The Caribbean Sea is a tropical open sea in the Atlantic Ocean, on the eastern side of the isthmus. Due to its proximity to the Antilles archipelago, it is often called the Sea of ​​the Antilles.

The first inhabitants of the Antilles islands were the Taíno, a sedentary, polytheistic tribe skilled in agriculture, fishing, and pottery. They were descendants of migrations from South American tribes.

In 1502, Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, on his fourth voyage, specifically Playa Uvita.

Twenty-two years later, Hernán Cortés claimed the entire Caribbean coast for Costa Rica after visiting the country. The province of Limón is the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, stretching from Nicaragua to Panama and covering 200 km. The province is divided into northern and southern districts. Northern Limón runs from the Tortuguero Canals to the Nicaraguan border. Southern Limón is the Talamanca coast.
History of Limón

Caribe Coast Limon is located in the eastern part of the country. It borders the Caribbean Sea (to the northeast), Heredia, Cartago and San José (to the west), Puntarenas (to the southwest), and Panama (to the southeast).

Limón is the pearl of Costa Rica’s Caribbean. It is well known for its great cultural diversity (with a predominantly Black, Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, White, and Chinese population, each group contributing to Limón’s unique style).

It has a typical warm climate and is very humid, with an average annual temperature of 25.5º C.

Limón is 209 km east of San José. Costa Rica’s highest peaks are located in the southern part of Limón province, in the Talamanca mountain range. Cerro Chirripó is 3,819 m high, and its temperature can drop to zero degrees Celsius at night during the dry season. In 1973, light snowfall was reported in the area.

Several oil refineries and government institutions, such as RECOPE and JAPEDEVA, have established their headquarters in Limón. Limón is a sparsely industrialized region, primarily dedicated to agriculture, with a massive banana production that makes Costa Rica the world’s second-largest banana exporter.

Limón is home to Costa Rica’s most important port, one of the largest transit hubs in Latin America.
Beyond its economic significance, Limón is another of Costa Rica’s natural paradises, boasting over 336 kilometers of white-sand beaches, lush vegetation, and important national parks.

ATLANTIC HILL

– Puerto Limón

Puerto Limón covers an area of ​​1,765.79 km² and has a population of 105,000. It is divided into four districts: Limón, Valle de la Estrella, Río Blanco, and Matama. The city of Limón is the provincial capital.

The port of Limón is the most important in the country and one of the largest transit hubs in Latin America.

– Guápiles

Area: 2,403.49 km²
Population: 115,000
Cantons: Guápiles, Jiménez, Rita, Roxana, Cariari and Colorado
Main city: Pococí

The city of Guápiles is a major commercial and banking center. It boasts numerous prestigious schools and universities, as well as public and private higher education institutions. It is a thriving agricultural and livestock region and the heart of ExpoPococí (an annual fair, one of the most important in the country).

Tortuguero National Park is located in the northern part of the canton. It is one of the most visited sites in the country and is famous for its natural beauty, biodiversity, and, of course, the presence of sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs.
Guápiles is right next to Puerto Limón and is easily accessible via a modern highway.
Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park is located in Limón and contains the largest expanse of tropical rainforest. Visitors can explore the river channels, observe the wide variety of flora and fauna, witness sea turtles nesting, and see more than 300 species of birds.

– Siquirres

Area: 860.19 square kilometers
Population: 59,000 inhabitants
Districts: Siquirres, Pacuarito, Florida, Germania, El Cairo and the city of Alegría

Siquirres is the third canton of the province of Limón. It is the center of the province, with the lowlands and the lowest temperatures (around 29°C).

The main economic activity in Suquirres is agriculture. Although banana and pineapple production is very important in the area, tourism has also become significant, with thousands of travelers visiting the Pacuare and Reventazón rivers each year.

– Talamanca

Area: 2,809.93 km²
Population: 30,000 inhabitants
Districts: Bratsi, Sixaola, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo

Talamanca is the largest of the six cantons in the province of Limón. It boasts great biodiversity thanks to its climate (ranging from humid to cold).

Its beaches are considered some of the most beautiful in the country, such as Cahuita, with its unique coral reef, Puerto Vargas, Puerto Viejo beach, Gandoca Manzanillo beach, Negro beach, and many more.
The Hitoy-Cerere reserve is also a very popular destination.

Talamanca has a wide variety of ethnic groups: Cabécar, Bribri, people of African descent, Chinese, and others. In addition to Spanish, each community maintains its own language,
Matina.

The main city in Matina is called Batán and is one of the most important commercial centers in the area. Agriculture is the main economic activity in Matina, along with livestock farming. It is 168 km from San José and is divided into 3 districts: Matina, Batán, and Carrandi.
Matina has a rainy climate, typical of the Atlantic slope, with temperatures ranging between 24 and 30 °C.

– Guácimo

Guácimo is the sixth and newest canton of Limón. It has 5 districts: Guácimo, Mercedes, Pocora, Río Jiménez, and Duacari.

In the Mercedes district, there is a very important university. It is known as TIERRA, the Humid Tropical School, internationally recognized for its high-quality academic program in tropical agricultural research.

Guácimo is located in the Caribbean plains and has vast areas ideal for banana, cassava, and corn cultivation. Some land is also used for cattle ranching.

It is also characterized by its archaeological excavations, which take place throughout the region. The National Museum of Costa Rica has conducted excavations that have revealed roads and sidewalks, demonstrating the great importance of indigenous settlements in the area. Known as the Old Line, this route connects Guápiles, Guácimo, and Siquirres.

– Around Puerto Limón

Uvita Island: Located 1 km off the coast of Limón, just 20 minutes by boat from the port of Limón. Uvita’s surf beach is one of the main attractions of the area; it is a beautiful, clean, and protected beach.
Bonita Beach: This beach is characterized by its sandy shoreline and incredible sea. Surfers love this beach because of its reef break, which creates much more powerful waves.
Moin: Visitors to Moin can take a boat from there to many other interesting destinations such as Parismina, Tortuguero, and Barra del Colorado.

– Northern Caribbean

Numerous rivers and canals characterize this area. A humid, tropical climate makes it feel like a cool beach. Portions of forest and incredible natural beauty surround this protected area. Flora and fauna are found throughout the Caribbean.

– Parismina

This town is located in the southern part of Tortuguero National Park. Parismina is best known for its river. Turtles and tarpon hunters often visit this area. Parismina is surrounded by a river, and some places are only accessible by boat. The main sport in this town is sport fishing. The best time to visit is from January to May.

– Tortuguero National Park

This park is located north of the town of Tortuguero and south of Parismina. It is known for being one of the rainiest areas in the country and for its famous canals.

The park covers 31,187 hectares of land and 52,000 hectares of marine area. Turtles breed in this national park and are the main attraction of the area; however, there are many other interesting animals, including monkeys, frogs, iguanas, fish, crocodiles, manatees, pumas, and more.

Tourists can enjoy hiking, boating, turtle, bird, and wildlife viewing, as well as sample delicious local seafood.
Getting there

Air: In Tortuguero, a small airfield 4 kilometers from the town center will help you get there. Nature Air and Sansa offer daily flights.
Boat: There are two places where you can catch a boat, from Cariari and from the ports of Moín.

– Barra del Colorado

With approximately 90,400 hectares, Barra del Colorado is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. The refuge has 50 km of coastline; in addition, a large area is distributed among canals, lagoons, and rivers. The San Juan, Colorado, and Chirripó rivers flow into the Caribbean Sea.

Barra del Colorado can be more expensive and difficult to visit than Tortuguero. Mammals, caimans, crocodiles, and various fish species inhabit the area. Impressive birds, wild cats, monkeys, and tapirs are also found here. Activities such as fishing, canoeing, and kayaking can be part of travelers’ adventures.

– Southern Caribbean

In this part of the country, visitors can truly immerse themselves in Afro-Caribbean culture. Due to the United Fruit Company’s presence in the region, many Jamaicans came to work in the Atlantic. Other ethnicities found in the southern Caribbean part of the country include Italians, French, Spaniards, Argentinians, Jamaicans, and others.
(Hitoy-Cerere Biological Reserve)

The Hitoy-Cerere Reserve is one of the most craggy and rarely visited. It’s located 60 km from Limón. This forest receives between 4000 mm and 6000 mm of rainfall annually. The reserve was named after two rivers: Hitoy (meaning ‘rocks’) and Cerere (meaning clear waters). Wildlife is abundant; many mammals and reptiles can be found throughout.

– Cahuita

It has a beautiful beach. It’s the Puerto Viejo neighborhood. You can’t miss visiting this beach. Cahuita is the most relaxing town in the entire Caribbean. Most of its businesses are still locally owned. It has black sand, which makes this beach unique. It boasts a large national park that’s five minutes from the town center. Cahuita is a small town that has always been a protected area, with hardly any recycling campaigns. It’s also considered one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica. Its climate varies; it can be very hot at times and very cold at night.
It’s also characterized by a humid tropical climate. As in all cities in our country, dangers and nuisances exist. Women sometimes come to this town just for a quick fling, so be careful; they might be mistaken about you. The Caribbean coast is an international destination for all people, so this means that sexually transmitted diseases can be present everywhere.

Cahuita National Park

Cahuita is a very popular destination due to its proximity to downtown Cahuita. You’ll find white sand beaches, coral reefs, and coastal forests teeming with incredible wildlife. It was declared a National Park in 1978. This park is very humid and surrounded by coconut palms. You can also see many swamps and all kinds of mammals and reptiles.

Recommended activities include: hiking, swimming and diving

– Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Some people may confuse Puerto Viejo de Talamanca with Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a blend of beautiful beaches, delicious food, and a vibrant nightlife.

Ultimately, it’s an international beach. Afro-Caribbean and reggae culture is very influential in the region.

International fusion cuisine is the main attraction in Puerto Viejo. Music lovers can also enjoy dancing to salsa, hip hop, rock, and all kinds of rhythms. Puerto Viejo has a great beach for surfing with many open-air bars. Puerto Viejo Beach extends from Playa Negra, Salsa Brava, and Berberechos Beach to Uvita’s shoreline.
Get here

You can arrive in three different ways:

Car: The roads are not in very good condition; a 4WD vehicle is highly recommended.
Bus: Coope Mepe, a public transportation company located in Barrio Tournon in San José, has four daily buses serving this area.
You can also call the Grey Line buses, and they will pick you up at your hotel.
Air: There is an international airport in Limón. After arriving in Limón, you will need to drive to get there.

– Manzanillo

Manzanillo is 13 km from Puerto Viejo, a 15-minute drive. There’s a lot of cycling in the area because of the straight, clear, and well-paved roads.

In 1985, this area was designated a National Wildlife Refuge, which is now aiding in the area’s development. There are lodges and grocery stores scattered throughout. This is a quiet town where people lead slow and easy daily routines.

You can enjoy many activities such as hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, sport fishing, and dolphin watching. Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge is also known as Regama, for short. Located in the Talamanca canton, it protects 70% of the Caribbean coast. It encompasses 5,013 hectares of land and 4,436 hectares of marine area. It was the first cacao-growing region in the area. The refuge protects wildlife, especially endangered species and those with dwindling populations. It features a lagoon, which classifies this Atlantic region as a rainforest. The primary forest in this area is uniquely valuable, covering a relatively small area and supporting wildlife in the lowlands.

It boasts a great diversity of terrestrial habitats, including parts of primary forests, and numerous marine habitats and coral reefs.

– Bribri

The Bribri community is quite numerous in Costa Rica. The Bribri and Cabécar groups have lived in the Talamanca mountain range, and their social system was based on the politics of the tribal chief. The Bribri and Cabécar population numbered around twenty-seven thousand at the time of the arrival of the European conquistadors.

Currently, around 10,000 Bribri people live in the southern region of Costa Rica. They live primarily in the Salitre and Cabagra Indigenous Reserves, in the canton of Buenos Aires Arias, located in the province of Puntarenas, and in the Talamanca Reserve of the same name.

– Sixaola

Sixaola is a city and the border river of Panama. According to the Echandi-Fernández Treaty of 1941, both countries have the right of free navigation on the Sixaola River and along the border line that runs through the center of the canal. It is formed by the confluence of several rivers, including the Tarire, the Yorkin, and many others. Its name is of indigenous origin and in some sources appears as Sigsaula or Sixaula. The Sixaola International Market is a very popular market in the area, where you can find food, shops, and inexpensive items. Public and private buses can go there.