Major city · Costa Rica
Puerto Limón
Spend 1–2 days in Puerto Limón: explore the historic port, see heritage buildings and do a 90‑min white‑water rafting on the Reventazón; longer only for cruise ship layovers or as a transit hub.
Puerto Limón is Costa Rica's main Caribbean port and a gateway to Tortuguero. Its colonial‑style buildings, a short river‑rafting experience and easy bus links make it a good half‑day or full‑day stop, especially for cruise passengers or travelers heading east.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CRC
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- avoid Sep–Oct (rainy, occasional flooding)
- Airport
- LIO
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Costa Rica ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Costa Rica's immigration authority (Migración) or a Costa Rican consulate; proof of onward travel is commonly required.
- Costa Rica ↗Rental cars require mandatory local liability insurance, often not included in online quotes: check the full price before booking.
- Costa Rica ↗Do not feed wildlife, including monkeys and coatis; it is illegal and harmful.
- Costa Rica ↗Buy national park tickets (Manuel Antonio, Poás, Irazú and others) online from SINAC before you go; several parks do not sell at the gate and cap daily numbers.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Puerto Limón911 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Puerto Limón, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.Costa Rica-wide
- SIM or eSIMKölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.Costa Rica-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.Costa Rica-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.Costa Rica-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Costa Rica-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe for tourists; stay alert at night in poorly lit areas and keep valuables secure on buses.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.Costa Rica-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police / ambulance · 911 fire
- Sundays & holidayscheckManuel Antonio closes on Tuesdays (check); Semana Santa Thursday–Friday shuts most businesses.Costa Rica-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportLIO Limón International Airport.
- Getting aroundCity is walkable; intercity buses run from San José (3 h, ₡2,500) and Puerto Viejo (1 h 15 min, ₡1,400).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at local café₡1,200–2,000
- Budget bedBudget double room (fan, en suite), a night, per roomCRC 6,500
- Mid-range bedBudget double room (fan, en suite), a night, per roomCRC 10,000
- High-end bedBudget double room (fan, en suite), a night, per roomCRC 15,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CRC 3,500 · Mid CRC 6,000 · High CRC 10,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- LIO Limón International Airport
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Mar
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
May
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Sep–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest May (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C) low), wettest Sep (13 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Puerto Limón: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Feb
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
3 rd
Apr
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
4 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
6 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
9 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
6 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
3 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
City is walkable; intercity buses run from San José (3 h, ₡2,500) and Puerto Viejo (1 h 15 min, ₡1,400). Taxis are available but negotiate fare.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Tortuguero (via Moin)
goDoor to door: ≈ 1 h total
Bus from Puerto Limón to Moin (15 min), then boat to Tortuguero
Common gateway for Tortuguero tours.
Reventazón River rafting
goDoor to door: ≈ 2 h including travel
Local operator pickup in town, 90‑min trip
Class 2 rapids, suitable for beginners.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hotel International
Cheap option, 300 m east of Black Star Line, double room ₡6,500
Costa Rica Tree House
Eco‑lodge near Limón
Hotel Miami
En‑suite double room with fan, US$33
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₡3,500–5,500 excl. bed
- Mid
- ₡6,000–8,000 excl. bed
- High
- ₡10,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double1 × 1 night × CRC 25,000 | CRC 25,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CRC 6,000 | CRC 12,000 |
| Bus San José → Limón2 × CRC 2,500 | CRC 5,000 |
| Reventazón rafting (90 min)2 × CRC 15,000 | CRC 30,000 |
| eSIM data (1 week)2 × CRC 15,000 | CRC 30,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CRC 10,200 |
| Trip total≈ CRC 56,100 per person per day, bed included | CRC 112,200 |
2026 estimate in colones; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bus San José → Limón | ₡2,500 |
| Bus Puerto Viejo → Limón | ₡1,400 |
| White‑water rafting (90 min) | ₡12,000–20,000 |
| Coffee at local café | ₡1,200–2,000 |
| Seafood soup at Park Hotel Restaurant | US$5–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Bus schedules can change; check latest times at the terminal.
- Rain can make roads slick; keep an eye on flash floods during Sep–Oct.
Emergency numbers
- Police / ambulance
- 911
- Fire
- 911
Pocket card
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Puerto LimónPuerto Limón
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police / ambulance911
Embassy
US consulate in San José; other embassies in the capital.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- San José → Limón bus: about ₡2,500, 3 h (check)
- Reventazón rafting: ≈ ₡12,000–20,000 for 90 min (check)
Say or show
- Hola — Hello (hola)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much? (kwanto kwesta)
- ¿Dónde está la parada del bus? — Where is the bus stop? (donde esta la parada del bus)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Puerto Limón. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season) · avoid Sep–Oct (rainy, occasional flooding) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add a night at Hotel International for cruise‑ship layovers.
- Include a guided city‑walk covering United Fruit HQ and Black Star Line.
Sources
Ask about Puerto Limón
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