Puerto Caldera - Puntarenas Dec 17

Hi..Looking for ideas suggestions for what people enjoyed doing whilst on this stop... not interested in zip lining.. also don't want to spend hours and hours in a mini van getting to a destination.

What would everyone who has been recommend? that they enjoyed doing?

And which tour operators?

We are just a couple... looking for a private tour....

Thanks in advance

WE will there the same day [HAL] and a group of us who have 'met up' over on the website are taking Jose's Crocodile Tour. It is a private tour and not offered by HAL. It is recommended by people on every website I have seen and is rather inexpensive [$95] includes transportation by a/c van, a tour of a monkey farm prior to getting on the small boat for a trip amongst the crocodiles then lunch before getting back to the ship with plenty of time to walk around Puerto Caldera [Puntarenas]. Seating is limited.

Unfortunately there isn’t much really close by... pretty much everything is at least 45mins away by car. The town/beach at the pier doesn’t have a whole lot to look at.

Renting a car isn’t possible either (since they don’t stamp your passport when you get off the boat).

We negotiated with some of the drivers at the end of the pier and got a private van for about $135 total for our party of 6 people ($115+$20 for a translator/tour guide).

We checked out some monkeys, crocodiles, and birds on the side of the road in various places.

Carara National Park is supposed to be great for walking/hiking, though we had an elderly person with us, so skipped this.

Had a great lunch at a local spot in Jaco (Rustico’s; fish was amazing). There is supposed to be good surfing south of Jaco too.

We are on our way to check out a coffee plantation now, and then headed back to the boat.

We really wanted to rent a car/do our own thing, but we had fun today!

If your ship docks at Puntarenas, you can walk off the dock and will be in town. You will see tour sellers on the dock and on shore.

They usually have a flea market right off the dock,

If you dock at Puerto Caldera, you will have to take a shuttle to the port gate and deal with taxi or van drivers for a tour. There is no town within walking distance.

They have a small area in the port building with souvenir type stuff.

Caldera and Puntarenas are about eight miles apart.

The tour sellers have several tours they like to do, or will make the tour as you like it if you have enough people to fill their vehicle. Study the tours offered by the ship and others, and choose the items that interest you .

If you want something a ltitle different, check the tours offered by turismocuru.

http://Www.turismocuru.com