San Andrés & Providencia

San Andrés is the main island of the Colombian archipelago in the western Caribbean, reachable by direct flight from the mainland. You come for the coral reefs, snorkeling spots, and offshore cays like Johnny Cay. The main town is lively and touristy; it's quieter on the east coast near San Luis.

Providencia is a small island in the San Andrés archipelago, about 20 flight minutes north of San Andrés. You come for Colombia's longest coral reef, the mangroves in McBean Lagoon National Park, and the tranquil beaches in the south. The island measures approximately 7 by 4 km, has around 5,000 inhabitants, and is connected to Santa Catalina via a pedestrian bridge.

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.

The Caribbean coast encompasses the Limón province in eastern Costa Rica, from the Tortuguero canals in the north to the border with Panama in the south. This is where you go for rainforest that stretches right to the beach, for nesting sea turtles, and for an Afro-Caribbean culture that distinctly differs from the rest of the country.The city of Limón is located approximately 170 kilometers from San José; the road leads through the Zurquí Tunnel and Braulio Carrillo National Park. The north, around Tortuguero, is only accessible by boat or plane; you reach the Southern Caribbean, with Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, via the coastal road south of Limón.Many residents are descendants of Jamaican workers who arrived in the late 19th century for railway and banana plantations. Additionally, there are Chinese immigrants, and in the south, the indigenous Bribri and Cabécar people. Calypso, Reggae, and a cuisine featuring coconut milk define the region.

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.