Limon Costa Rica Cruise Port | Costa Rica Tours

Excursion Highlights:

• Embark on an enchanting exploration of Costa Rica with a thrilling Jungle Cruise along the Tortuguero Canal
• A brief stop at Playa Bonita awaits, where you can enjoy the stunning panoramic view
• Enjoy a picturesque drive along the Caribbean Coast, Banana Plantations, and charming villages
• Immerse yourself in the lush rainforest, experiencing the diverse flora and fauna of the Bananito Jungle
• Unwind and savor a local Costa Rican Lunch, and indulge in pure Chocolate made from 100% organic cacao
• Explore the ecological jungle farm, showcasing a variety of fruits and medicinal plants,
• Get acquainted with making chocolate from pure ‘organic cacao’ from ‘Bean to Bar.’
• Visit (the banana plantation) at Bananito village, founded by the Dole Fruit Company
• Explore key highlights in Puerto Limon, including the statue of Christopher Columbus
• Enjoy the souvenir stores and shopping

Upon your arrival at the Limón Costa Rica Cruise port in the morning, your dedicated driver will be ready to take you on an exciting journey to the Tortuguero Canal, often referred to as the “Amazon of Costa Rica” for its lush rainforests and intricate network of freshwater channels, lagoons, and navigable canals. The highlight of Tortuguero is a scenic boat tour through these waterways.

The guided boat tour offers a stunning exploration of the canals, with ample opportunities to observe the region’s rich wildlife and vibrant vegetation. You’ll encounter a variety of animals, including monkeys, sloths, caimans, river turtles, and numerous bird species. After the Canal Tour, a brief stop at Playa Bonita will allow you to enjoy its breathtaking panoramic views.

Next, your journey continues along the beautiful Caribbean coastline with a picturesque drive toward the Bananito Jungle. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure as you cross the Banaga River, entering a hidden paradise filled with rainforests, diverse flora, and abundant wildlife showcased during the Jungle and Farm Tour.

This experience takes you deep into the lush forests of Bananito, located between Cahuita and Puerto Limón in the Province of Limón. Explore the area’s vibrant wildlife and pristine natural beauty, with the peaceful Bananito River bordering the region and a secluded waterfall tucked away in the heart of the forest.

Upon joining our guided tour, you’ll be warmly welcomed at our nature-integrated ranchos and introduced to the grounds, and enjoy fresh fruits and a local lunch snack. These lands, possibly once inhabited by indigenous peoples, have a rich history and continue to reveal fascinating archaeological finds. Follow a trail through the secondary rainforest into the primary forest, where an ancient canopy shelters many tropical plants and wildlife. Discover a hidden waterfall and let the serenity of nature take over.

After the Jungle and Farm Tour, we will head back to Puerto Limón, where you’ll enjoy scenic views before visiting notable landmarks, including the statue of Christopher Columbus. A short shopping stop will conclude the day before returning to the Cruise Port in time for your departure.

Note 1: The order of the excursion activities may vary to provide the best client experience

Note 2: In case of too high water levels to cross the river and reach the ‘Hidden Paradise’ Bananito Jungle, the Jungle and Farm Tour ‘part’ of the tour will be replaced with Cahuita National Park

Experience the enchanting Tortuguero Canal aboard our eco-friendly electric boats. Depending on your Shore Excursion, choose from early morning or afternoon tours and immerse yourself in the vibrant rainforests, teeming with wildlife, including sea turtles, crocodiles, and various exotic creatures.

Discover the hidden gem of Tortuguero, a labyrinth of waterways that offers a one-of-a-kind rainforest adventure. This unique experience allows you to delve into the dense jungle, brimming with a wide variety of flora and fauna, without the need to navigate muddy trails. Often hailed as the ‘Amazon of Costa Rica,’ the Tortuguero Canals form the country’s second-largest wetland in the northern Caribbean region. Accessible only by boat or plane, this remote area is a sanctuary of biodiversity, waiting to be explored.

Embark on a journey through this extensive system of natural and artificial waterways, where each scenic boat ride unveils a breathtaking variety of wildlife. With our knowledgeable ICT Licensed guides at your service, ready to share their expertise on the region’s plant and animal species, your adventure becomes an enlightening and unforgettable experience.

Bird enthusiasts will find Tortuguero a magical destination, home to over 400 species, making it an extraordinary spot for bird watching. This exceptional natural setting offers an immersive experience in one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse regions.

Bananito is a secluded village, far removed from the typical tourist path, where the focus is primarily on bananas. Significant companies like Dole, Chiquita, and Del Monte provide many low-skill jobs in the area. However, as you follow the Bananito River upstream, nature increasingly takes center stage.

Just 4 miles up the river lies the tiny village of Banaga, where most locals live off their farms, and tourism is almost nonexistent. Our meeting point is the local bar, Monterrey, from where we’ll cross the river to reach our property.

Here, you’ll find a true “green paradise,” spanning 300 acres, from the river’s edge deep into the primary rainforest. My neighbor, Johnny Abraham, who grew up on the opposite side of the river, is where I, known as “The Dutch Biologist of Cahuita,” first discovered the beauty of the Bananito area and jungle life. Johnny, whose father is Spanish and mother is from the Bribri indigenous group, comes from a family known for their farming expertise.

Over ten years, during my visits and stays, Johnny taught me how to build a house and grow food, and we spent many evenings reflecting on life beyond its material aspects. Eventually, I bought 80 acres of lush jungle next to his land, and now we guide visitors together on our combined 300 acres of rainforest.

Along the riverside, there’s a spot to barbecue or jump into the current from a nearby ridge. Johnny, his wife, and his daughter live in a large wooden rancho with a thatched roof, where you’ll be welcomed, meals will be prepared, and we’ll get ready for our first adventure.

From their garden, a trail leads into the secondary rainforest, farmland about 40 years ago but has since transformed into a thriving wilderness. Trees proliferate in this tropical climate, and the trail becomes narrower as the atmosphere denser.

As we venture further, the humidity makes you sweat, and the sounds of the jungle heighten your senses. If it rains, you’ll experience the rainforest in its true essence. Stay alert as we head toward the foothills of the Caribbean slope; anything could happen—perhaps even a glimpse of a jaguar.

In the distance, the sound of a waterfall grows louder, signaling that our destination is near. A refreshing plunge beneath the cascading water awaits.