Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, less traveled than the country's Pacific Coast, offer some of the finest beaches in Costa Ricaâ€"-not to mention a walk back into history.
You see, in 1502, Captain Christopher Columbus and his crew landed here, walking the same beaches along the southeast coast of the country where visitors now wander in flip-flops and shorts. He was so enthralled he gave the land the name we call it today, Costa Rica.
The Caribbean-Atlantic coast can be separated into two regions.
The northern Caribbean coast, from the Nicaragua border down to Limon, is basically roadless wilderness, famous for the largest green sea turtle nesting reserve in the world called Tortuguero National Park. Apart from the small Tortuguero Village, itself a tourist attraction, there aren't any towns or cities.
A handful of lodges offer visitors great offshore fishing and tour operators take visitors into the wilderness along the San Juan River that borders Nicaragua.
Though the beaches and rivers here are remote, and can be reached only by boat or air, thousands of people visit for a tropical eco-tourism experience.
Unlike its coastal neighbour to the north, the southern Caribbean coast, below Limon, can be easily reached by automobile or bus. For budget-minded travelers, we suggest taking a bus from San Jose to a destination along this coast. They are fast, comfortable, and really cheap, about $10 or so.
Limon is the largest city along the south Caribbean coast, heavily populated by descendents of slaves brought to work in banana fields. It is also home to the sole Costa Rica port on the Caribbean. The city and neighboring areas have a distinctive Bob Marley air but , though cruise ships stop at the port, it is not a popular or preferred traveller attraction and, fact is, some of the nearby beaches are contaminated.
Therefore, leave Limon behind and head south along the coast. About 15 miles south, you'll come upon Cahuita, a small city in Cahuita National Park, known for its warm, clear waters off spotless beaches. It's a preferred snorkeling area, complete with one of the biggest coral beds in the country and a sunken slave ship.
Travel a few miles further south to Puerto Viejo and you will find a varied community of people from across the world, fromEurope to South America, and, of course, Canadians and Americans. The beaches range all the way from brown to white sand and are famous for surfing.
Particularly renowned is the wild Salsa Brava where each year, surfers from around the world converge to challenge its tubular waves.
Continue a bit further south and you will come to the beaches around Manzanillo where Columbus came ashore. Beautiful beaches, clear waters, birds and monkeys everywhere, and home to a species of freshwater porpoise, the Tucuxi, found nowhere else in Central America. And, if you're a fisherman, its rivers and estuaries provide some of the finest tarpon fishing in the world.
However And, of course, , remember this: though wearing sandals and a funny looking tee shirt you are walking in the steps of Columbus himself.
You see, in 1502, Captain Christopher Columbus and his crew landed here, walking the same beaches along the southeast coast of the country where visitors now wander in flip-flops and shorts. He was so enthralled he gave the land the name we call it today, Costa Rica.
The Caribbean-Atlantic coast can be separated into two regions.
The northern Caribbean coast, from the Nicaragua border down to Limon, is basically roadless wilderness, famous for the largest green sea turtle nesting reserve in the world called Tortuguero National Park. Apart from the small Tortuguero Village, itself a tourist attraction, there aren't any towns or cities.
A handful of lodges offer visitors great offshore fishing and tour operators take visitors into the wilderness along the San Juan River that borders Nicaragua.
Though the beaches and rivers here are remote, and can be reached only by boat or air, thousands of people visit for a tropical eco-tourism experience.
Unlike its coastal neighbour to the north, the southern Caribbean coast, below Limon, can be easily reached by automobile or bus. For budget-minded travelers, we suggest taking a bus from San Jose to a destination along this coast. They are fast, comfortable, and really cheap, about $10 or so.
Limon is the largest city along the south Caribbean coast, heavily populated by descendents of slaves brought to work in banana fields. It is also home to the sole Costa Rica port on the Caribbean. The city and neighboring areas have a distinctive Bob Marley air but , though cruise ships stop at the port, it is not a popular or preferred traveller attraction and, fact is, some of the nearby beaches are contaminated.
Therefore, leave Limon behind and head south along the coast. About 15 miles south, you'll come upon Cahuita, a small city in Cahuita National Park, known for its warm, clear waters off spotless beaches. It's a preferred snorkeling area, complete with one of the biggest coral beds in the country and a sunken slave ship.
Travel a few miles further south to Puerto Viejo and you will find a varied community of people from across the world, fromEurope to South America, and, of course, Canadians and Americans. The beaches range all the way from brown to white sand and are famous for surfing.
Particularly renowned is the wild Salsa Brava where each year, surfers from around the world converge to challenge its tubular waves.
Continue a bit further south and you will come to the beaches around Manzanillo where Columbus came ashore. Beautiful beaches, clear waters, birds and monkeys everywhere, and home to a species of freshwater porpoise, the Tucuxi, found nowhere else in Central America. And, if you're a fisherman, its rivers and estuaries provide some of the finest tarpon fishing in the world.
However And, of course, , remember this: though wearing sandals and a funny looking tee shirt you are walking in the steps of Columbus himself.
About the Author:
A country famous for its beaches, nature, ecotourism, and adult nightlife has become one of America's favorite destinations and Costa Rica vacations are more popular every year.And, fact is, though not often traveled, some of the best beaches in Costa Rica are along its spectular Caribbean coast.
