Maratopia Tours · Puerto Limón · Costa Rica
Caribbean Expedition
Nature, wildlife, culture, beach, and tropical Caribbean spirit in one varied tour — including the Tortuguero Canal, Cahuita National Park, and Maratopia.
Tour overview
A day full of Caribbean moments
The Caribbean Expedition combines the most important natural and cultural highlights around Puerto Limón in a personally guided small-group tour.
Experience the Tortuguero Canal, gain insight into banana cultivation, explore Cahuita National Park with its beach and wildlife, and visit Maratopia’s tropical garden for a seasonal fruit tasting.
Tour highlights
Six special moments in one day
Tortuguero Canal
A relaxed boat ride through tropical waterways with possible wildlife sightings.
Banana culture
Insight into tropical agriculture and the importance of bananas to the Caribbean region.
Cahuita National Park
Rainforest, coastline, beach, and wildlife in one of the Caribbean coast’s most beautiful natural settings.
Beach time
Depending on weather, sea conditions, and timing, the stop may include an opportunity to swim.
Maratopia
Large blue morpho butterflies, a tropical garden, and possible wildlife sightings.
Fruit tasting
Seasonal tropical fruit, mostly grown on site, plus bottled water.
Itinerary
Your Caribbean Expedition, step by step
The order may change depending on traffic, ship arrival, weather, or local conditions.
All listed main destinations remain part of the tour.
Cruise guests meet their guide on the street side outside the port at the Maratopia sign. The tour begins once the ship has docked and guests are permitted to disembark.
Independent travelers start and finish directly at Maratopia, where secure monitored parking is available.
Take your seat in the provided boat and experience the tropical canal landscape from a calm perspective. With a little luck, you may spot sloths, monkeys, iguanas, waterbirds, crocodiles, or other wildlife in their natural environment.
Along the way, you will gain insight into banana cultivation, tropical agriculture, and everyday life in the Caribbean region around Puerto Limón.
In Cahuita National Park, tropical rainforest, coastline, and wildlife come together. The pleasant trail repeatedly opens up beautiful views of the sea, beach, and vegetation.
Depending on weather, sea conditions, and timing, the beach stop may include an opportunity to swim.
To finish, visit Maratopia’s tropical garden. Large blue morpho butterflies are a signature part of the experience. Poison dart frogs, sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys, and exotic birds may also be seen, but wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Afterward, enjoy a small tasting of seasonal fruit, mostly grown at Maratopia.
Cruise guests are returned to the port in Puerto Limón. The return is planned around the ship’s actual schedule. For guests arriving independently, the tour ends at Maratopia.
Animals & Nature
What animals might you see?
The Caribbean Expedition passes through several natural habitats. What you may see depends on the time of day, weather, and natural conditions.
Morpho butterflies are a signature part of the Maratopia experience. All other animals live freely or depend on natural conditions, so sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Is this tour right for you?
Who is the Caribbean Expedition suitable for?
Several highlights in 5–6 hours, planned around the ship’s actual time in port.
Start and finish directly at Maratopia with secure monitored parking.
Different habitats, wildlife watching, and tropical plants.
Varied stops featuring nature, a boat ride, beach, wildlife, and fruit.
Suitable for guests with normal mobility; no strenuous hike is planned.
Entering and exiting the boat and walking an easy trail in the national park are required. Please contact us in advance if you have mobility restrictions.
Included services
Included in the price
- Transportation during the tour
- Boat ride on the Tortuguero Canal
- English-speaking guide
- Visit to a banana plantation
- Visit to Cahuita National Park
- Beach stop, weather and sea conditions permitting
- Admission to Maratopia
- Seasonal fruit tasting
- Bottled water
Not included: personal expenses and optional gratuities.
Meeting point & itinerary
How your Caribbean Expedition begins
Clear meeting points and planning based on the ship’s actual arrival and time in port.
Meeting point at the port exit on the street side by the Maratopia sign.
Start and finish directly at Maratopia; monitored parking is available.
The tour begins as soon as you are permitted to leave the cruise ship.
The return is adjusted to the ship’s actual schedule.
Gallery
Caribbean Expedition impressions
Guest reviews
Personally guided, varied experiences
Google Review★★★★★“Everything worked perfectly. Communication was clear, friendly, and very solution-oriented despite our limited time ashore.”
Google Review★★★★★“As a family, we had a private tour with our own guide and could choose the activities flexibly.”
Google Review★★★★★“A warm welcome, beautiful grounds, and a truly personal experience in Costa Rica’s nature.”
Frequently asked questions about the Caribbean Expedition
The tour is easy and is not designed as a strenuous hike. Guests must be able to enter and exit the boat and walk an easy trail in Cahuita National Park.
The Caribbean Expedition usually lasts 5–6 hours. For cruise guests, the exact itinerary also depends on the ship’s time in port and the conditions of the day.
Yes. A boat ride on the Tortuguero Canal near Puerto Limón is a fixed part of the tour. It is not the same as a longer excursion to Tortuguero National Park.
Yes. You will experience tropical rainforest, coastal scenery, beach, and, with a little luck, different wildlife.
Depending on weather, sea conditions, timing, and local conditions, swimming may be possible during the beach stop in Cahuita National Park.
No. Wildlife lives freely, and sightings depend on weather, time of day, and natural conditions. Large blue morpho butterflies, however, are a signature part of the Maratopia experience.
At the port exit on the street side. Look for the Maratopia sign. You will receive the exact details before the tour.
The ship’s actual arrival and clearance are taken into account. The tour begins as soon as you are permitted to leave the ship.
No deposit is required. Payment is made in cash on site. If the cruise ship does not call at Puerto Limón, there are no costs.
We recommend comfortable clothing, sturdy or slip-resistant shoes, sun and rain protection, insect repellent, a camera, and, if you would like to swim, swimwear and a towel.
Request without obligation
Check availability
The booking assistant guides you directly through the request.