Exploring Costa Rica Guidebook

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CARIBBEAN

The Caribbean coast has evolved differently from the rest of Costa Rica, due primarily to settlement by Jamaicans, the resident Indigenous people and the agricultural cultivation encouraged by the United Fruit Company and foreign interests. There are strong Caribbean influences in the cuisine and architecture, and English, Spanish, and Patwa (Jamaican Creole) are first languages.

BRAULIO CARRILLO, GUAPILES, GUACIMO, SIQUIRRES

To begin at the beginning, you must set off from San José, head north over over the

mountains, and then down to the tropical coast, an adventure in itself.

BARRA DEL COLORADO

Barra del Colorado sits in a 92,000-hectare Wildlife Refuge, and the biggest draw is sportfishing, remote relaxation, and wildlife-spotting. Barra del Colorado town can be reached via a small plane from San José or boat from Moín. You ll need waterproofs and bug repellent.

PARISMINA

At the south end of Tortuguero National Park, and accessible only by boat, this remote area is best known for river and ocean sport fishing. Note there is no bank.

TORTUGUERO

Lack of roads doesn’t mean lack of tourists in this remote sector of Costa Rica famous for nesting turtles, birds and other wildlife. A canal system connects natural waterways and is the “highway” to this region. Choose between budget accommodation in Tortuguero village or all-inclusive lodges outside town.

LIMON

Seventy-seven per cent of the country’s imported and exported goods go through the Moín port just north of Limón, while the cruise-ships stopover right in the center of town. The city has the reputation for being dangerous, though it also has the reputation for offering a good time in mid-October, when Limón is crowded with carnival-goers, street theater, dancing, reggae, steel bands and parades.

CAHUITA

Despite the dozy vibe, Cahuita has been a dominant community along the Talamanca coast since the late 1800s. Here delicious coconut-based dishes can be found, as well as the famous “beans and rice,” made with coconut milk. The locals move slower, making time move slower, making visitors move slower. It’s hot, and it rains tropical showers. This is a place to come and relax, take it easy, and soak up the history and present-day culture. Cahuita National Park includes a protected coral reef, and snorkeling and river trips can be arranged. Other excursions abound, such as visits and homestays with the Indigenous villages in Bribri and Bambú, jungle tours, birdwatching, agricultural tours.

PUERTO VIEJO TO MANZANILLO

Puerto Viejo is a beach town with a good-time Caribbean vibe. Plenty of interesting places to stay, and a ton of restaurants with quality, home-made and hand-made delights. Reggae permeates. The town center is where most of the action is, though a bicycle ride south out of town offers beach destinations ranging from popular to secluded. South of town the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve can be found, and to the west lie the Talamanca hills, home to the Bribri and Cabecár communities. Cultural tours and experiences abound.