Costa Rica's Caribbean coast carnival – with its color and costumes, traditional food and flavor, music, art, horse shows and parades – is back after a two-year, forced hiatus.

The Limón Carnival will attract party revelers to the port city on the Caribbean starting with its kick-off Thursday and through Oct. 18.

This year's carnival is the first since 2006, following cancelations by Costa Rica's health authorities for fears about sanitation problems and dengue fever.

The event's organizers expect to attract at least 5,000 visitors this year.

For more information, call 2758-1208 and visit the Web site: carnavalesdelimon2009.blogspot.com.