Puerto Limon

[Williebill]

I have read that it is dangerous to walk around Puerto Limon, is this true?

[GetOffTheShip!]

There's another thread discussing Puerto Limon's dangers... see http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=862736

 

There's also a recent article about CR's port towns worth a read @ http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/business/costa-rican-ports/1716 -- thank goodness there are plenty of shore excursions within easy reach of the town.

[Williebill]

Thanks, I enjoyed the reads.

[tomko2]

We were in Puerto Limon last January and a bit reluctant to wander beyond the Port area but decided to at least go a couple of blocks. It was lovely; we walked two blocks from the pier then turned right and went down to the waterfront. After that we walked straight up the main street and stopped for a cold beer; we continued our stroll for another block then headed back to the ship. There were children trying to get money from us as we sat with our beer but the owner came out an shooed them away and then sat down with us. Although we did not wander too far, we still got to see a bit of the town. Photos in the link below.

Kathy:)

[TCF]

I wouldn't feel comfortable wandering around any of the Central America port towns...but this does not mean that cruisers can't have a really good time in these places.

In Limon you can walk up across the very wide truck lanes to the back of the pier area and you will find a wonderful market with booths selling an amazing selection of artisan crafts, textile products, coffee and spices. It is inside the pier security fence and very safe. Combine that with a shore excursion with one of the local companies...staying away from the big companies offered by the cruise lines...and you can drive through Limon...the countryside...ziplines...etc. This plan worked for us and increased security substanially.

We did a small local excursion in Caldera on the west coast of CR...that took us to a river cruise...lunch at a wonderful hotel in one of the country's forest reserves...and a stop in Esparza, the oldest town in Costa Rica.

In Cristobal Panama we just walked off the ship into the pier market where we found a treasure of Indian handcrafts, art, textiles, wood products, leather goods, etc., again all within the pier security perimeter fence. This is one of the best local markets we have experienced anywhere in Central America...the Caribbean...and the Amazon River!

Using some planning and looking out for your own security you can enjoy port stops pretty much anywhere. Do your research...plan carefully...and have a great cruise.

[Williebill]

We were in Puerto Limon last January and a bit reluctant to wander beyond the Port area but decided to at least go a couple of blocks. It was lovely; we walked two blocks from the pier then turned right and went down to the waterfront. After that we walked straight up the main street and stopped for a cold beer; we continued our stroll for another block then headed back to the ship. There were children trying to get money from us as we sat with our beer but the owner came out an shooed them away and then sat down with us. Although we did not wander too far, we still got to see a bit of the town. Photos in the link below.

Kathy:)

 

Thank you for the information!

Bill

[Williebill]

I wouldn't feel comfortable wandering around any of the Central America port towns...but this does not mean that cruisers can't have a really good time in these places.

 

In Limon you can walk up across the very wide truck lanes to the back of the pier area and you will find a wonderful market with booths selling an amazing selection of artisan crafts, textile products, coffee and spices. It is inside the pier security fence and very safe. Combine that with a shore excursion with one of the local companies...staying away from the big companies offered by the cruise lines...and you can drive through Limon...the countryside...ziplines...etc. This plan worked for us and increased security substanially.

 

We did a small local excursion in Caldera on the west coast of CR...that took us to a river cruise...lunch at a wonderful hotel in one of the country's forest reserves...and a stop in Esparza, the oldest town in Costa Rica.

 

In Cristobal Panama we just walked off the ship into the pier market where we found a treasure of Indian handcrafts, art, textiles, wood products, leather goods, etc., again all within the pier security perimeter fence. This is one of the best local markets we have experienced anywhere in Central America...the Caribbean...and the Amazon River!

 

Using some planning and looking out for your own security you can enjoy port stops pretty much anywhere. Do your research...plan carefully...and have a great cruise.

 

Thank you, I know we will taking in the pier shops.

Bill

[tomko2]

Thank you, I know we will taking in the pier shops.

Bill

 

The shops in the Pier area have a lovely selection of merchandise including rosewood and other exotic wood pieces. We bought two baguette servers and and a chopping board from a very nice man who provided us information on the various types of exotic woods. Photos of the Pier Area in our Panama Photos in the link below. Have a wonderful cruise.

Kathy:)

[Williebill]

The shops in the Pier area have a lovely selection of merchandise including rosewood and other exotic wood pieces. We bought two baguette servers and and a chopping board from a very nice man who provided us information on the various types of exotic woods. Photos of the Pier Area in our Panama Photos in the link below. Have a wonderful cruise.

Kathy:)

 

Thank you; also, have a wonderful cruise on the Independence of the Seas.

Bill

[Love the beach]

I wouldn't feel comfortable wandering around any of the Central America port towns...but this does not mean that cruisers can't have a really good time in these places.

 

In Limon you can walk up across the very wide truck lanes to the back of the pier area and you will find a wonderful market with booths selling an amazing selection of artisan crafts, textile products, coffee and spices. It is inside the pier security fence and very safe. Combine that with a shore excursion with one of the local companies...staying away from the big companies offered by the cruise lines...and you can drive through Limon...the countryside...ziplines...etc. This plan worked for us and increased security substanially.

 

We did a small local excursion in Caldera on the west coast of CR...that took us to a river cruise...lunch at a wonderful hotel in one of the country's forest reserves...and a stop in Esparza, the oldest town in Costa Rica.

 

In Cristobal Panama we just walked off the ship into the pier market where we found a treasure of Indian handcrafts, art, textiles, wood products, leather goods, etc., again all within the pier security perimeter fence. This is one of the best local markets we have experienced anywhere in Central America...the Caribbean...and the Amazon River!

 

Using some planning and looking out for your own security you can enjoy port stops pretty much anywhere. Do your research...plan carefully...and have a great cruise.

 

Just curious as to why you felt it was more secure to go with a private tour as opposed to the ship's excursions (I've always felt the opposite was true). We will be going there on our 1/28 Zuiderdam cruise, so I'm anxiously looking into everything! Thanks

[dst]

The shops in the Pier area have a lovely selection of merchandise including rosewood and other exotic wood pieces. We bought two baguette servers and and a chopping board from a very nice man who provided us information on the various types of exotic woods. Photos of the Pier Area in our Panama Photos in the link below. Have a wonderful cruise.

Kathy:)

 

Great pictures, thanks so much for sharing them :)

 

In Costa Rica - the area that has the wide open streets, is this just next to the ship and relatively a safe area. We have a tour booked but I was hoping to just poke around a bit and get a feel for the locals.

 

Did you have a beverage anywhere?

 

We are also stopping in Panama, any suggestions there. We do have a tour booked there but would like to do the same sort of thing in panama

 

By the way, love the "rock" climbing picture :D

[TCF]

Sorry...guess that paragraph was kind of confusing now that I have read it a couple of times. We always try to use the local small tour operators for a couple of reasons....one, they are almost always way cheaper and more flexible than those offered by the ship's contract operators, (the cruise lines pound the heck out of the tour operators when they negotiate the contracts with them...the less the operator makes per head the more the cruise lines can charge!)....two, the small local operators use smaller vehicles with fewer people so it is a better atmosphere. Finally...we have found that the small local operators won't go anyplace that they know is not secure for tourists, (keeping in mind that bad things happen to good people even at home and nothing is a guarantee).

 

It also answers your question about "getting to know the locals"....using a small local tour operator you can get close to the locals...all you have to do is ask and the operator will make it happen...at least that is our experience.

 

All that said there are some exceptions! We always take ship excursions if the excursion is going to be far away from the pier! We have found the roads in many of the places we go to are worse than awful and equipment does break down...we prefer to have the ship wait for us...or pay for the airfare to the next port...rather than get left behind to our own devices! So if you are going on an excursion that takes three hours to get there...two hours on the ground...and three hours to get back to the ship....then for sure you use a ship's excursion!!!

 

Hope this helps!

 

Have great cruise.

[tomko2]

Great pictures, thanks so much for sharing them :)

 

In Costa Rica - the area that has the wide open streets, is this just next to the ship and relatively a safe area. We have a tour booked but I was hoping to just poke around a bit and get a feel for the locals.

 

Did you have a beverage anywhere?

 

We are also stopping in Panama, any suggestions there. We do have a tour booked there but would like to do the same sort of thing in panama

 

By the way, love the "rock" climbing picture :D

 

Glad you liked the photos. The area with the wide open streets is outside the pier compound (which has gates and guards); it is just across the street and one block up; at this point you can go to your right two blocks to the waterfront or left into a street mall -- very open which makes it feel very safe. We stopped for a beer at a little bar; sat outside where a young boy wanted to do everything for us for a dollar but the owner shooed him away and then the owner sat down with us -- great guy with terrific sense of humour.

In Panama, we stayed on the ship because the Brilliance went thru the Gatum Locks into the lake area and we wanted to experience the "transit"; it was awesome.

Have a wonderful cruise!

Kathy:)

[dst]

Kathy:

 

Do you remember the name of the little bar, I think after our tour we may poke around and would definately like to get a beer.

 

Thanks a bunch

[LHP]

Kathy:

 

Do you remember the name of the little bar, I think after our tour we may poke around and would definately like to get a beer.

 

Thanks a bunch

 

I found a karaoke bar!!! (imagine that)

 

It you walk past the gate and past the straw market...go across the street and down to the first corner...(the park will be on your right)...you will find a bar that sells local beers for $2 and has karaoke!!!

[LHP]

The first 3 pictures are Limon, Costa Rica Port....

 

the next 5 are Colon, Panama port (Colon2000 Terminal)

 

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/568092721MqqOgO?start=24

 

 

Hubby and I walked all over downtown Costa Rica without a problem.

But again, we used a lot of common sense. We stayed on populated streets...left our jewelry on the ship....etc.

 

If you stay inside the white fence in Panama (although not restricted to tourist only) and leave your jewelry in the ship safe...you will be fine.

Just don't wear anything that can be "yanked" off and be aware of pick pockets. Don't go outside the white fence!!

[dst]

LHP - Thanks

 

Is your picture at the karaoke bar :) 2.00 beer and enterainment....gotta love that!

 

Thanks for the tips on Panama as well, we are doing the ships tour but it is only 3.5 hours long so we will have time to poke around. We will stay inside the white fence, did they have a bar?