Windstar Cruise

8 Days - Naturally Costa Rica [Puerto Caldera to Puerto Caldera]

8 Days - Naturally Costa Rica [Puerto Caldera to Puerto Caldera]
Starting from $1,999*

Puerto Caldera to Puerto Caldera

Ship: Wind Star

Departure Date : Jan 03 2026 | Jan 25 2026

Itinerary

Day Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa Rica
Departs 6:00 PM
One of the stops along the Panama Canal Zone route, Puerto Caldera on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast isn't your ordinary port of call, positioned as it is within easy day-trip distance of the country's multiple national parks. The town itself is small, but makes for an ideal base from which travelers can venture out to explore the variety of this Central American country's outdoor attractions and activities. These include snapping photos of gushing waterfalls (and swimming at the base of one, if you bring your swimsuit!), sightseeing near active volcanoes, bird-watching in nature reserves and sanctuaries and horseback riding on Pacific beaches . . . and that's just for starters. Visitors to Puerto Caldera and the surrounding region also enjoy shopping for handicrafts that local artists sell at their cooperatives, as well as sampling traditional Tico cuisine, especially gallo pinto—a combination of rice and beans eaten at any time of the day or night. Puerto Caldera is the perfect reminder that adventure often awaits just around the bend.
Puerto Caldera (Puntarenas), Costa Rica
Day Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
Arrives 07:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM
Playa Flamingo is considered one of Central America’s most beautiful beaches with it pristine blue water, exotic marine life, and some of the best deep sea fishing to be found. Located in Punta Salinas on the country’s Gold Coast, Playa Flamingo is the only full-service marina between Acapulco and Panama. Other water activities include year-round SCUBA diving, swimming, and snorkeling. The stunning and unspoiled white-sand beaches will remain in your memory for years to come.
Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
Day Curu National Wildlife Refuge
Arrives 07:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM
By 1981 the area's dry and wet tropical forests received protective status which opened the door for the foundation of the national park, established only two years later.

This 208 acre (84 ha) refuge forms the heart of the larger 3,696 acre (1,496 ha) private cattle ranch that originally encompassed the entire area in the 1930's. The area is home to 232 different bird species as well as a multitude of plant and animal life common to the region. The Curu River winds its way through the park, fueling the complex mangrove ecosystem that borders its murky waters. The swampy river bank transitions into a combination of wet and dry tropical forest which is common in Nicoya's south, further inland.

Leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles use the park's white-sand beach to lay eggs during nesting season. The beach also offers rudimentary cabin accommodations at $6 a bed, per night-a great option for visitors seeking ample time in the park to explore its many wonders. Here, food and horse rentals are available at a modest price.

Accommodations can be made at any of the surrounding tourist towns, as well as guided tours through the park. Because Curu is privately owned, there are also some rustic lodges onsite that can be rented.

The road to Curu is unpaved, thus a four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary to navigate the area.
Curu National Wildlife Refuge
Day Punta Arenas, Chile
Arrives 07:00 AM Departs 09:00 PM
If Punta Arenas exudes an "edge of the world" air, it's not without reason. This windblown city near Chile's southernmost tip sits on the Strait of Magellan, which itself is positioned squarely between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The city has played—and continues to play—an important role in geographic, political and economic affairs in South America's so-called Southern Cone, which is formed by Chile and neighboring Argentina. Too many travelers rush through Punta Arenas, treating it as a pit stop on their way to the stunningly beautiful landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park and other attractions in Patagonia, but there's plenty in this city and its environs to experience, too. From penguin spotting on Isla Magdalena and kayaking the Strait of Magellan to visiting area farms and then indulging in surf-and-turf specialties (here meaning fresh seafood and asado, or Chilean barbecue) at local restaurants, Punta Arenas is worth a stopover all its own.
Punta Arenas, Chile
Day Quepos, Costa Rica
Arrives 06:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM
The former banana-exporting town of Quepos is your basecamp for a day of rainforest adventure. Take a walk along trails that weave up to waterfalls, or ride horseback to a beautiful jungle pool. A float trip through a mangrove swamp populated by monkeys, crocodiles, egrets, and herons is also available. Or you may choose a nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, easy trails, and abundant animal life. 
Quepos, Costa Rica
Day Golfito, Costa Rica / Puerto Jimenez (Golfo Dulce), Costa Rica
Arrives 06:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM
We make a brief stop in Golfito for customs clearance, which the purser will take care of.

Puerto Jimenez (Golfo Dulce), Costa Rica

Picture Jurassic foliage growing down steep hillsides all the way to the waterline, the hoots of monkeys echoing through trees choked by orchids. Golfo Dulce is one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse areas, where both the jungle and the sea brim with life. Explore the canals by kayak in search of javelinas, butterflies, and more bird species than in all of North America.
Golfito, Costa Rica / Puerto Jimenez (Golfo Dulce), Costa Rica
Day Isla Parida, Panama
Arrives 07:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM
Located within a Nature Preserve of 50 islands, and part of Chiriqui Marine National Park lovely Isla Parida boasts magnificent beaches, one of which is over 1,300 feet long. The crystal clear waters stay at 82 degrees year round and are filled with marine life. There are numerous hardwood trees like teak, mahogany, and eucalyptus, and fruit trees like mango, banana and coconut trees. Here you will be treated to Windstar's Signature Beach Party on a secluded beach that faces the Pacific Ocean.
Isla Parida, Panama
Day Balboa / Fuerte Amador, Panama
Arrive 07:00 AM
One of the entrances to the Panama Canal on the Pacific side, Balboa/Fuerte Amador was founded in 1519 and is a short distance from Panama City. In 2012 Balboa was ranked #1 in Latin America in the category of world's busiest container ports. Sightseeing highlights include the colonial homes, the Administration Building, the Goethals Memorial, the Prado, and the local handicraft markets of traditional Panamanian crafts.
Balboa / Fuerte Amador, Panama
 
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