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CARIBBEAN MAGIC
The quantity of beaches on Costa Rica's shorter Caribbean Coast may not rival that of the Pacific, but the region's idyllic swaths of sugar sand bordered by coconut palms and jungle constitute some of the country's most enchanting coastal scenery.
The Caribbean is also an area of exceptional natural wealth, since beyond the rows of palm trees you can often find lowland rainforest that is inhabited by troops of monkeys, legions of tiny lizards and countless bird species.
And submerged off several points are extensive coral reefs that include such intriguing life forms as colorful sponges, sea stars, moray eels and eagle rays. |
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The ever verdant region is also the cradle of Costa Rica's Afro-Caribbean culture, which implies different cuisine, music and language than what you'll encounter in the rest of the country.
The amazingly straight northern half of that coast resembles an endless palm-lined beach broken here and there by a river mouth. Though dangerous currents make the area unsafe for swimming, its exuberant vegetation and languid waterways teaming with game fish make it a popular destination for nature lovers and sport fishermen.
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Tortuguero National Park protects one of the world's more important nesting beaches for the endangered green sea turtle, as well as vast expanses of tropical forest traversed by rivers and canals. While boat trips down those waterways are excellent opportunities for spotting some of the local wildlife, guides can take visitors down the beach at night from June to October, for the unforgettable experience of watching a sea turtle nest. Quiet fishing communities, coral reefs and rainforest reserves complement the picturesque beaches of the southern Caribbean Coast. Not only are those beaches excellent candidates for travel posters and postcards, they feature safe conditions for swimming and snorkeling when the waves are small. |
Several points in the area are surrounded by large coral reefs that are extensive enough to keep skin divers exploring for hours on end. Cahuita National Park was created to protect the country's biggest costal coral reef - a vast marine garden composed of amazing colors and life forms- but the park's forests, beaches and estuaries comprise comparable biological diversity.
The area around Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo offer equally impressive combinations of marine life and tropical forest, and as is the case with Cahuita, the local culture is an added attraction for visitors.
The port city of Limon and the fishing towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo were founded by immigrants from some Caribbean island, and the consequent Afro-Caribbean heritage makes the area an interesting switch from Costa Rica's predominant Hispanic culture.
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 16. Gandoca-Manzanillo
This is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. The refuge's coast consists of several emerged coral reef points with gently sloping white sand beaches and few waves due to the extending as much as 200 meters into the sea.
A large part of the refuge, which is flat or made up of small hills, is covered in forests while the rest is carpeted in grasslands and fields. The refuge, which has varied birdlife, protects various animal species that are threatened with extinction in Costa Rica, such as Baird's Tapir and crocodile. |
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17. Tortuguero
Tortuguero is a navigable network of lagoons and canals that cross the National Park from Southeast to the Northwest. This allows a great diversity of fauna and flora of the region to be seen at close hand. Also, is the most important laying site in the whole western half of the Caribbean for the green turtle. Other species of sea turtles that also lay on the wide beaches of the park and the refuge are leatherbacks and hawksbills.
While boat trips down those waterways are excellent opportunities for spotting some of the local wildlife, guides can take visitors down the beach at night from June to October, for the unforgettable experience of watching a sea turtle nest.
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18. Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo (Old Port) is located at Limón. It is one of the most picturesque town of the area which the principal activity is fishing. Surrounded by an exuberant tropical raining vegetation. You will enjoy of the Caribbean atmosphere, as well as of a beach which extension is of one kilometer with thin gray sand and warm blue waters. At the same time, during all the year you will find non- countable available hotels, camping zone and all the necessary facilities.
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