ABOUT COSTA RICA - CARIBBEAN AREA: LimOn

From the marine life off its beaches to its tranquil towns surrounded by lush coastal forests, Costa Rica´s ever green zone, the Atlantic zone, has something to offer every traveler. Almost half of the Caribbean coast is protected by a series of national parks and wild life refuges, comprising palm-lined beaches, colorful coral reef, rivers and tropical forests that are home for everything from red-eyed tree frogs to white face capuchin monkeys. For travelers this region features excellent conditions for sport fishing, surfing and skin diving. The Caribbean culture is also an interesting attraction. Most of the black population lives in Limón and is like another country with its own customs, traditions, food, music, and way of life, even the language is totally different from the rest of Costa Rica. There is a strong influence from Caribbean Islands.

The principal spots in the Caribbean region are:

Limón Port: is the capital of the province and a very important port to export and import product from/to the rest of the world. The Limón Carnival is celebrated the week of October 12, which commemorates Cultures Day. The carnival includes Caribbean music, colorful parades and plenty of dancing. The rest of the year travelers use Limón as a city of passage to other tourist destinations.

There are some outstanding beaches in this region. Puerto Viejo is an ideal destination for nature lovers. Here tourists will find kilometers of beach paradise bordered by coconut palms. Puerto Viejo is considered excellent for surfing. In the blue waters there are extremely beautiful coral reefs for visitors to see while snorkeling or scuba diving. The luxuriant vegetation in Puerto Viejo holds an abundant wild life. Playas Gandoca and Manzanillo have golden sand, moderate to strong surf, an irregular, curved shape, and plentiful coastal vegetation, particularly palms. The beaches are ideal for walking, horseback riding, sunbathing, diving and swimming. From here you can enjoy dolphin-watching and dive tours. Visitors won’t want to miss the Gandoca Lagoon and the mangrove, beaches that are part of Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. Cahuita, a laid back coastal town next to the national park of the same name is a colorful, friendly place where the beaches, snorkeling and rain forest keep the visitor busy all day long.

Protected areas in the Caribbean Region:

Cahuita National Park – Cahuita protects the coral reef, this park’s beaches, estuaries and rain forest. The reef is perfect for snorkeling and is home to hundreds of species of fish and crustaceans that live amidst the colorful sponges, sea fans and corals. The palm lined beaches are idyllic, and the forest behind them is home to monkeys, sloths, toucans, parakeets and plenty of crabs and lizards.

Gandoca - Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge: A natural space of great beauty and biological wealth. The coast consists of a succession of beaches and coral reefs. The interior contains narrow tropical forests, estuaries, lagoons, encompassing an impressive wealth of animals and plants. Both Gandoca – Manzanillo still preserve their Caribbean essence and are places of great peace and quiet.

Tortuguero National Park - Tortuguero and its national park are a must-see destination if what you want is nature and wildlife. Its many rivers and canals are its biggest attraction, ideal for watching animals. The town between the sea and the canal has all the necessary services with most of the lodging simple. This park was created as an important nesting beach for the green turtle, but Tortuguero is home for turtles, crocodiles, monkeys, jaguars, and all kinds of birds, There are many activities to do in this area, for example tours through the canals.

Kekoldi Indigenous Reservation - Located close to Puerto Viejo, this reservation is of great importance due to the activities it promotes. The Bribri people who live on the reservation offer several facilities and items of interest to tourists, including a green iguana farm, indigenous handicrafts such as wooden bows and arrows, handbags, nets, hammocks and baskets. The reservation also features trails for enjoying its lush vegetation and wildlife as well two observation towers for birds watching.