To arrive in the Caribbean, is to arrive in the land of coconut trees, to the land where a rich life full of positive vibrations converges with an exquisite flora and fauna.
To get there, you take the Braulio Carrillo Highway that connects San Jose-Limon. During the trip, you will breathe pure and peaceful air combined with the scenery of great tropical plantations such as bananas, ornamental plants or the popular pejibaye, -a native plant-, of exquisite color and flavor.
In Limon, the melting pot of different races, the Black, Chinese, White and indigenous communities come together harmoniously. For that reason, the people of Limon don't represent a single culture, but rather they manifest characteristics of all of them.
Contrary to the great tourist infrastructure of other countries, the Costa Rican Caribbean presents a wild, free and natural place that has hardly been altered by the constructions of the small, although welcoming and well conditioned hotels of the area.
One of the obligatory visits of the area is Tortuguero. Important scientific investigations take place here on the nesting of the green marine turtle and crocodiles. This is an interesting corner of the country for scientific and ecological tourism.
To the south, you find Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, one of the few places in the world that houses a large quantity of marine ecosystems in each square meter. There you find cohabiting, for example, 35 coral species, 147 species of mollusks, 123 species of fresh water and salt-water fish and 128 species of marine algae.
Puerto Viejo is located very close. This is where to go to conquer the "Salsa Brava" wave, one of the most famous in the world because it reaches up to 40 feet high. It is an unbearable challenge for surf lovers, who should not miss the waves of Bonita, Puerto Viejo, Westfalia and Uvita Island beaches.
Tips
The drive to the Caribbean coast is a pleasant three hours over the Central Mountain Range on the Guapiles Highway (Route 32) through the Zurquí Tunnel (Costa Rica's only tunnel) and across the lowland plains. The scenery changes dramatically along the way from dense tropical forests through banana plantations and horticultural farms to the coconut palm-lined roads of the coast. However, flying to the Caribbean seems to be the fastest and more comfortable way. It only takes one hour to Limon and thirty minutes from San Jose to Tortuguero.
Although the northern Caribbean coast has one of the heaviest rainfalls in the country, as much as five and a half meters per year, the rain is distributed more evenly throughout the year than in other areas making this a more pleasant, "evergreen" environment. The average 77- to 86-degree temperature is moderated by the warm, shallow Caribbean water and refreshing tropical breezes.
The changing factor is rain and this is how it falls:
- January and November are transitional periods with higher winds and some rainy days
- February through May are generally sunny with a little rain
- July and December are the months of heaviest rainfall
- Mid-August through the first part of November is summer with the least rain
For diving, March, April and May, as well as September and October, are "bookable" diving months; there's little doubt of weather conditions suitable for diving on any given day.
Since the weather is extremely tropical on this coast, it is a wise traveler who packs a hat and sunblock. Clothing should be cotton and light colored. Keep in mind that there is rain throughout the year on the Caribbean coast, so pack a light anorak and some boots.
If butterflies are your bag so to speak, check out the several butterflies gardens spread along the road to Limon and even beyond, on the way to the southern part of the Caribbean shoreline. Travelers will find trails and a beautiful variety of butterflies including the magnificent Morpho butterfly. Some of these gardens are surrounded by an oasis of swaying palms, brightly colored heliconias and winding paths. With binoculars in hand, you may catch sight of one of the many slow-moving sloths in the canopy.
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