Caribbean Coast

It is only 150 miles between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, where there is an amazing blend of culture, topography and ways to spend your time. Take the time to glimpse into the distinct culture of the blended native Afro-Caribbean traditions mixed with the Latin American life.

Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero National Park is nothing short of stunning. It is a place of exceptional biodiversity, protecting habitats including beach, estuary, marine and tropical lowland rainforest. It is no surprise that it is the top eco-destination in the country and the third most visited parks. Tortuguero is best seen by boat or kayak to get close enough to view of the wildlife, but the park has a wonderful hike that will reward you with an unforgettable view when you get to the top. The park’s extensive network of freshwater rivers, creeks, and lagoons behind the beaches of Tortuguero are home to seven species of river turtles and over 50 species of freshwater fish. The park is one of the most important green turtle nesting sites in the world. If you take only one tour in Tortuguero National Park, make it the nesting of turtles as they descend on the night beach to lay their eggs. Anywhere in Tortuguero a turtle chooses to lay its eggs has to be an ecological paradise.
Try this
• Let Sea Turtle Conservatory volunteers share stories of their adored, rescued turtles. A donation to help keep the conservatory running is always appreciated.

Cahuita National Park

Cahuita National Park is one of the smallest parks in Costa Rica. It was designated in 1970 to protect the largest coral reef in the country, its largely untouched rainforest and marine and wildlife. Cahuita is the place to see sloths hanging leisurely from trees, beaches lined with coconut trees and where the shell you pick up may well be a hermit crab. The park has hiking trails wending through its enchanting tropical forest, but it is its underwater world that captivates the senses. Playa Blanca and Puerto Vargas are the two most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, with an important purpose. They act as guardians of some of the Park’s best treasures, the coral reef, tropical fish and two abandoned shipwrecks waiting to be explored. A stop at Cahuita Village along the main road to the park is essential to sample the delicious fusion of the Caribbean and Costa Rican cuisines. 
 
Try this 
• Take cruise on a glass-bottom boat to see the majestic coral reef and tropical fish in the waters off the coast of the park.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Just south of the city of Limon lies Puerta Viejo, a once charming fishing village and now one of most popular destinations on the Caribbean side of the country. It is a calm and relaxed atmosphere with its own unique blend of Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures. It is unmistakably Caribbean with its lush jungles and wildlife, but it is the striking beaches that get most of the attention. It is known for its Salsa Brava, the biggest and most powerful waves in Costa Rica, making it a favorite site for expert and international surfers. If you are not a surfer that’s okay too. There are plenty of snorkeling, kayaking, and diving to be had in the calm waters of Cahuita or Manzanillo. The Jaguar Rescue Center is a magnificent rescue facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of mistreated, injured, orphaned and confiscated animals, which otherwise not survive in their normal habitat. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard a baby sloth calling out for its mother. It is a must-see place. 
 
Try this 
• Speak to a Costa Rican shaman in BriBri, a local indigenous village. You may not understand what you’ve said, but it has good bragging rights.

Caribbean Coast

CONTACT