The Caribbean

Cahuita is a small village on the southern Caribbean coast, approximately 40 minutes south of Limón and 20 minutes north of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. You come here for Cahuita National Park, which starts right at the edge of the village, featuring rainforest, beaches, and an offshore coral reef.The village is quieter than nearby Puerto Viejo: a small grid of streets where many locals get around by bicycle. The Afro-Caribbean influence is clearly noticeable in the cuisine and music. Cahuita was home to calypso singer Walter Ferguson, whose 100th birthday in 2019 was declared a national Calypso Day.Around the village are three beaches. Playa Blanca, with its light sand, borders the park entrance and is best for swimming. Playa Negra, with dark sand, is just north of the village and less visited; further north still is the more secluded Playa Grande.The National Park has two entrances: Kelly Creek at the eastern end of the village, where entry is by donation, and Puerto Vargas further south on the main road, where foreigners pay a fee. A coastal path connects both entrances. It is open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM. You may only visit the reef as part of a guided snorkeling tour.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a surf and beach town on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast, close to the Panama border and about four to four and a half hours' drive from San José. You come here for the beaches between Cocles and Manzanillo, for rainforest right on the coast, and for the Afro-Caribbean influenced cuisine.The town belongs to the Talamanca canton in Limón Province. Locals usually just say "Puerto Viejo"; do not confuse it with Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí in the north of the country. In front of the town center, the Salsa Brava wave breaks over a reef, considered one of the most powerful in the country and reserved for experienced surfers.To the southeast, Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, and Punta Uva line up, and at the end of the road lies the fishing village of Manzanillo on the edge of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. The small town beach, Playa Puerto Viejo, with its natural rock pools, is suitable for families; some other beaches have strong currents. To the north lies Cahuita National Park.Beyond the beach, cocoa tours, a visit to the Jaguar Rescue Center, and excursions to Bribri communities in the hinterland are available. Many travelers stay for several days, and the range of accommodations, cafés, and bars is correspondingly wide.

Tortuguero is a national park and a small village on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast, accessible only by boat or small plane. You come here for boat tours through a network of rainforest canals and lagoons, and for the sea turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches.The national park was founded in 1975 and covers approximately 312 square kilometers. On its beaches, Green Sea Turtles, Leatherback Sea Turtles, Hawksbill Sea Turtles, and Loggerhead Sea Turtles nest. The Green Sea Turtle is the most common and arrives from July to October, peaking in September and October; Leatherback Turtles nest less frequently and from March to May.The village, with around 1,200 inhabitants, is located on a narrow strip of land between the Caribbean and the canal. A car-free path connects the boat dock with the ranger station at the south end of the village. At the north end, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, which began its research in Tortuguero in 1959, operates a small visitor center with a museum.The park is best experienced via its waterways. Guided canoe or boat tours show you monkeys, sloths, birds, and caimans, which you often miss on your own; you can also rent kayaks yourself. On land, there are only a few, often muddy paths. Admission for foreign visitors costs 15 US dollars and is purchased online from SINAC; the ticket is valid for land and water trails.Turtle observation on the beach is only permitted at night with a certified guide. Cameras and white light are prohibited, and dark clothing is expected. Not far from the village rises the 119-meter-high Cerro Tortuguero, an old volcanic cone with panoramic views over canals and coastline.

Irazú Volcano National Park is located in the Cordillera Central above Cartago, in the east of the Central Valley. You come here to walk right up to the rim of several craters, which are among Costa Rica's most easily accessible volcanic landscapes.Irazú stands at 3,432 meters. The National Park was founded on August 9, 1955. An eruption, which began in March 1963 and lasted about two years, covered San José and large parts of the highlands with ash.At the summit are several craters, including the Main Crater, the Diego de la Haya Crater, and the small, ash-covered Playa Hermosa Crater. During the rainy season, water collects in the Main Crater and Diego de la Haya, forming colorful lagoons. On very clear days, both the Caribbean and the Pacific can be seen from the summit; such days are rare, as clouds usually hang over the peak from late morning.The park also includes the Prusia sector, a former forest reserve where reforestation has taken place and hiking trails lead through the mountain forest. Tickets are available exclusively online via the SINAC reservation system, with a fixed entry time slot. Before your visit, check there for current opening hours and whether all sectors are accessible.At over 3,000 meters, it is cold and windy, even in the tropics. Bring warm clothing and rain gear, and come early to see the craters before the clouds roll in.

Cartago is the first capital of Costa Rica, located in the east of the Central Valley, southeast of San José at the foot of Irazú Volcano. You visit here for the Basílica de los Ángeles, the country's most important sanctuary, and as a starting point for Irazú National Park.Juan Vásquez de Coronado founded the city in 1563, and it is considered the country's first permanent Spanish settlement. Cartago served as the capital until 1823, when the seat of government moved to San José. Earthquakes in 1822, 1841, and 1910 severely damaged the city, which is why little of its colonial cityscape remains.The city center can be explored on foot in half a day. To the east stands the Basilica with the Marian figure La Negrita; about seven blocks west, on the Plaza Mayor, are the Ruinas de Santiago Apóstol, a never-completed church whose walls now enclose a garden. In between, you'll find the Centro Cultural, housed in the neo-Gothic building of the former Banco Crédito Agrícola from 1924, and the municipal market with simple eateries.The city is situated at an elevation of approximately 1,435 meters, making it noticeably cooler than the coasts. From here, the road leads up to Irazú; southeast of the city lies the Lankester Botanical Garden.