When your cruise to Puntarenas docks at the paisley-shaped outcropping of land that sits alongside Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, you’ll be happy to know that the available Puntarenas shore excursions will show you the area’s most exceptional sights.
The Spanish word Puntarenas translates as “Sands Point,” and as your cruise ship approaches the spit of land that the city sits on, you’ll see that it’s ringed with beautiful beaches, some with sugar-white sand and others with volcanic black sand. To get in some prime beach time in Costa Rica, book one of the Puntarenas cruise excursions that takes you to Tortuga Island, unspoiled and prized for its palm-fringed beach and panoramic view of the azure waters of the Gulf of Nicoya.
Beyond the beaches, there are as many ways to enjoy the stunning natural beauty and exotic wildlife of this cruise destination as there are Puntarenas shore excursions. Glide in an aerial tram over a tropical forest in Turu Ba Ri eco-park. Zipline over natural reserves brimming with howler monkeys, exotic birds and white-tailed deer on a canopy tour. Enjoy a guided exploration through Carara National Park on foot and by boat. Or you can hop on an off-road vehicle for an African-style safari at La Ponderosa Adventure Park, where you’ll see giraffes, wildebeest, oryx, and zebras.
Want even more wildlife adventure? Take a guided cruise on the Tarcoles River and explore one of the world’s largest crocodile habitats or travel to the Natuwa Sanctuary at El Manantial, a wildlife conservancy where you’ll see free-flying avians like scarlet macaws and land animals like jaguars.
On a walk in the Cloud Forest, be mesmerized by a hummingbird garden, then trek through the trees on a series of suspension bridges and witness cascading waterfalls and exotic aerial plants.
Puntarenas shore excursions can whisk you to the capital city of San Jose for a guided journey into Costa Rica’s cultural and historical roots, including its European influences and Latin flavors. See the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, an ornate opera house, and the Gold Museum.
A food immersion excursion to an organic farm, where you’ll cook local specialties in a chef-led cooking class, is a great way to learn about the cuisine of Costa Rica that centers around fresh foods and the concept of “pura vida” (pure life).
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