How to take the Puntarenas Ferry to and from Paquera

Everything you need to know about taking the Nicoya ferry to Puntarenas or Paquera, including a step-by-step guide to how to buy tickets.

The Puntarenas-Paquera ferry loaded with vehicles ready for travel.

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We love a ferry crossing because it’s a bit of an adventure and usually means you’re heading somewhere a little further off the beaten path. Taking a ferry is also a relaxing and more scenic way to see a little more of a destination than just driving on the main roads.

To get to the Nicoya Peninsula from mainland Costa Rica you have two options: take the main road (Paso del Tempisque) around the north of the Gulf of Nicoya (Golfo de Nicoya) or take the Naviera Tambor Ferry across the Gulf of Nicoya. Unless you’re coming from the north of Costa Rica, the road can take a lot longer than the ferry. However finding out information about the ferry, like times, prices, and how to buy tickets, can be stressful and frustrating. We’ve put together this thorough guide to taking the Puntarenas-Paqurea ferry based on our own experiences – and mistakes – and included everything you need to know so you can have a smooth and stress-free ferry crossing.

The Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry at a glance

Where: The route for the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry connects the Nicoya Peninsula with Costa Rica’s mainland.
When: There are eight departures a day, which can be found in the ferry schedule.
How: The Naviera Tambor Ferry runs the route for passengers and vehicles.
Tickets: Buy ferry tickets online or in person.
Price: Ferry ticket prices are per person and per vehicle, priced in Costa Rican Colónes (₡).
Time: The ferry journey takes 60 to 80 minutes and you should arrive an hour early if you have already bought tickets, or at least 90 minutes early to buy tickets in person.

Where is the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry?

The Nicoya ferry route runs from the port town of Puntarenas on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast to the small town of Paquera on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Paquera is the gateway to the peninsula and is a popular starting point for visitors travelling to areas including Montezuma, Tamarindo, and Santa Teresa.

This map shows where the ferry goes from Puntarenas to Paquera and back, spanning the Gulf of Nicoya. — Click here for an interactive map of the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry crossing

More from Nicoya

The pros and cons of taking the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry

If you’re wondering which route is best for you – the inland route or the ferry – we’ve put together some pros and cons below:

Pros

You see super scenic views on the crossing.
It can cut hours off your journey.
It can save you money on petrol.
It can be quicker than taking the inland route.

Cons

Information is hard to find online.
Tickets are per person so families and large groups will pay more than if priced per vehicle.
You spend a while waiting in queues to board and deboard.
There can be traffic in Puntarenas, which can add time to your journey.

Read our Essential Guide to Driving in Costa Rica

A view from the top deck of the Puntarenas ferry as it moves across the water. — The ferry connects the Costa Rican mainland with the Nicoya Peninsula

Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry Facts

The Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry is not a common service used by tourists and so there is very little information online regarding the route and the ferry itself. We have included some facts below to get you started.

The route across the Gulf of Nicoya is 11 nautical miles.
The journey takes about 60 to 80 minutes.
The ferry holds 170 cars and up to 700 passengers.
The boat is called Naviera Tambor.
Tickets can be bought on the QuickPayCR website online, or in person.

The greenery of the Costa Rican Pacific coastline as viewed from a ferry. — The Nicoya ferry runs from Puntarenas to Paquera and back

Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry Schedule

The Naviera Tambor Ferry leaves from Puntarenas for Paquera on this schedule:

4:00
6:30
9:00
12:00
14:30
18:00
20:00
22:00

The Naviera Tambor Ferry leaves from Paquera for Puntarenas on this schedule:

4:00
6:30
9:00
12:00
14:30
18:00
20:00
22:00

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Passengers leaving their vehicles on a the Nicoya Peninsula ferry. — There are several ferries every day of the week

Puntareanas- Paquers Ticket Prices

Tickets for the ferry to and from the Nicoya peninsula are priced per person and by vehicle category:

Adults: ₡810 (~ $1.50)
Children under 12: ₡485 (~ $1)
Regular-sized car: ₡12,882 (~ $24)
Motorcycle: ₡3,842 (~ $7)
Bicycle: ₡2,486 (~ $5)

A car and two people cost us ₡13.692,00 (~$26 / £15). Obviously, as years go by, prices inflate slightly.

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica as viewed from a ferry. A rocky island stands out against the water. — Taking the Nicoya Ferry can save you money driving the long inland route

Buying Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry Tickets

There are two ways to buy tickets for the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry: online and in person. Buying online is recommended to guarantee your spot and can be done on the Ferry website. We’ve detailed a step-by-step process for buying tickets below.

How to buy Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry Tickets online

You can buy tickets for the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry in advance online. This is the recommended way to book tickets as your spot on the ferry is guaranteed. The official website to buy tickets is the Quickpay CR website.

It is not possible to buy tickets online within 2 hours of the departure time.

The website is in Spanish but you can easily translate the page to your chosen language with Google Translate. We’ve also compiled a step-by-step process you can follow to buy tickets, with English translations, below:

1. Choose the destination, date, and time

Salida y Destino = Departure and Destination

Select if you are travelling from Puntarenas to Paquera or vice-versa. Then select the date and time you’d like to take the ferry.

Choose the date and time you’d like to travel.

A Nomad America car with rooftop tent parked on a ferry. — Tickets for the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry can be bought online or in person

2. Specify persons and vehicle information

Tipo de servicio = Type of service

If you are travelling on foot:

Choose Persona(s) = Persons.

Then put the number of adults (adultos), children (niños), and seniors (adult mayor) in your group.

If you are travelling with a car:

Choose Vehiculo = Vehicle.

Then, choose from the list of vehicle types:

Vehículo Liviano(Automovíl/SUV) = passenger vehicle – a standard car like sedans and SUVs.
Vehículo carga liviana (PLACA CL) = light cargo vehicle a CL plate – i.e. a pick or similar with a red license plate.
Motocicleta = motorbike.
Cuatriciclos y triciclos = quadricycles and tricycles.
Bicicletas = bicycles
Vehículo 2, 3, 4, 5 ejes = for trucks and lorries.
Microbus, Buestas, Buses (2 ejes) are for buses.

Con Remolque = with a trailer.

Then, specify how many adults (adultos), children (niños), and seniors (adult mayor) are in your group.

The Puntarenas ferry schedule displayed on a large board outside the terminal. — If you buy tickets in person, you must arrive with plenty of time

3. Add your details

Datos Generales = general data
Número de placa del vehículo = license plate number

Here, you can write ‘Rental Car’ if you haven’t picked up your car yet. On your day of travel, you will need to go into the ticket office with your receipt and license plate number upon arrival at the port.

Nombre del client = your name.
Número de teléfono = your telephone number.
Correo Electrónico = your email address.

Datos para factura = type of receipt (this is for people that need one for Costa Rica tax purposes so you likely don’t need to fill it in). You can choose Sin factura = without receipt

Accept the terms and conditions and move to payment.

4. Payment

Enter your card details and click Confirmar Compra to pay.

Save the ticket to your phone so you have it offline for later as there’s not always phone signal at the docks.

Note: The website can sell only a limited number of tickets so don’t worry if it looks like there aren’t any left. More tickets may be available for direct purchase in person at the ferry dock ticket office (see details below).

Forestry on the coast of Costa Rica. — The ferry provides stunning views of the Gulf of Nicoya

How to buy Puntarenas Ferry Tickets in person

To buy ferry tickets in person, you need to arrive early and buy tickets from the Boleteria building.

It’s important to arrive at least an hour and a half early to buy tickets in person, and even then there’s no guarantee there will be any left.

When you arrive at the ferry terminal in Puntarenas, you will be given a laminated card which means you want to buy a ferry ticket in person – this is not your ferry ticket. You can exchange it for a ferry ticket when indicated by employees that you can go to the office to purchase your tickets.

This happened to us when we arrived to buy tickets in person. We then joined a queue of cars that were waiting to buy tickets, rather than the queue that was waiting to board the ferry. If there are spaces left after boarding, you can quickly buy a ticket in the office and will be allowed to board last. There’s no guarantee there will be space for you though so this method is a bit risky.

The ticket office only accepts cash and does not accept $50 or $100 bills, so be prepared with the right change.

Do you need to book the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry in advance?

It’s not necessary to book your ferry tickets in advance, but it is recommended to guarantee your place on the ferry. The easiest way to ensure you have a spot is to book at least a few days in advance on the website. If you’re going to buy in person, it’s recommended to arrive at least 1.5 to 2 hours early.

It’s especially important to book in advance during Summer (December to April), Christmas, New Year, and Semana Santa (Easter). These periods are particularly busy and tickets often sell out completely. If buying in person, we’d recommend arriving at least 3 hours early.

A driver's view when boarding the "Tambor 2" - a ferry that travels between Puntarenas and Paquera. — The ferry can be busy and sell out in peak season

Boarding the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry

When you arrive, you can join the queue to wait to board the ferry. There are signs to the ferry queue and a sign that says Fila de Ferry (Line to Ferry) to indicate when you’re in the right place.

It’s also worth noting that some of the roads around the ferry terminal are one-way streets, so keep an eye out for road signs to be sure you’re going the right way.

There are staff members around the ferry queue area to assist you with finding the ticket office and getting into the right line.

When it’s time to board, only the driver should be in the car driving it onto the ferry. As we were the last car to board our ferry, having bought tickets in person last minute, Lucy was allowed to stay in the passenger seat so we could get on quicker.

All other passengers can walk onto the ferry but should hold their own ticket to show as they board. There’s a yellow and blue sign that says Entrada de Pasajeros (Passenger Entry) to show you the way.

As you drive onto the ferry, staff members will guide you into a specific spot.

Lock up your car, take anything you want for the journey with you (no one is allowed on the vehicle deck once you set off), and head up the stairs to the upper decks.

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A large ferry sits docked in a harbour in Costa Rica. — There are helpful staff members around to help guide you to the ferry

What to expect when taking the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry

Aside from the open parking deck, the ferry has two upper decks for passengers to enjoy during the crossing.

The middle deck is fully enclosed with comfortable seats, air conditioning, a TV that plays kids’ shows, and a café bar that sells warm food, snacks, and drinks.

The top deck is open with a protective canopy but the sun can still be strong so be sure to top up your sunscreen if you stay outside for the crossing. It has harder seats and a snack bar that sells refreshments like crisps, empanadas, and drinks. This is the best place to go to take in the stunning views of the Gulf of Nicoya and surrounding islands.

The ferry is pet friendly and a specific area for pets (area para mascotas) can be found on the bottom level where the vehicles are.

The ship is large and stable, so you’re unlikely to feel seasick. If you are prone to seasickness, stick to the back of the boat and look out at the horizon.

Departing the Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry

When you’re nearly at your destination, an announcement is made in Spanish and English for drivers to get back into their vehicles. Then you’ll be guided off by staff when it’s your time to drive off. You can pick up your passengers and then you’re on your way to your next adventure!

A large lorry waiting to exit a ferry in Costa Rica. — There are two passenger decks to relax on when sailing

How to get to the Puntarenas Ferry Terminal

There are a few routes to the Puntarenas Ferry Terminal depending on your mode of transport.

By car

Follow the main road (Avenue Central) through Puntarenas all the way to the end of the spit, and then take a right. The ferry terminal is located near a small water park and lighthouse. Some of the streets here are one-way but Google Maps is pretty accurate at directing you.

As Puntarenas is built on a narrow spit with lots of buildings, traffic can really build up. With the traffic, it can take up to 30 minutes just to drive through the town. Try to leave an hour for this journey just so you know you can arrive early.

If you’re looking lost, it’s likely someone might come up to you and offer their help. This happened to us and, as we were actually a little lost, it was very helpful. It’s important to note that it’s customary to tip for this help. If you’ve read everything in this post, it’s unlikely you’ll need help when you arrive though.

By bus

The bus from San José to Puntarenas usually goes from Empresarios Unidos of San José and Puntarenas multiple times a day and takes around 2.5 hours.

Many direct buses between the Costa Rican mainland and the Nicoya Peninsula include your passage on the ferry. When you reach the ferry terminal you can pick up your bags and get your ferry ticket from the driver. You wait while the bus boards the ferry, and then you board with your bags on foot. You can re-board the bus on the other side of the crossing and continue on your way.

If your bus drops you off in Puntarenas or Paquera, you can simply buy your passenger ticket in the ticket office (or have it downloaded on your phone if you prepaid online). You will board as a foot passenger and be able to pick up transport on the other side of the crossing to continue your journey.

By taxi

It’s possible to take a taxi from your accommodation to the Puntarenas ferry dock. In Puntarenas, taxis are usually red and are regulated by the government, meaning the fare should be based on a meter or pre-agreed price. A short ride may cost between $3–$5 USD or ₡2,000–₡3,000 (Costa Rican colones), depending on how far you are from the terminal. If you’re coming from further afield, a taxi journey can be expensive and you could pay up to $100 USD.

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A road lined with tropical trees on a cloudy day. — The route to the ferry terminal is easy to drive

How to get to the Paquera Ferry Terminal

Depending on how you’re getting around Costa Rica, there are a few ways to get to the ferry terminal at Paquera.

By car

The ferry terminal in Paquera is much smaller than the one in Puntarenas but the process is very similar.

Take Route 621 to Paquera and follow it past the Pali grocery store and gas station to the very end. When you arrive at the ferry terminal, park in one of the lines – ferry staff will be able to help you. You can go inside the building to buy your tickets if you haven’t already prepaid for them online.

By bus

Buses run infrequently from Montezuma to Paquera every day and typically take 1 hour and 20 minutes. Buses from Santa Teresa to Paquera follow the same route and take about 1.5 hours.

By taxi

It’s possible to take a taxi from your accommodation to the Paquera ferry dock. From Santa Teresa or Montezuma, it’s around ₡30,000 (~$60 USD).

A road sign for directions to Paquera, Cobano, and Montezuma. — You can also get to the ferry terminal by public transport

Our experience taking the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera

Our experience taking the ferry to Paquera was actually a little stressful – which is why we’ve put all this information together to save you the hassle and so your journey can be stress-free!

Following information we found online, we were led to believe that you needed to arrive half an hour before departure if you’d pre-bought tickets and that arriving an hour before departure is plenty of time to buy tickets in person. Well, unlucky for us, everything we’d read online was wrong.

Being unsure what time we might make it to the ferry because of traffic in Puntarenas, we decided to show up an hour early and buy tickets when we knew we’d make the departure. Once we arrived, we found out that you can’t buy tickets online that close to the departure time and would need to buy tickets in person.

We were also travelling in low season (June) so we weren’t expecting it to be as busy as we’d heard it can be in Summer.

Vehicles parked up on a ferry in Costa Rica. — Taking the ferry is quick and easy

What we didn’t know (that no one had mentioned online) is that you might not actually be able to buy tickets in person, even if you arrive early and are travelling in low season.

Instead of being able to buy tickets, we were given a laminated card to show we were in the queue waiting to buy tickets – if there were enough places on the ferry. We then waited in a queue waiting to join the queue for boarding for a whole hour. We watched the ferry boarding process take place while anxiously checking with staff if we could buy a ticket yet, as the time for departure crept closer.

At the last minute (literally about 2 minutes before departure), Dan was given the signal to run into the office and buy tickets for us and we were ushered onto the ferry (so quickly Lucy wasn’t even asked to leave the car and board by foot). We were squeezed on as the last car to board, leaving a queue of dozens of cars behind us who weren’t as lucky and would have to wait hours for the next ferry.

Moral of the story: buy your ticket online in advance and, if you plan to buy in person, arrive way earlier than an hour early, even in off-season.

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The welcome sign to Puntarenas, Costa Rica. — Puntarenas is one of the two ferry ports

Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry FAQs

When we were on our Costa Rican Pacific Coast road trip, we found the available information to be convoluted and, at times, contradictory. With the above guide, you should now be able to confidently utilise the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry to enhance your trip. For clarity, we have included some of the most frequently asked questions about the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry below.

Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry Closures

The Paquera ferry terminal was temporarily closed in 2024 due to a collision which damaged the ferry landing. It was reopened on 25th April 2024 and the ferry is now running on schedule.

The Friendship Bridge that connects mainland Costa Rica with the Nicoya Peninsula and Guanacaste beaches was closed for scheduled maintenance between April and July 2024. This means the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry was an even more popular route than usual. It’s now back to normal.

How long is the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera?

The ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera takes roughly 60 to 80 minutes. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time.

Does the Puntarenas Ferry sell out?

Yes, the ferry does sell out, especially in the busy seasons. Be sure to book online a few days before to avoid disappointment.

What time is the ferry to Puntarenas?

The ferry from Paquera to Puntarenas runs several times a day at 4:00, 6:30, 9:00, 12:00, 14:30, 18:00, 20:00 and 22:00.

How do I get to Paquera, Costa Rica?

The easiest way to get to Paquera from Puntarenas is to take the ferry, as this journey only takes 60 to 80 minutes. If you are already on the Nicoya Peninsula, then it is possible to drive or take a bus from one of the coastal towns such as Cabo Blanco or Santa Teresa.

How do I get from Puntarenas to San José?

There are a couple of bus services that run from Puntarenas to San José, but the easiest way is to hire a car and drive. The quickest route is Av. Central – Ruta Nacional Primaria 23 – Route 27 – Av. 10.

Is there a ferry to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica?

There is not a direct ferry to Santa Teresa. Travelling West, the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera will take you halfway there. You will then drive the Ruta Nacional Secundaria 160 south and follow signs or Google Maps to Santa Teresa. The drive should take around 1.5 hours and the total journey from Puntarenas around 3 hours.

How do I get to Montezuma, Costa Rica?

You can utilise the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera to cut out a lot of driving on your way to Montezuma. Once, you arrive in Paquera, you will then drive the Ruta Nacional Secundaria 160 south, Calle Aeropuerto, and then Ruta Nacional Treciaria 624 before following signs or Google Maps to Montezuma. The drive should take around 1.25 hours depending on where in Montezuma you are going.