Caribbean Costa Rican Adventures

Cahuita National Park Tour

This is an approximately four hour adventure that begins at the entrance of Cahuita National Park and continues to Punta Cahuita along a 7 to 10 kilometer trail. If you opt to take the hike with one of the tour operators in the region, a Cahuita based naturalist will take you through the trail offering insights on the healing powers of various plants and sharing their insider information on the wildlife along the hike. Cahuita National Park is a biologically diverse corridor where a huge variety of wildlife is perpetually active. Visitors can also enjoy a refreshing swim in Playa Blanca on their way back. Visitors can also combine the trip with a hike to the Cahuita Waterfall and Rainforest. It is an exciting 3-4 hour hike. During the hike visitors will spot a range of bio-diversity including howler monkeys, sloths, frogs, reptiles and much more.

Trip To Tortuguero

Tortuguero and is most commonly reached by boat from the Moin town located near the Limon port. Visitors can take a boat trip from here on the canal to Tortuguero and access the National Park. The village per se is tiny with quaint old worldly houses along the way, some hotels, souvenir shops, and plenty of wildlife attractions. The Tortuguero National Park is known to be one of the most naturally bountiful locations in the country, featuring everything from high rainforests to marsh lands to long golden sand beaches and beautiful canals ideal for spotting water creatures.

The region is one of the most celebrated breeding grounds for the Green Sea Turtle and it becomes a must visit destination on the nature buff’s map during the nesting season. If visitors come to Tortuguero between April and October, they can take the opportunity to see giant sea turtles laying their eggs on the coast outside the pueblo at night. Tortuguero is a major nesting site for the green turtle, and some lucky folks heading here during the turtle season might even be lucky enough to spot a larger-than-life Leatherback turtle. There are guided tours offered by several local tour companies and hotels every night during this time of the year. Tortuguero offers a bouquet of adventure and sightseeing activities. An incredibly surreal experience is to visit the nesting beaches in the nocturnal hours with a guide and watch the turtles laying their eggs or hatching them. Visitors can also hire a canoe or Kayak and go on a canal trip discovering creatures such as indigenous birds, and crocodiles. The park offers several trails perfect for wildlife viewing and bird watching.

Other popular activities in the region include sports fishing tours and zip line tours along suspension bridges. Rafting in the Rain Forest, Río Pacuare– Visitors can take off on a full day trip on a rafting adventure on the Pacuare River which is globally celebrated for its impeccable natural beauty. It is surrounded by walls of green and waterfalls that fall into the river from two sides, while you’re happily witnessing it from the middle of the water. Visitors can view several tropical and water creatures along the way. If you come to Tortuguero from November to early January, visitors may not see the big turtles, but they will be able to see a batch of baby turtles make their first run to the sea which makes for a fascinating sight. The nests are strewn all over the beach, and many of them can be spotted on an early morning walk.

The primary activities here are fishing and farming. Therefore, the region has evolved to develop an interesting character, in addition to a variety of tourism services and facilities that forge its identity. There are abundant leisure activities in the region that include leisure hiking and sunbathing on the beach, nature tours, excursions in boats or kayaks through the canals, interacting with the locals, enjoying the local cuisine or letting your hair down and shaking to catchy local music.

Kayaking on Tortuguero Canals

Due to its convenient geographical location, the area where the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge and the Tortugero National Park are housed overflows with bountiful natural creations such as small rivers, canals, and beautiful lagoons all of which are beautifully connected. Being one of the areas with the heaviest rainfall in Costa Rica, this region boasts of a huge biodiversity Visitors can explore the varied water system in boats, canoes, or kayaks. One of the best ways to discover this verdant paradise is to do a kayak trip on the canal to witness the incredible tropical vegetation. One beautiful spot is where the Palma tributary of the Penitencia Lagoon in Tortugero merges with the Samay Lagoon in Barra del Colorado.

Veragua Rainforest Park

Veragua Rainforest Park is set up as a complete one-day destination for cruise tourists entering the Port of Limon. The park offers one of the most surreal and complete rainforest experiences in a relatively short span of time. It’s like a mini mélange of all that the region has to offer on a platter. The forest is replete with walking trails, an aerial tram, a zipline tour, a river and waterfall, a several wildlife exhibits, along with a restaurant, a café and a souvenir shop. Veragua, located at about an hour from the historic port town of Limon, is a stunning tropical rainforest offering striking vistas of the Talamanca Range in the La Amistad International Park. La Amistad is the largest national park in Costa Rica, featuring the biggest area of virgin forest that encompasses both Costa Rica and Panama. It is nearly surrounded by other parks and reserves, making the sheltered area appear even bigger.

Termed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the park is estimated to house about two-thirds of all Costa Rica’s wildlife species. Visitors can see everything from cool tropical wildlife to spectacular rainforest vegetation, and get an adrenaline buzz on the canopy zipline tour and the high-flying aerial tram. Most of the Park is wheelchair accessible and is designed to be safe and simple to get around. The Veragua Rainforest Park surrounds the Victoria River Canyon. The entrance, Welcome Center and wildlife exhibits are located on the canyon rim, along with the departure site for the aerial tram and the beginning of the canopy zipline tour. Walking/hiking trails and the waterfall are all down on the canyon floor.

Veragua Rainforest Park is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Admission fee is $55 for adults and $45 for children/students. Children under the age of four are not charged. The admission price includes all park activities and attractions, except the canopy tour which costs an additional $34 for adults and $20 for students/children. Lunch is served at $10 per person. The Park is located at an hour from Limon and 2 ½ hours from San José, in Brisas de Veragua, 12 km south from the Liverpool entrance on the Limón Highway.

Pacuare

Pacuare is surrounded by a deep, green corridor by all sides. Visitors enjoy a feeling of total seclusion from urban life and the feeling of being one with nature. There are waterfalls cascading into the river from both sides. There is a virgin tropical rainforest area appear before adorned with abundant wildlife creatures such as sloth, parrots, coatis, butterflies and frogs. The white water is not an overly challenging river, though it features brilliant rapids, therefore paving the way for a fantastic adventure.

The first 4 miles consist of fun rapids that are ideal for testing your new river skills and acquire the confidence to tread into the water. A gorgeous secondary forest can also be spotted here. After an half hour visitors can see the breathtaking Pacuare River Gorge, which is often touted to be Costa Rica’s best white water destination. The Huacas watefall, a 150 foot stunning drop cascading into the river completes the Pacuare experience.

Talmanca

Talamanca is the biggest of the six cantons in the province of Limon. It features a super weather and incredible biodiversity that is the trademark of most Costa Rican Caribbean destinations. The beaches here are considered to be some of the prettiest Costa Rica including ones such as Cahuita, the Vargas Port, Puerto Viejo beach, Gandoca- Manzanillo beach, Black beach and more. There is popular reserve here called the Hitoy-Cerere.

Manzanillo

Manzanillo is a beach destination 13 km from the town of Puerto Viejo. This is a great place for cycling owing to the smooth and well paved roads. Visitors can experience several activities like, hiking, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, sport fishing and dolphins. The region was the foremost cocoa growing spot. It protects the region’s wild fauna, especially the indigenous species that are on the brink of extinction. The beach also features a lagoon that is ideal for frolicking kids.

The primary forest of the area is unusual and has a tiny surface enveloped with low lands. The area has a huge range of bio diverse habitats with parts of primary forests and innumerable marine habitats. This is a great option for family picnicking or getting together with a large group of friends while enjoying a range of beach activities or simply enjoying tanning on the beach as the waves cast their hypnotic charm.

The Beaches of Puerto Viejo

This stunning area is located on a belt that is made up fundamentally of corals. Though the primary region is not appropriate for swimming, there are several other areas that have white sandy beaches perfect for a good dip in the waters. The two popular beaches here are the Chino Beach, and another located bang in front of the Stanford’s restaurant is named after the eatery. Both sites are fairly small, but very suitable for enjoying the beach. From this point, heading south is the famous “Salsa Brava,” at Punta Pirripli, which is one of the best places for surfing. There is international surfing competitions held here. Along these beaches you will also find businesses that cater to diving enthusiasts and organize dives around the coral reef. The beaches of Puerto Viejo have something for everyone.

Surfing at Playa Bonita

Located at about 3 miles to the north of Limón, Playa Bonita is easy to reach and has extremely strong wave that are perfect for surfing enthusiasts. It is encircled by verdant tropical vegetation, and the coconut palms lend it a surreal scenic touch. Owing to its beauty and accessibility to Limón, Playa Bonita is a much sought after destination for tourists and locals. This stylishly bustling beach hosts several events throughout the year like concerts and surf tournaments. Other than surfing, the beach is perfect for suntanning, hiking, swimming, nature viewing, playing volleyball on the beach, enjoying a picnic with the family and more. It’s best to arrive here early and enjoy a day of picnicking while the tourists are still streaming in. The buzz here is inevitable and the entire beach is a whole big party. Stay away if you’re averse to big crowds, noise and a general carnival atmosphere.

Limon Adventures

Visitors can take the Braulio Carrillo Highway and reach the town of Limon conveniently. Limón is the most significant ports in the country owing to its imports and exports and its ability to access tourist cruise ships. The historic downtown region of the city possesses the traits of an ancient town and is worth discovering for its culturally telling monuments and a to savor a slice of Costa Rica’s historical glory.

Calero and Brava Islands

These continental or fluvial islands, which, unlike other isolated marine territories; they are mainly surrounded by fresh water that is fed by the rivers that demarcates its flat and alluvial surface. Calero is the largest island of this type in Costa Rica and measures 97 sq. miles. Brava is the second largest that measures 27 sq. miles. Both are located next to each other in the far northern part of the Caribbean coast and both belong to the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge.