Caribbean Area

Quite different from the rest of the country, Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast is a beach lover’s delight.

This warm and humid zone is notable for its Caribbean—predominantly Jamaican—roots, reflected in Rastafarian culture and spicy cuisine.

Relatively remote and undiscovered, this part of the country is a world of its own, where the pace of life is slow and the atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back.

Located within the entire province of Limon, the Caribbean Coast runs for some 125 miles (200km) between the borders of Panama and Nicaragua. It is a rich zone that offers a great variety of activities to enjoy from great diving opportunities, sport fishing and an excellent chance to relax and get close with nature.

Interesting places to visit.

Tortuguero National Park: Located in the northern part of the Caribbean area, this is where the beautiful canals of Tortuguero are, where everyone gets around by boat. The beach is a prime nesting site for marine turtles; the national park is absolute tops for birding and animal viewing; and the village is a funky charmer.

Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge: This wonderful wildlife refuge awaits you close to the Nicaraguan border. Several sport fishing lodges cater to anglers keen to tackle prize tarpon and snook. 

Puerto Limón: Puerto Limon is the provincial capital of Limon and lies some 160 km east of the city of San Jose. One of the oldest cities on the continent, Puerto Limon was established in 1502 when Christopher Columbus landed here during his exploration of the New World. Founded in 1870 as a port city to export bananas and grains from Costa Rica to various parts of the globe, Puerto Limón is Costa Rica’s most important port. 

The port city of Limon is Caribbean flavor all the way. Capital of the Afro-Caribbean culture in Costa Rica, Limon possesses dialects based on the English that have survived thanks to the natural barriers between the Central Valley and the Caribbean Coast.  

Cahuita: Located about an hour south of Limón, this popular, small village has a special character. Several eateries serve spicy local cuisine and Cahuita National Park offers great beaches, diverse wildlife, and a small coral reef. 

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: Half an hour south of Cahuita is Puerto Viejo, the perfect place to kick back and relax for a few days or weeks with miles of gorgeous beaches running north and south from town.With its relaxed atmosphere and its own unique blend of Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures, Puerto Viejo is a lively place to have a fun relaxing vacation. This somnolent village is also well known as the surfer’s paradise and latter-day hippies. It has excellent budget accommodations offering a great variety of activities including horseback riding and hikes to indigenous villages.

Manzanillo: Manzanillo is literally the "end of the road" and the beginning of many great adventures, this area is part of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge, which contains several ecosystems in combination with animal life, from crocodiles to monkeys and manatees. Turtles also come ashore to lay eggs.