The famous east coast of Costa Rica, with places like Cauhita, Puerto Limon, Tortugeros, and Barra del Colorado, is very different from the west coast.
You can fly here or drive on Highway 32 from San Jose and take in the beautiful scenery. You can drive through Brauilo Carillo National Park and straight down to Limón, or you can go north and pass by Volcano Barva, Puerto Viejo, and Sarapiqui.
All year, the temperature stays in the high 20s, but because it rains almost every day, the clouds block some of the sun's heat. If you want to avoid rain, the best times of the year are from February to March and from August to October.
If you want to eat, there are lots of restaurants all along the road.
Limon is also where almost all of Costa Rica's bananas are sent when they are sold outside of the country.
There has been a little more crime than on the west coast, so be careful.
Beaches
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There are two small beaches 4 km north of Puerto Limon. Playa Bonita has some hotels, fine yellow sand, and palm trees. Tourists might not like the water though. Local fishermen bring their catch to the dock at Playa Portete. In the 1980s, the government built an industrial harbour for freight ships in Moin, which is even farther north. If you go south, you'll find the beach Cauhita, which is where most people go.
Cauhita is a big village with a lot of people living in it. Backpacking tourists love to go there. In Cauhita, it can be hard to find a place to rent. A lot of people want to visit the Caribbean because it has white sand beaches with coconut palms and a calm way of life.
Near Cauhita, there are also a few smaller beaches.
Talamanca is the place to go even further south. Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, and Punta Uva are all close by.
Limon's Sights
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Cahuita National Park. There are more than 14 kilometres of beaches, all of which have a nice mix of coconut palm trees, mangroves, and dense forests. Snorkeling is available all along the coast for those who want to try it.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo Game Preserve in the south is an interesting place to visit. You can go to "Monkey Point," which is called that because Columbus is said to have given it that name.
Plan to go to Tortugeros and take a canal trip. Because it's a long way to go, you'll probably need to set aside 1-2 days for this trip. Bring clothes to change into after it rains, bug spray, and clean water to drink, and you'll have a much better time.
You'll find a very dense jungle here, and if you're lucky, you might even see a sea turtle or two.
With its tall, beautiful palm trees and other tropical trees, flowers, and animals, Parque Vargas in Puerto Limon is a nice place to enjoy the beauty of the tropics. It is close to the water and has a nice view.
Eating
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On the east coast, you can eat everything from French and Chinese food to Caribbean and local specialties. Be aware that not all tourists can eat the same kinds of food.
Nightclubs and bars
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Near the central parks in almost all Costa Rican towns, you can always find bars and cantinas that are open at night. Puerto Limon is no exception. But tourists should stay away from many of these places in Limon, and single women should not go out alone after dark.
Limon is different from other beaches because it has Cauhita. The water on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica is much greener than the water on the west coast, which is blue.
On the east coast, too, there are often bigger waves.
