SHORE EXCURSIONS · BY REGION
The best days ashore.
The 15 most popular caribbean shore excursions for cruise passengers. The trips worth your hours ashore, what each one runs, who operates it and how to be back before all-aboard.
Half-day St Maarten beach tour with Orient Bay fun and Maho Beach plane watching, plus guide and refreshments on the way.
Most Popular“Daniel was amazing!! He gave a lot of great information & made it fun!! It rained on & off but I’m so glad we took this tour!!”
Guided St. Thomas shore trip with duty-free shopping in Charlotte Amalie, Mountain Top viewpoints, and 2 hours at Magens Bay.
“Very good experience and a lot of fun.good information on history and the shopping was great.the tour guide was the best!”
Nassau snorkeling shore excursion with clear-water swim stops and an optional shark encounter, plus gear and port transfers included.
“The staff on the boat are very friendly and responsible. Although it was a windy day, we felt safe and were enjoyed our snorkeling.”
Kayak St Thomas Mangrove Lagoon and snorkel calm channels with a local guide, plus pickup and easy timing for cruise day.
“We enjoyed the Kayaking and snorkling, although I believe it got cut short due to time issues. Pick up was not communicated well and we had to find someone to actually call an find out if pickup was still happening. As such, we were picked up late.”
A half-day dune buggy ride from Amber Cove or Taino Bay to Montellano, with an optional Playa Bergantin swim and lots of mud.
“Very organized. They were right where instructions said they would be. Check in was quick. Guides were great stop was so so. Aggressive sellers. Other than the stop everything was perfect”
Puntarenas rainforest SkyWalk plus Tarcoles River cruise. Suspended canopy bridges, wildlife spotting, Santa Lucia shopping, crocodiles.
“This tour is as described, small group of 8 from cruise ship on a very comfortable van. Superb guide Ronald, very knowledgable, friendly and pay attention to our needs. Also thank you to our driver Fernando. We stop at a bridge in the morning saw many crocodiles, walk in the forest with suspended bridges, snack…”
North Martinique shore tour: Balata Cathedral, waterfalls, Saint-Pierre ruins, and a black-sand beach with rum tasting.
“Great experience. Emily our guide was amazing. Made sure that all occupants were engaged and enjoying the trip.”
Speedboat snorkeling from Philipsburg to Creole Rock, Tintamarre, Pinel and beaches, with unlimited drinks and a timed ship-safe return.
“This is our second time with this company on this tour. This was the highlight of our trip and we will do it again when back. This company is ran by a small family and gives you that family personal touch, felt more like being on the boat with friends as opposed to a company.…”
Caribbean Highlights from Limon: Tortuguero Canals boat safari, Playa Bonita swim, Limon port culture, plus banana and farm stops for $79.
“Juan and Charlie were the best tour guides we’ve ever had. Very fun, polite, respectful and informative. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone, you will not be disappointed”
A fast 6-in-1 Puerto Limón shore excursion with Cahuita nature, a working banana farm, and a Tortuguero Canal boat ride, plus city sights.
“Seeing the animals in their native environment. Lunch stop should be included. Water should have been given free”
Southern Martinique shore tour with rum tasting, spice shopping, Diamond Rock views, and Anses d’Arlet beach time for up to 18.
“The guide took us to a distillery and a spice shop, and around the island. Most of the time spent in the bus he had animated conversations with the driver, even though the road was heavily travelled with tight curves. To get some information about the island, you had to ask.”
Nassau in half a day by van with stops for rum cake, Queen’s Staircase photos, chocolate, and rum tastings—plus local history notes.
“Tyronne was the best!! Most accommodating and informative! We didn’t go in a big group and he was really nice enough to schedule our own private time due to covid. The Rum cake was my favorite part, he is not lying when he says it’s the best!!”
Puerto Limón shore excursion to Cahuita National Park and Tortuguero canals, with sloth-spotting chances plus guided wildlife and boats.
“Luis and Jordy were experts at finding wildlife and bringing our boat around so we could all see the critters and get photos - even in the pouring rain. It was an excellent, memorable day and I highly recommend this trip.”
Zipline over the rainforest and cruise the Tortuguero Canal from Limón in one cruise-friendly day, with wildlife spotting and port transfers.
“Our guide (Michelli) was along for the ride. I believe she was new with the company and although she has lived in Costa Rica her entire life, she sat on the bus mostly in silence. Perhaps the company should have trained her properly. We got to the zip line (which was great). Michellli gave us…”
Kayak French Cay harbor and snorkel Roatan reef in a small group with port pickup, provided gear, and A/C transport.
“Easy directions for pick up from port. Our driver/guide, Jacob was thoughtful, knowledgeable, personable and patient, particularly with our poor attempt at paddling the kayak. The two guys escorting us for the snorkelling were less professional. We both felt deserted by the guide in the water who simply swam off. Honestly, if one of us…”
Every coast a ship calls at, and the best of every port day.
