Costa Rica Caribbean Region

The introduction to the description of the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica on the "Frommers" travel site describes it as being "a world apart from the rest of the country", and seldom has a description been more apposite. Made up of a unique series of natural inland waterways, the Caribbean Coast is world famous for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches (with gorgeous white sand and lined with coconut trees), pounding surf, exotic wildlife and prehistoric rain forest as maintained in the Tortuguero National Park, Cahuita National Park and the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge, in addition to a relaxed local atmosphere with a definite Jamaican influence, acquired because of the region's remoteness from the rest of the country and the fact that many Jamaican workers were brought in to help build the rail road to the capital city of San Jose in the late 1800s.

Despite its undoubted allure, the region nonetheless still remains one of the least explored areas of Costa Rica, primarily due to the fact that more than half of the coast line is currently still inaccessible via anything other than boat or light aircraft. The Caribbean Coast is probably the most geographically diverse region in the whole of Costa Rica, with spectacular swampy lagoons bordering it to the north, and the gigantic Talamanca Mountains bordering it to the south, and runs a total of one hundred and twenty five kilometers across between the borders of Nicaragua and Panama. The region is eternally hot and humid, with the largest amount of rainfall of any region in the entire country, with the months from May to August and then from December to January being the periods that traditionally receive the greatest downpours.

The primary province on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is that of Limon, the main city of which - also called Limon - is a hugely important commercial port and destination for many a fledgling cruise ship. The city can be reached via the Guapiles Highway (also known simply as Highway 32) from the Costa Rican capital city of San Jose and it is particular recommended to visit during carnival time, at which point the entire city basically transforms into one non stop party. Limon offers numerous activities to keep tourists entertained at other times of the year as well, from excellent sport fishing opportunities to major possibilities for divers and its spectacular surf breaks, in addition of course to the regions famous National Parks as mentioned. Limon is also home to the very last remaining indigenous tribes to be found in the whole of Costa Rica, such as the Bribri, Cocles and Talamanca Cabecarv tribes.

Two smaller towns worth mentioning in close proximity to Limon are Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo de la Talamanca. Puerto Viejo de la Talamanca is a gorgeous seaside town with stunning beaches, clear blue water and an abundance of exotic animal and plant life. Talamanca used to be a small fishing village, but in recent years has transformed itself into the place to be for the young and hip, largely thanks to its newly acquired reputation as one of the foremost surfing destinations on the entire planet. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, tourist activities such as boogie boarding, diving, kayaking, mountain biking and snorkeling, and the town is ideally situated as the place from which to check out many local tourist attractions such as the Cahuita National Park, the Talamanca Indian Reserve, and the Gandaco Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.

Manzanillo, meanwhile, offers one of the most scenic beaches in the whole of Costa Rica, a beautiful palm tree lined white sand beach with an astonishing offshore coral reef (an ideal place for swimmers and snorkelers, with scuba diving trips regularly scheduled) that enjoys perfect weather almost all year round. Visitors can also take a 'dolphin tour' around the coast to try and catch sight of one or more of the no less than three different species of dolphins that populate the waters around the town. Manzanillo is altogether a quieter community than Puerto Viejo de la Talamanca, but if you're looking for somewhere beautiful, relaxing and a little bit away from the regular tourist crowd, then it is definitely somewhere well worth checking out and there are nonetheless plenty of hotels and other accommodations for tourists in the area. Hiking outside of town can also provide visitors with the chance to see some of the native monkey species of Costa Rica in their own natural environment, at the aptly named Monkey Point or Punta Mona.

Cahuita National Park covers over eleven kilometers of land and over six kilometers of reef. The Park contains one of the most pleasant and undeveloped beaches in the whole of Costa Rica, and is a prime nesting ground for sea turtles. The protected area, which includes the Coralline Reef, known to contain a minimum of thirty five species of coral, a hundred and forty species of mollusk, forty four different types of crustaceans, and a hundred and twenty three different species of fish. The on land area of the Park contains a variety of exotic mammal life, too, with agoutis, sloths, Northern Tamanduas, White nosed Coatis, raccoons, Pacas and monkey species such as the Mantled Howler and White-headed capuchins in evidence. The Park also plays home to many bird species, such as the Green Ibis, the Keel billed Toucan, and the Green and rufous Kingfisher. Cahuita National Park is the only such National Park in the country that does not charge entrance fees to visitors, instead relying on voluntary donations.

Tortuguero National Park receives around fifty thousand visitors per annum, and encompasses nineteen thousand hectares of land with eleven different ecological habitats, from marsh to rainforest and a seemingly endless beach that functions as the nesting area for the green turtle. The area provides sanctuary for an astonishing number of exotic animals, including more than three hundred separate species of birds (including the great green macaw), fifty seven species of amphibians and one hundred and eleven types of reptiles (including the aforementioned green turtles, plus two other species of turtle) and many species that are on endangered list such as cougars, manatees, jaguars, river otters, ocelots and tapirs.

Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge is the second largest such Refuge in the whole of Costa Rica, covering around ninety two thousand hectares of land (comprising of channels, lagoons, forests, marshes, rivers and river islands), covering fifty two kilometers of coast line, and is a kind of replica of Tortuguero National Park, albeit on a considerably larger scale. Barra del Colarado National Wildlife Refuge has more than two thirds of its land submerged beneath water, and plays home to many endangered species and other exotic forms of fauna and flora, such as rare amphibian species, tapirs, jaguars and cougars. Tourists can also enjoy the sight of Bull Sharks migrating from the upriver Atlantic Ocean to Lake Nicaragua, via the San Juan River, a truly spectacular image for those lucky enough to be able to be there to witness it.

With a slower pace, noticeably spicier food, and generally more overt tropical heat, the Caribbean Coast is indeed a world apart from the rest of Costa Rica - and a world well worth taking the time to visit.

If you are seriously considering Costa Rica for your next vacation, be sure to talk to your travel agent about how to get the most affordable prices for airfare, hotel accommodations, and events during your stay in Costa Rica. It's important to book your trip as far in advance as possible to be able to receive special discounts and deals, and it wouldn't hurt to learn a little of the language either, so that you can feel comfortable in the province.