Costa Rica Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call
75 ships from 21 cruise lines
Costa Rica cruises at a glance
Waterways Cruise lists 222 upcoming sailings on 75 ships from 21 cruise lines visiting Costa Rica, calling at 9 places. Cruises can start in Puntarenas and end in Puntarenas. Of 222 upcoming sailings, 29 start in Costa Rica and 29 end there. More Central America & Mexico cruises.
Reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard · About this page · About us
Compare Costa Rica cruise lines
See every Costa Rica cruise line by ocean and river and by ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary style, with fares, cruise lengths, ships and ports.
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a biodiversity powerhouse on the Central American isthmus, offering Pacific and Caribbean cruise calls, lush national parks, and a culture of peace and eco-tourism. It suits milestone travelers who want genuine wildlife encounters and small-group experiences, but it is not a classic river cruise destination. The best match is an expedition or small-ship sailing that treats Costa Rica as the destination rather than a Panama Canal drive-by.
Typical routes
- Panama Canal and Pacific/Caribbean coastal transits for mid-size and large premium ships, with calls at Puntarenas/Caldera, Quepos, and Puerto Limón.
- Expedition and small-ship sailings focusing on Costa Rica as a destination, with calls at Golfito, Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay, and Tortuguero.
Ports overview
Costa Rica has no single great river cruise port; it has a Pacific side, a Caribbean side, and an inland network of navigable canals. Large cruise ships use Puntarenas/Caldera on the Pacific and Puerto Limón on the Caribbean, usually as stops on Panama Canal transits. Expedition ships and yachts use smaller anchorages such as Quepos, Golfito, Puerto Jiménez, and Drake Bay to put wildlife first.
Cruise season
December through April is the dry season and best for beach and wildlife visibility; May through November is the green season with lush scenery and fewer crowds but rain and access challenges. Sea turtle nesting at Tortuguero peaks July through October, and humpback whales appear on the Pacific side from July through November and again from December through March.
Find your Costa Rica sailing
Upcoming sailings calling at Costa Rica, earliest departure first.
27 Days One-Way from Los Angeles to Southampton
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Mexico, Panama
Queen Elizabeth
15 Days One-Way from Los Angeles to Miami
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Mexico, Panama
Queen Elizabeth
19 Days One-Way from New York to San Francisco
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Dominican Republic, Colombia
Norwegian Bliss
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17 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Aruba, Panama
Emerald Princess
16 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Colombia, Panama
Crystal Symphony
34 Days One-Way from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Colombia, Panama
Crystal Symphony
56 Days One-Way from Barcelona to Los Angeles
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits Spain, France, Italy
Oceania Sonata
46 Days One-Way from Civitavecchia-Rome to Los Angeles
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits Italy, Malta, Tunisia
Oceania Sonata
18 Days One-Way from Miami to Los Angeles
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Cayman Islands, Colombia
Oceania Sonata
26 Days One-Way from Los Angeles to Miami
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Mexico, Guatemala
Oceania Sonata
15 Days One-Way from Colon to Panama City
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits Panama, Colombia
ms Europa
25 Days Miami, USA Round Trip
Visits Costa Rica. Also visits United States, Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten
Oceania Vista
Where Costa Rica cruises start and end
Embarkation ports (2)
Puerto Limon (68) (cruises from) · Puntarenas (157) (cruises from)
Disembarkation ports (1)
Puntarenas (157)
Ships by type: 74 ocean 4 expedition · a ship that visits several places here is counted once; an expedition ship that also sails as an ocean ship appears under both types.
Plan your Costa Rica cruise
Costa Rica cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
Costa Rica cruise port guide →Frequently asked questions about Costa Rica cruises
How many places do cruises visit in Costa Rica?
9 Costa Rica places are visited by 75 ships from 21 cruise lines.
When is the best time to take a Costa Rica cruise?
December through April is the dry season and best for beach and wildlife visibility; May through November is the green season with lush scenery and fewer crowds but rain and access challenges. Sea turtle nesting at Tortuguero peaks July through October, and humpback whales appear on the Pacific side from July through November and again from December through March.
Sources and further reading
Background on Costa Rica draws on these references. Sailing, fare and port data come from cruise line itineraries and are refreshed regularly.
- CIA World Factbook: Costa Rica
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Costa Rica
- Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT): Visit Costa Rica
- OECD: Costa Rica Economic Snapshot
- SINAC: Tortuguero National Park
- Windstar Cruises: Costa Rica Cruises
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 31, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!