Caribbean Coast Costa Rica

The main highway from San Jose to the port of Limon is a two-lane road winding through green peaks before a thirty-minute straight shot to the coast. There are reef breaks to the north, the south, and even right offshore if you can find a boat to get you there. There are also black and tan sand beaches that attract thousands of international visitors—not just people but also endangered sea turtles. Sunny mornings and rainy afternoons are the norm, so dawn patrols and sunset sessions get the best winds. The uniqueness of this region lies in the people—Jamaicans who came to build the Panama Canal over a hundred years ago and stayed to enjoy fishing, farming and a fresh start. The bars blast reggae music and the smell of jerk spices and seafood simmer in the humid evening air.

The Caribbean offers coral reefbreaks and some of the biggest surf in Costa Rica. It’s a great destination during winter when the Pacific side is smaller. The Caribbean side has a very slow pace, but also a bit sketchier scene around Limon that is in contrast to many of the Pacific towns. However, a big, juicy day at Salsa Brava, the region’s premiere spot, can leave indelible memories for the more advanced surfer.

There is an airport in Limon, so those wanting to avoid the three-hour drive east from San Jose have that option. Read more