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Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Photo by Chalo Garcia on Unsplash

Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruise port guide

The Pearl of the Pacific Ocean On a fine sandy peninsula, 8 km long and an average width of 400 meters, Puntarenas, the "Pearl of the Pacific" can be found. During your MSC World Cruise, you will have the opportunity to visit this city, formerly the largest port in the country and now a busy place full of life, characterized by beautiful beaches and lush nature. One of the best excursions during your holiday in this land will be the Rainforest Skywalk, a combination of suspension bridges and trails through the rain forest to get you acquainted with one of the most complex ecosystems in the world made up of numerous native plant and animal species that can be observed directly in their natural habitat. Puntarenas is also famous for another treasure: its coffee, known as "Grano de Oro". It is not only among the best and most appreciated across the planet, but it has played a key role in the development of Costa Rica, affecting social institutions, culture and politics in the country. Thanks to your MSC Cruise, you will have the chance to taste exceptional coffee in its land of origin, where its roots can be found in the late 1700s in this fertile land with a cool climate, and which even today is one of the main agricultural exports of the country . Our cruise ship will also lead you on the discovery of San José, the capital city which is 115 km from Puntarenas. It is a must-see for its natural beauty, museums, historical sites and its characteristic streets markets. On its streets, you will find a cosmopolitan culture but one that is at the same time very close to roots. Surrounded by mountains and full of rivers and streams, San José is the icing on the cake of your vacation with MSC Cruises.

About Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Puntarenas and nearby Puerto Caldera together serve as Costa Rica's primary Pacific cruise ports, located in the Gulf of Nicoya approximately 85 km west of San José. The port is the main Pacific gateway for cruise passengers seeking Costa Rica's famous biodiversity, rainforests, and adventure activities.

The most distinctive shore excursion from Puntarenas is a boat tour to Isla San Lucas, a former prison island (housing Costa Rica's most dangerous criminals from 1873 to 1991) now designated as a national park since 2020, with colonial-era buildings, wildlife, and beaches. San José bus tours give passengers access to the capital's Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, National Theater, and Central Market. Manuel Antonio National Park, roughly 2.5 hours south, combines white-sand beaches with primary rainforest teeming with sloths, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, and scarlet macaws. Carara National Park, closer to port, is famous for its macaw roosts.

Cruises visiting Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Prices per person · incl. taxes & fees.

Showing the 20 least-expensive of 150 sailings.

Showing 150 Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises

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Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Spirit Cruises on Carnival Spirit Oct 8, 2026 16

from $783

$48 / night

Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Miracle Cruises on Carnival Miracle Sep 26, 2026 16

from $815

$50 / night

Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Poesia Cruises on MSC Poesia Sep 28, 2026 19

from $949

$49 / night

Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Spirit Cruises on Carnival Spirit Mar 29, 2027 16

from $1,005

$62 / night

Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Poesia Cruises on MSC Poesia Oct 3, 2026 14

from $1,056

$75 / night

Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Cruise Line Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Carnival Cruise Line Go to Carnival Spirit Cruises on Carnival Spirit Sep 25, 2027 16

from $1,120

$70 / night

Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Poesia Cruises on MSC Poesia Oct 2, 2026 15

from $1,201

$80 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Crown Princess Cruises on Crown Princess Dec 3, 2026 16

from $1,206

$75 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Crown Princess Cruises on Crown Princess Apr 4, 2027 16

from $1,366

$85 / night

Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on MSC Cruises Go to MSC Poesia Cruises on MSC Poesia Sep 28, 2026 24

from $1,422

$59 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Dec 13, 2027 16

from $1,432

$89 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Jan 30, 2028 16

from $1,435

$89 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Feb 15, 2028 16

from $1,435

$89 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Apr 3, 2027 16

from $1,447

$90 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Dec 12, 2026 16

from $1,518

$94 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Emerald Princess Cruises on Emerald Princess Apr 22, 2028 16

from $1,534

$95 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Apr 19, 2027 16

from $1,567

$97 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Sapphire Princess Cruises on Sapphire Princess Nov 6, 2026 16

from $1,576

$98 / night

Go to Celebrity Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Celebrity Cruises Go to Celebrity Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Celebrity Cruises Go to Celebrity Summit Cruises on Celebrity Summit Oct 1, 2026 17

from $1,609

$94 / night

Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Princess Cruises Puntarenas, Costa Rica cruises on Princess Cruises Go to Island Princess Cruises on Island Princess Jan 14, 2028 16

from $1,610

$100 / night