South Caribbean

Tourists can enjoy this activity in communities such as Tortuguero, Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, observing architecture, landscapes and local flora and fauna, visiting indigenous communities, taking photographs and more.

Guided or unguided hikes may be enjoyed in communities, natural areas and coastal zones to take in various natural, historical, architectural, social, artistic and cultural attractions.

The region boasts many picturesque trails—Cahuita–Puerto Vargas, Puerto Viejo–Manzanillo and others—some for adventure, recreation or relaxation and others for enjoying nature.

The architecture of the Caribbean comprises buildings of great importance that have been declared of historical or architectural interest. The following stand out in downtown Limón: Black Star Line, the Post and Telegraph Building and the Municipal Palace.

Limón has enjoyed culinary influence from diverse ethnic groups, the most representative of which are the Afro-Costa Rican and the Chinese, who, in addition to preparing foods in different ways, brought a large number of plants and tubers with them into the country. Traditional dishes include: rice and beans, dokonú or "blue dress," patí and plantintah, pan bon and socosí, among others. Caribbean food, as well as a wide range of international cuisine, may be sampled in sodas (small restaurants serving local food), cafes and restaurants in the coastal towns mentioned.

Photography is one of the worthy activities because of it's cultural, architectonic and landscaping interest, as well as the flora and fauna, waterfalls, rivers and the wide range of banana, decoration plants, cocoa and other plantations.

There are shopping centers in the city of Limón where a few objects or souvenirs may be purchased; however, handicrafts and important works of art may be found for sale in communities with greater tourist activity (Tortuguero, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo).

This is considered an important movement in painting and sculpture in the country due to the abundance of painters whose work authentically expresses the symbolic content of the region's cultures and natural luxuriance. Galleries may be visited and works of art purchased in Guápiles, Limón, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo.

The natural beauty of Cahuita and Puerto Vargas' beaches is complemented by the largest fringing coral reef in the Costa Rican Caribbean. In addition, the reefs off Punta Cocles, Punta Uva, Manzanillo and Punta Mona are not to be forgotten. These sites are ideal for admiring coral (brain, moose- and deer-horn, fire, rose, lettuce and more), mollusks, sea fans, crustaceans, turtles and multicolored fish, among other attractions.

Several companies have developed facilities for enjoying nature-trail and canopy adventure activities, including: Puerto Viejo Botanical Garden, Samasati Biological Preserve and Yoga Center, and Terraventura Canopy (Río Carbón valley).

The visitors of the region have multiple services and facilities available, which compliment the existent coastal and wild areas attractions. The butterfly farm, cocoa plantation and Keköldi and Bribri Indigenous Reserve can also be visited.

Adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park, 22 kilometers after the Zurquí Tunnel along the highway to Guápiles, the Rainforest Aerial Tram was built so people could enjoy activities in the rainforest canopy, such as observing various monkey and bird species, orchid varieties, bromeliads, pinguins, climbing plants and insect communities.

Held the third weekend in April, this activity promotes relations between the locals and foreigners that make up the Wet Tropic School. Activities include cultural presentations of different countries, a culinary fair and tours to sites of interest at the school, such as the botanical garden, the orchid garden and the livestock area. Outsiders are encouraged to visit.

Located on the highway to Cahuita, this long, grayish-sand beach on the open ocean features abundant coastal vegetation, and stands out for its many coconut palms. Great for swimming, it is very popular with locals and national tourists, who visit it to enjoy the beach and Río Vizcaya mouth with friends or family.

Located one kilometer north of Río La Estrella, this beautiful place is an approximately 100-hectare private preserve, where visitors can walk and take boat tours on the adjoining canals to observe the flora and fauna—especially birds.

Home to a mix of cultures, this community features varied local and international cuisine and all kinds of facilities for touring the National Park located here. Companies offer tours to the reef and to other parts of Talamanca and the surrounding area. Places for enjoying music are also available.

"Black Beach" is the name of this dark-sand beach located north of the town of Cahuita. Long and fringed with lush tropical greenery, Playa Negra has distinct areas featuring inlets, coral platforms, coves and sandy beaches. The surf is moderate to strong. This beach is ideal for relaxing and contemplating the sea, as well as exploring on foot, horseback or mountain bike.

Named "White Beach" for the color of its sand, Playa Blanca is part of Cahuita National Park, stretching some three kilometers from the park entrance to Punta Cahuita. The initial stretch of this narrow beach features a shelf and strong surf; swimming is not recommended here. Toward its middle stretch, before the Río Suárez estuary, however, swimming is ideal. After crossing the estuary, the presence of a fringing coral reef offshore transforms the beach into a vast lagoon. On the point, the sand is very light in color. Here the reef is close in; visitors can dive in its waters, or continue some two kilometers more to Puerto Vargas.

This lovely beach also belongs to Cahuita National Park, stretching several kilometers from Punta Cahuita to the mouth of the Río Carbón. It has three distinct areas, all breathtaking thanks to their lush vegetation. From north to south, the first area comprises the point up to the promontory of Puerto Vargas. Here, the water is crystalline and calm thanks to the coral reef. Extending from Puerto Vargas to the beach entrance, the second stretch features darker sand and mild to moderate surf. The third reaches from here to the mouth of the Río Carbón, and consists of an open coast with strong surf.

Like Cahuita, the town of Puerto Viejo offers many facilities to ensure an enjoyable visit. Lodging and travel companies and a tour guide association offer trips to other areas of Talamanca. There are also excellent restaurants featuring local and international cuisine, as well as varied nightlife offering traditional music and dancing from the Costa Rican Caribbean.

With participation from various musical groups from throughout the country, this event takes place in Playa Chiquita during the first weeks of April, during the dry season and high season for tourists.

Stretching from the town of Puerto Viejo to its entrance in the north, this beach is famous for its truly black sand, which owes its color to a high manganese content. Shaped in an attractive curve, Playa Negra features moderate to strong surf. Vegetation is limited as the town's main street runs directly behind the beach. This spot is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and leisurely strolls, which can run northeast to the mouth of the Río Carbón.

Puerto Viejo sits on a point or cape made up mainly of coral platforms, so several areas here are not suitable for swimming. However, there are other spots with white sand and convenient cafes that are ideal for enjoying the ocean. These places are referred to by the names of certain people or establishments residing or situated on the beach; thus, the beach in front of Manuel León's property is called Chinese Beach, and the beach in front of Stanford's Restaurant is named after this establishment.

Though small, both these beaches are well frequented by ocean lovers. From here to the south, at a place called Punta Pirriplí, is the famous Salsa Brava wave, one of the best surf spots on the entire Caribbean coast and host to international surfing contests. Dive shops and companies offering tours to the reef can also be found in front of these beaches.

Located close to Puerto Viejo, this reservation is of great importance due to the activities it promotes. The Bribri indigenous people who live on the reservation offer several facilities and items of interest to tourists, including a green iguana farm and indigenous handicrafts such as wooden bows and arrows, handbags, nets, hammocks and baskets. The reservation features trails for enjoying its lush vegetation and wildlife, as well as two observation towers for bird-watching, particularly of raptors migrating north and south during the months of January, February, October and November. A total of 17 raptor species have been observed here, including eagles, sparrow hawks and falcons; sightings of thousands of birds per day make for a spectacular phenomenon. Finally, the stunning Río Cocles waterfall is located within the reservation and may be visited with local guides.

Yorquín or Yorkín is the name of a river with its headwaters on the Panamanian side of La Amistad International Park. Up this river is the Yorquín indigenous community, where visitor facilities allow for a unique experience that combines the beauty of the river with learning about and integrating into this exemplary community, which grows its own food and trades bananas and cacao for other products. From here, other places may be visited such as Cerro Buena Vista, hot springs and waterfalls. The Yorquín also make handicrafts that may be purchased as souvenirs.

Long and wide, this beach has moderate to strong surf. To the north and opposite Punta Pirriplí lies a beautiful rocky island of the same name that lends special appeal to this coast of few islands. This beach is perfect for enjoying activities such as sunbathing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, beach volleyball and soccer. A small coral reef lies off Punta Cocles. Along the beach there are numerous tourist services, including surfboard and bicycle rentals. Horses and motorcycles may be rented in Puerto Viejo to explore this and other beaches located to the south.

Located right after Punta Cocles, this golden-sand beach forms a cove by the same name. Beyond this point the irregular coast continues, bordering rocky platforms. Some two kilometers to the south is a highly scenic rocky promontory swathed in lush tropical greenery. Here, the coastline forms a bend surrounded by calm, clear water. This lovely stretch of coast is good for relaxation and enjoying nature unchanged, whether on foot, horseback or simply lying on the beach.

Punta Uva is a wide, sandy ridge that stretches northeast up to the promontory at the end of Playa Chiquita. To the south the coast opens in a curve up to Manzanillo. Bordering this point is a coral reef where diving is possible. Punta Uva's unique shape makes it ideal for walking all the way to Chiquita and Manzanillo beaches.

This golden-sand beach stretches north some 3.5 kilometers from the town of Manzanillo to Punta Uva. It has moderate to strong surf, an irregular, curved shape, and plentiful coastal vegetation, particularly palms. Ideal for walking, horseback riding, sunbathing and swimming, this beach also offers diving in several areas in front of the town and near Punta Manzanillo. The 12-kilometer road that connects all the beaches south of Puerto Viejo ends in the town of Manzanillo, which offers numerous services including diving gear rental and dolphin-watching and dive tours.

To get to this beach, visitors must walk some five kilometers from Manzanillo to Punta Mona. The coastline in this area is very irregular. The forest and surrounding scenery make this stretch of coast exceptionally beautiful, especially around Punta Mona, where a small, greenery-swathed island enhances the coastal scenery, complemented by always-lush forests and patches of coral ideal for diving.

Beyond Punta Mona the irregular coastline transforms into one that begins with a curve and then opens up to stretch more regularly up to Gandoca. Here, the beach features gray sand and strong surf. Southward from Gandoca the beach stretches to the mouth of the Río Sixaola, which marks the border with Panama. This last stretch of coast is just over eight kilometers long, and is highly suitable for walking and taking in the rich biodiversity of its ecosystems.

Gandoca is also great for observing nesting leatherback turtles from April to August. The walk from Manzanillo to Gandoca takes around three hours. This beach has been rewarded with the Blue Ecological Flag, which identifies it as a clean and safe beach.