes about 15 minutes.

There’s then time for an approximately 20-minute visit to the reserve’s research station, before making your way to the venue’s cafe to spend around 45 minutes enjoying a light lunch (included in the excursion cost) and souvenir shopping.

Finally, there’s a brief journey back to the Welcome Center, before boarding the bus for your approximately hour-long return journey to the port.

Important Information: The tour order may vary depending on the arrival time and the number of guests at the Venue. 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 are recommended to wear comfortable closed walking shoes, light clothing, high-factor sunscreen and a hat/sun visor as well as to bring a camera and rainwear. The tour is considered to be unsuitable for pregnant women. Some portions of the roads encountered on the tour may be bumpy and unpaved. Reaching the Puma Waterfall involves using a total of 350 steps (both ways) and walking on an uneven dirt track.

This portion of the tour is optional and might be unsuitable for guests with mobility problems. An alternative river path is available that does not require the use of steps. The Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure is suitable for guests using a walker, manual wheelchair or a collapsible lightweight electric scooter (100 lbs/45 kg or less).

Guests using such mobility aids must be capable of navigating a few steps to get on and off the coach. Wheelchairs or electric scooters will be stowed in the coach’s luggage compartments and retrieved at the park for guests to use

ORIGINAL CANOPY TOUR AT THE VERAGUA RAINFOREST

Get up-close to some of Costa Rica’s natural wonders by zip-lining through the canopy of a tropical rainforest on this excursion of around four and a half hours. Your destination is the Veragua Rainforest and you’ll be viewing its abundant nature from multiple zip-lines and observation platforms.
Excursion details

On this excursion of approximately four and a half hours, you’ll be getting to know a little piece of the Veragua Rainforest via an exciting form of transport: zip-line. The adventure begins with a transfer drive of around one hour to the Veragua Rainforest eco-adventure venue, where your zip-line canopy tour will take place.

On arrival you’ll be fitted with all the necessary equipment and given a briefing from your guide, lasting around 20 minutes. Then get ready to explore the rainforest canopy for approximately one hour and 45 minutes. Your journey takes place across a zip-line network connecting 11 observation platforms, providing expansive views of the tropical scenery all around you.

All sorts of mammals and birds inhabit the rainforest, so keep a close eye on your surroundings as you zoom along the zip-lines, although wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

After the zip-lining action is completed, there’s around 25 minutes to take off your equipment and – time permitting – do a spot of shopping at the venue before the drive back to the port, lasting around one hour.

Important Information: guests must be at least 5 years of age and weigh no more than approx. 270 lbs/123 kg to take part in the tour.

Guests are recommended to wear comfortable clothes (shorts, long trousers, t-shirt), sunglasses, a hat, high-factor sunscreen, and insect repellent as well as to bring a change of clothes (rain is common), a little cash or credit cards and a camera. Additional beverages are available for purchase at extra cost not covered by the price of the tour. All participating guests will be required to sign a waiver which may only be available in English. The tour is unsuitable for guests with pre-existing cardiac conditions, seizures/epilepsy and conditions affecting balance as well as pregnant women.

In deciding whether to join this tour, guests are requested to take their personal level of fitness and medical history into consideration. Guests with pre-existing knee injuries, asthma or other respiratory conditions, diabetes or any other serious medical conditions are requested to exercise caution and if concerned, seek the advice of their doctor before taking part in the tour or engaging in strenuous activity

TORTUGUERO CANALS and VERAGUA RAINFOREST ECO-ADVENTURE

Excursion details

Immerse yourself in some of Costa Rica’s natural wonders during this excursion. Over the course of approximately seven and a half hours, you’ll go from cruising on a waterway to travelling through the treetops of a rainforest.

Start with a transfer of approximately 30 minutes to the Tortuguero Canals docking area, where you’ll board a motorboat for a tour of the canals, lasting about 50 minutes. The canals are sometimes referred to as  “the Amazon of Costa Rica ” because of their dense vegetation and biodiversity. As you sail, look out for animals and birds, as the area is rich in wildlife (although sightings cannot be guaranteed).

After disembarking the boat, enjoy a snack of fresh fruit for around 15 minutes before setting off to the Veragua Rainforest adventure park, approximately 50 minutes away by coach. Once arrived, you’ll spend the first 90 minutes being assigned a guide and receiving an introduction, then exploring the reptile and frog habitats and the butterfly garden. Following this is a walk to the Rainforest Café, where you’ll be able to enjoy a buffet lunch and do some souvenir shopping over approximately 45 minutes.

The next stage of the adventure is an approximately 20-minute aerial tram ride, which begins with a short walk to the departure station. You’ll then board your open-air tram and glide through the forest canopy, which houses abundant plant life and wildlife, so keep your camera ready.

Once you’ve disembarked, there’s a short bathroom break followed by a nature walk. Spend the next 25 minutes or so following the Trail of the Giants – named after its huge trees, some over 300 years old – or hike to the Puma Waterfall.

After the walk, there’s approximately 30 minutes allocated for the return aerial tram ride and visiting the park’s research station to learn more about the rainforest. It’s then a short walk to return to the park’s Welcome Center and board your bus for the drive back to the port, which lasts approximately one hour.

Important Information: The tour order may vary depending on the arrival time and the number of guests at the Venue.

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 are recommended to wear comfortable closed walking shoes, light clothing, high-factor sunscreen and a hat/sun visor as well as to bring a camera and rainwear. The tour is unsuitable for pregnant women. Some portions of the roads encountered on the tour may be bumpy and unpaved. Reaching the Puma Waterfall involves using a total of 350 steps (both ways) and walking on an uneven dirt track. This portion of the tour optional and might be considered to be unsuitable for guests with mobility problems; these guests can take the easier river path that does not require any steps.

The Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure is suitable for guests using a walker, manual wheelchair or a collapsible lightweight electric scooter (100 lbs/45 kg or less). Guests using such mobility aids must be capable of navigating a few steps to get on and off the coach and boat. Wheelchairs or electric scooters will be stowed in the coach’s luggage compartments and retrieved at the park for guests to use. The order of stops visited may vary

MONSTER BUS and RAINFOREST EXPEDITION

Excursion details

Set off on a sightseeing trip with a difference on this excursion, which lets you view Costa Rica’s dramatic landscapes from the windows of a Monster Bus, with stops along the way for photos, a nature stroll and a visit to a village.

After boarding the bus, head off on the first leg of the trip, which lasts approximately one hour and takes you through small towns and roads that run near the Banano River, which is part of the Banano River Basin Protected Zone. After a comfort stop of about 15 minutes, the Monster Bus will travel for about 30 minutes towards the local rainforest.

If weather permits, the bus will stop briefly for complimentary drinks and snacks, after which you’ll have around 35 minutes to stroll through the rainforest on a guided walk and take photos. Your guide will point out various flora and fauna around the rainforest (although sightings cannot be guaranteed). You’ll also visit a nearby village for around 20 minutes to learn about the local community.

Then return to the Monster Bus for a drive of about 25 minutes to a for a view from the bus of a banana plantation nestled in a small valley. After learning how bananas are grown, it’s time for the drive back to the port, which takes approximately 45 minutes.

Important Information: 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 are recommended to wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat or visor, insect repellent and high-factor sunscreen as well as to bring rainwear in case of inclement weather. Guests will need to be able to climb 8 steps to get in and out of the Monster bus

SCENIC DRIVE and CARIBBEAN SHOW

Excursion details

Nature and culture combine in this excursion exploring Costa Rica, lasting about two and a half hours. A coach will drive you past plantations before dropping you off at a venue for a Caribbean dance show, and your onboard guide will give you information about sights you pass and local history.

The excursion starts with a scenic drive of around one hour, during which you’ll pass through a historic Limón neighbourhood, which you can learn more about from your guide. The bus will also pass Limón Airport, banana and cassava plantations, and the coastline as you head to a venue for a cultural performance.

Boosted by the Tortuguero Canals as your background, you’ll enjoy a live show of about 45 minutes (preceded by a comfort break of about 15 minutes), featuring local dancers in colourful dress performing to Caribbean rhythms.

Afterwards you’ll have approximately 15 minutes for a snack and – time permitting – souvenir shopping before the bus makes the approximately 30-minute drive back to the port, passing the sands of Playa Bonita and downtown Limón on route.

Important Information: 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 are recommended to wear light, comfortable clothing, a hat, insect repellent and high-factor sunscreen. In addition, it is advisable to take a light rain jacket as it may rain in Limón

RAINFOREST SKY WALK

Discover the richness of the rainforest while you walk along beautiful trails and see the most amazing shapes of green vegetation appear before your eyes. Your adventure begins when you arrive to the first of three suspended bridges, exploring a unique and thrilling way to observe the fascinating rainforest canopies.

Each of these bridges stretch between 55 and 200 feet and up to 165 feet above the ground. As you continue your way through tropical plants and giants trees, your naturalist tour guide will point out some of the best features of this lush forest, filled with exuberant wildlife including monkeys, sloths, several species of birds, butterflies, the beautiful blue jean frog, the green and black frog, etc. During your visit, you will have the chance to observe some coffee, cacao, and sugar cane plants; where you will learn everything about these important crops and why they play a very important role in the local economy. Finally, you will be able to taste some delicious typical snacks before return to pier.

Please note: Guests with any type of food intolerance are required to communicate it to the Shore Excursions Office at least two days before the call. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. It is advised that guests do not feed or touch any wild animal or use flash photography when photographing them. This tour is suitable for guests who are in good physical condition and are not afraid of high altitudes.

It is recommended that guests wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. It is suggested that guests bring a camera, binoculars, a rain poncho and an umbrella

MANZANILLO NATURE & BEACH EXCURSION

Excursion details

Enjoy both time on the beach and urban delights on this excursion, which lasts around seven hours. Your first destination, reached after a 75-minute transfer from the pier, is the Almonds & Corals Boutique Hotel. This impressive venue is nestled in the rainforest, but opens out onto a sandy beach, which you’ll be able to enjoy during approximately three hours of free time.

Take a dip in the Caribbean Sea, top up your tan on the sands and admire the backdrop of tropical greenery, perhaps by taking a short hike. Fresh fruit and cold water will be available from the hotel during your time on the beach. One beach mat and one towel per person is included too.

Afterwards, there’s a transfer of 15 minutes or so to Puerto Viejo, an atmospheric coastal town. You’ll have around one hour of free time here, which you could use to browse some of the craft shops for local art or find a restaurant for lunch (at guests’expense). Alternatively, you could explore a little or head to one of the town’s small beaches.

Finally, a transfer drive of around 75 minutes returns guests to the port, concluding the excursion.

Important Information: There are lifeguards available at the beach, therefore, swimming is at your own risk. Guests are advised to be cautious of rip currents, strong winds, and waves. Guests are not permitted to swim under the influence of alcohol. Children under the age of 12 must be always accompanied and supervised by a paying adult. Guests must cooperate in keeping the area clean by proper disposal. Nude or topless sunbathing is prohibited.

The hotel is not responsible for lost belongings or items left unattended. It is recommended that guests bring a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent

TORTUGUERO CANALS, BANANA PLANTATION, AND RAINFOREST WALKS

Explore the region and learn about Puerto Limon’s history and people. You will first board an open-air boat for a journey along the peaceful Tortuguero Canals: a complex system of natural and manmade channels.

With over 400 species of trees, 2000 species of other plant-life, and a wide array of birds such as herons, egrets and kingfishers, the area might astound you with its biodiversity. Then, explore the rainforest on a guided walk along a cemented walkway, continuing onward to visit a demonstrative banana plantation to learn about this important crop before returning to your ship.

Please note: it is recommended that guests bring a light jacket and wear comfortable walking shoes. Guests must be at least 8 years old to participate