This is not only big banana country; the Caribbean region of Costa Rica is also outstanding for its variety of aquatic ecosystems and its beautiful black and white sand beaches. An isolated and unspoilt part of Costa Rica, you can travel down remote rivers and view exotic and rare wildlife. It is the perfect setting for all kinds of things from fishing to sunbathing.
With a climate totally separate from the rest of Costa Rica, it is the least Costa Rican bit of Costa Rica because until 1940 the black population was not allowed into the central valley without a special permit and so instead they all came here. Most of the region’s Afro-Carribbean population stems from Jamaican workers recruited to build the Atlantic railroad and then work the huge banana plantations. Creole English is spoken in these banana heartlands.
The Northern Caribbean comprises the San Juan river which borders with Nicaragua all the way south to Limon City. Limon City is the main city in the area and the main attractions are without doubt the green turtles that nest in the Tortuguero National Park. In the park you will find a series of canals connecting little villages together giving excellent viewings of the nesting turtles: leatherbacks (Mar – Jun), green (Jul-Sep), hawksbill (Jul – Oct). You can explore by boat, canoe or kayak – highly recommended.
There is world-class sport fishing for Atlantic tarpon and snook to be had in the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge right in the northernmost part of this region.
The Southern Caribbean is the coastline from Limon to the Panama border and shows a unique part of the country with a fun mix of beautiful and some remote beaches, great surfing and Afro-American culture. It is a great place to spend part of your Costa Rican experience. Food here (as you might imagine) has a decidedly Caribbean flair.
We believe the best way to see this area is to go by land and boat to Tortuguero and beyond and then return to San Jose by plane.
Northern Caribbean
Tortuguero National Park is a National Park within the Tortuguero Conservation Area. It is the third-most visited park in Costa Rica, but it can only be reached by plane or boat. The essence of Tortuguero is of slow-moving tropical rivers. Everything about Tortuguero is defined by the rivers. They are Tortuguero's roads. The park has incredible biological variety, due to the existence within the reserve of eleven different habitats, including rainforest, swamps, beaches and lagoons. It is located in a tropical climate, is very humid and receives up to 250 inches (6,300 mm) of rain a year. More...
Where to stay:
Manatus is a new jungle lodge hidden in the trees on the banks of one of the main canals in the Tortuguero. There are just 12 air-conditioned and beautiful rooms with private patios overlooking the jungle. More…
Tortuga Lodge, which has been recently re-modelled, is situated on 50 acres of private land on Costa Rica's northeast Caribbean coast. Tortuga Lodge has 26 deluxe rooms and one penthouse. Lush lawns, orchids, and tropical trees surround this thatched riverside lodge renowned for its top-notch, personalised service. Guest rooms are comfortable, with much-appreciated mosquito blinds. Tortuguero National Park is 20 minutes south by boat. More…
Selva Bananito Lodge is a basic and family run eco-lodge built on a tropical farm of which 2/3 is primary rainforest, at the foot of the Muchilla mountain bordering La Amistad Biosphere Reserve. The cabins stand on a ridge flanked by two streams. More…
Southern Caribbean - where to stay:
Shawandha Lodge is found on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, near the town of Puerto Viejo, the Shawandha Lodge boasts a privileged and exotic location alongside white sand beaches, lush tropical gardens and swaying palm trees. Shawandha Lodge offers refined and comfortable accommodations in a primitive, village like setting. The hotel’s 12 wood bungalows are nestled in more than 2 hectares of towering trees and vibrant tropical gardens. More...
The Cariblue Hotel is tucked into the middle of a luxuriant tropical rain forest, just steps away from the sparkling blue Caribbean Ocean, the Cariblue Hotel offers privacy and comfort amidst a charming tropical oasis. Not even a mile from the festive town of Puerto Viejo, the Cariblue Hotel’s sixteen rustic-style bungalows blend seamlessly into the lush surrounding landscape. More...
