Puerto Caldera

Visiting Puerto Caldera

Puerto Caldera is port city in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. The old port used to be located in Puntarenas, but was recently moved to Puerto Caldera. The main port on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, it is where most goods are imported and exported. It is also one of the cruise ship ports in Costa Rica, so you will see many cruise ships docking at this port. It is located close to San Jose, Puntarenas, Jaco and popular tourist destinations in the Nicoya Peninsula.

Though there are many great places to visit in Costa Rica, not many put Caldera on that list. It is primarily a port town and you won’t find a lot of tourist amenities here. You will find many some bars, restaurants and shops though, that have been set up to cater to the cruise ships who stop here. If you’re looking to get off the beaten path, you can visit Puerto Caldera and enjoy its unspoiled beaches, swaying palms, and gorgeous weather.

Why come to Caldera?

Puerto Caldera is a very convenient place to travel, not only because of its vicinity to other cities and destinations but because it is a port. Once you are done exploring you can hop onto your cruise ship and travel to many other places. You can also use Puerto Caldera as a starting point of your Costa Rica vacation. There are several exciting attractions just minutes away! PLace like Jaco, Carara Biological Reserve, Arenal Volcano, Tarcoles rivers, … can all be put on your list from here.

Puerto Caldera may not be the first on your list of travel destinations but it is more than worth a visit.

Highlights

The Surf

Costa Rica has many great surfing destinations and Puerto Caldera is one of them. During low tide, the waves and surf breaks have just the right consistency and beginner surfers can find waves to practice on. There are also some decent surf camps near by if you are still learning to surf. A lot of these surf camps offer a hostel to stay at if you are traveling on a budget. The best time to come for surfing is during the week, as the weekend tends to be more crowded.

Tortuga Island

If like deserted islands than you will love Tortuga Island. This little island is located just off of the Nicoya Peninsula. You can take 1-day luxury excursions to this island, explore trails and see Costa Rican wildlife.

Another fun activity in the area is a visit to the Carara National Park, only a 30-minute drive away from Puerto Caldera. You can see the famous crocodiles under the Tarcoles Bridge and spending a day birding in the jungle. It is a famous area for Scarlet Macaws.

Sport Fishing

An activity gaining lots of popularity lately is sport fishing. The main spot for sport fishing around the Puerto Caldera area is at the Los Sueños Marina. There are hundreds of ships and captains to that will take you out to sea. You will have a thrill catching fish like Billfish, Yellow fin Tuna, and Dorado.

Tips

Visit between December-May:

The dry season along the Pacific coast is from December to May. You’ll find gorgeous blue skies all day, every day!

Use Puerto Caldera as a starting point:

Although there are not a lot of attractions in Puerto Caldera, there are several amazing destinations to visit nearby.

Getting There

Getting to Puerto Caldera is very easy from the capital city, San Jose. It is a short 1-hour drive, west of San Jose. My Costa Rica can help you arrange a private transfer or shared shuttle. Or, you can rent a car. If you decide to rent a car, make sure you reading about driving in Costa Rica!

Where to Stay

Although the small town of Caldera doesn’t have a large variety of places to stay, if you look just outside the town you will find a large selection. One of our favorite places here is at Los Sueños Marriot, they have a huge selection of rooms and villas to choose from. You will also like the rental properties that are perfect for larger groups. Another great place is the Oceano Hotel, they have 64 rooms, suites, and penthouses on offer, you are sure to enjoy your stay here.