Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide

Limon Costa Rica is the largest city on the Caribbean coast. It is a main port area and where a lot of cruise ships land.

limon costa rica harbor

The Limón Costa Rica Vibes

Limón is the biggest city on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. This is where all cruise ships land on the coast and where most exports leave from.

Here you can find tons of shipping containers filled with bananas and pineapple heading out to the US and Europe.

The city is not the nicest and not a place we would suggest spending a ton of time. 

You might find yourself here for two reasons.

1. If you visit Costa Rica by cruise, the Caribbean coast cruise terminal is located here.

2. If you are heading to the Southern Caribbean or down into Panama from anywhere else in Costa Rica, you will pass through here. 

Background Info About Limón Costa Rica

Nearest International Airport

Juan Santamaria International Airport

Popular Things to Do

Day tours to visit national parks, boat rides, exploring nearby towns

Best Way to Get Around

Rental car, walking in the downtown area

Best Time of Year to Visit

The best weather is from late July to October

Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide

We’re Thomas (the German) and Sarah (the US-er).

We met in Virginia, moved to Germany, and now live in sunny Costa Rica. It was a spontaneous decision to move here, but it was the best decision!

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Limón costa rica ocean view
crane Limón port
limon harbor
Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide

Map Of Limón

Limon is located on the Caribbean coast above Cahuita and below Tortuguero. It is a port city and is also often referred to as Puerto Limon.

Flights to Costa Rica

The easiest way of getting to Limon is by flying in to the San Jose International Airport. 

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, we suggest using Skyscanner. We consistently find the best rates through their website.

Driving to Limon

Our favorite option is to rent a car and drive to Limon on your own. The drive is not too bad for first time Costa Rica drivers.

In the beginning of your trip, you will have to do a little driving through San Jose though which can be a bit daunting and stressful.

After making it through San Jose you will drive through Braulio Carillo national park which is really pretty. The roads are well maintained here but there are a lot of curves in spots.

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Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide

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However, there has been a lot of road work here recently (they are widening the road so I doubt it will be over anytime soon) and there have been a lot of major backups.

You do not need a 4×4 for this route, but you might want something with a bit of power while driving through the national park.

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Private Shuttle to Limon

Adobe also has a private shuttle company and they are great! 

Their experience certified driver can pick you up anywhere in the country and take you to Limon.You can get a private shuttle price quote here.

Domestic Flights to Limon

Another option is to take a domestic flight from the San Jose Airport to Limon.

This is definitely the fastest way of getting here, but it is a bit more expensive.

You can check out prices and options here.

Public Bus to Limon Costa Rica

If coming from San Jose you can take the public bus from Mepe. You can see a complete time schedule here.

The ride will take you about two and a half hours and will cost about $12 per person for one way.

You will get on the bus going to Sixaola and just get off when you stop in Limon. Don’t worry, you won’t miss the stop because the bus stays at the Limon terminal for about ten minutes to let passengers buy snacks and use the bathroom.

Puerto Limon Cruise Port

Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide

The Limon cruise port is centrally located right near the city center. The port is equipped with a taxi stand and souvenir shops.

If you haven’t pre-booked shore excursions there will be plenty of people offering tours.

We always like to book ahead of time to make sure we find the best activities, but you do you!

If you take a taxi, please make sure you take an official taxi so that you get the regulated fare. You will know an official taxi because it will be red with a yellow triangle on the driver and passenger side doors. 

Unofficial taxi drivers are known to majorly overcharge. 

 

Transportation In Limon

It is best to drive or use a registered taxi while in downtown Limon. 

This area can be somewhat unsafe at night so please don’t walk around alone. 

Limon Costa Rica Weather

Here, the rainy season runs from mid-December until end of July. I know, that sounds like a whole lot of rainy time, but let me explain.

Although it can be rainy, you just never really know. We have visited in January and had amazing weather. We have also visited in January and had total washout days.

One thing we have noticed though is that usually when it rains, it at least often rains at night. Also, the temperature stays fairly warm even when raining.

Another weird thing, July is the rainiest month to visit Limon, but come August, it almost completely dries up.

You just never know in this country!

During the dry months the weather is amazing and warm!

Things to Do in Limon Costa Rica

Visit Cahuita National Park

Cahuita National Park is located about an hour from the city of Limón. We like this tour a lot because you can see a ton of wildlife in a short amount of time and the park is just amazing. 

Arrange Your Cahuita National Park Tour

Visit Tortuguero National Park on a Boat Ride

Tortuguero National Park is made up of a series of river waterways. This boat ride is a fun way to see a lot of wildlife and enjoy some different waterway views after days on your cruise ship.

 ⤷ Organize Your Visit to Tortuguero National Park

Take a Combo Tour

A combo tour is basically a tour that combines several different activities in one fun filled day. We like this because it takes the stress off of you to plan multiple activities and usually it is way cheaper than booking multiple things. 

Plan Your Day Excursion

Go Zip Lining

We love zip lining in Costa Rica! It is so fun to soar through the air with views of the jungle below you.

Book Your Zip Line Experience

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Limón Restaurants

There are very few restaurants here so we kind of stick to what we know is good.

Gecko Grill – Our top choice in the area. Definitely here as your first pick. They serve good Caribbean food and delicious cocktails. The service is also consistently great. 

Restaurant Cocori – Not a bad spot for beachfront views and seafood. 

Red Snapper Restaurant – We have always had good experiences here. The staff is friendly and they serve great traditional food. 

limon park costa rica
limon costa rica view
limon costa rica

Limón Costa Rica Hotels

There are not too many hotel options here. And the options you do have don’t have the best ratings.

But, as I mentioned I don’t suggest staying in the city of Limon.

If for whatever reason you do find yourself stuck here, here are three hotel options that will be OK.

Hotel Playa Westfalia – Located directly on the beach, this hotel has a private pool and on-site restaurant. Breakfast is included in the room rate. 

Aptos Casa Caribe – This place has a hostel style room if you are looking for something budget friendly as well as private double rooms. 

Martas Guesthouses – A basic one bedroom apartment woth small kitchen. It is very simple and dark in here, but if you are just looking for a place to sleep and cook, this will be fine. 

Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide
limon costa rica

Limon Travel Tips

– Not exactly a travel tip, but next time you go to the grocery store check the pineapples and bananas. Often times they come from Costa Rica. If they do, they have most likely traveled through the port city of Limon on their way to you (if you are in Europe or the east coast of the US).

– Please take your safety seriously here. It is unusual that anything happens, but petty crime can occur. 

Packing for Limon Costa Rica

Since you will most likely be visiting Limon from your cruise ship, I’ll instead focus on what to wear while on land. We like to wear breathable shorts, a tshirt, and shoes you can easily walk in. 

Don’t forget all the sun protection you can handle. The UV index here is high!

Check out our Limon Packing List on Amazon for all the essentials. 

Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide
Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide
Limón Costa Rica Complete Visitors Guide

You Might Also Like Visiting

Cahuita: A small beach town that is home to a beautiful national park.

Tortuguero: A relaxed village that is only accessible by boat. This is a great place to stay for wildlife canoe rides and seeing turtles nesting.

Puerto Viejo: A popular Caribbean coast town with backpackers. This town is great for surfing, yoga, and nightlife.

….if none of those appeal to you, check out our Guide to the Caribbean Coast for more ideas of places to visit in this area.