Caribbean Coast Travelers Recommend

A port city known for its vibrant Caribbean culture, Limon greets a constant stream of cruise ship passengers as a strategic jumping-off point for exploring Costa Rica's beaches and rain forests. With two days, you can immerse yourself in the natural landscape and venture farther along the coastline. Here’s how to do it.

Day 1: Costa Rican Culture

Morning: Join a guided sightseeing tour and get acquainted with the port where Christopher Columbus landed in 1502. Stroll through Vargas Park (Parque Vargas), filled with French-inspired architecture, palm trees, and sloths. (It’s best to avoid this area at night.) Then, browse the local shops for souvenirs.

Afternoon: Head to Tortuguero National Park and hop aboard a riverboat. Gliding at a leisurely pace through a network of narrow canals, look for native wildlife like crocodiles, howler monkeys, iguanas, bats, and toucans. Or, visit the sloth sanctuary and learn about these fascinating creatures.

Night: Try some of the Afro-Caribbean cuisine at local eateries like Soda El Patty, a popular spot known for its pati (pastries stuffed with beef, onions, and peppers). Dishes like jerk chicken, curry, and seafood feature Jamaican and African influences, differing in style from foods served elsewhere in Costa Rica.

Day 2: Ecoadventure

Morning: Get picked up at the port for a white-water rafting excursion down the Reventazon River, suitable for both beginners and experienced rafters. Navigate the churning class II and III rapids, along with calmer sections, as you take in the surrounding Caribbean rain forest. Tours usually include a picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Learn about one of Costa Rica’s most important exports: stop by a local banana plantation to see how the fruit is cultivated, processed, and shipped. The country is the second-largest banana producer in the world, with 80 percent of its plantations located in Limon. Alternatively, take a rain forest walk in Cahuita National Park.

Night: Make your way to to lively Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for music and dancing, about an hour’s drive from Limon, near the Panamanian border. Nearby Cahuita has a more low-key atmosphere. Note: travelers—particularly women—are discouraged from wandering around Limon and environs alone at night.

Located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side, Limon is known for its vibrant culture and lush natural landscape. Every year more than 200,000 cruise ship passengers arrive in the port city, which means you can take your pick of shore excursions. From ecoadventures to cultural tours, here are some options for a 3-day itinerary.

Day 1: Sightseeing by the Sea

A guided tour is a good way to safely navigate the bustling city. (Due to crime, travelers are advised to take precautions when visiting Limon, especially at night—avoid carrying much cash and wearing flashy jewelry.) Start by heading toward Vargas Park (Parque Vargas) down colorful checkered sidewalks lined with vendors selling fresh fruit, coconut water, and ice cream. After getting acquainted with the city center, stop at a local banana plantation and learn about one of Costa Rica’s most important exports—Limon has 80 percent of the country’s banana plantations. Alternatively, see how chocolate is made at a cacao farm in nearby Puerto Viejo, then visit Cahuita National Park. For dinner, grab some authentic grub at one of the local Caribbean eateries.

Day 2: Nature Explorations

Although Limon is situated on the coast, most of its shoreline is dedicated to shipping. Travel north to Pretty Beach (Playa Bonita) to swim, snorkel, and chill in the sand. Serious surfers should make their way to Uvita Island (Isla Uvita) to catch some waves—or scuba dive, snorkel, fish, or watch birds. Alternatively, look for three-toed sloths, toucans, and more in the rain forest on a guided hike—or explore the Tortuguero Canals by riverboat, kayak, or canoe. Later, check out the lively nightlife in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, near the Panamanian border.

Day 3: Animal Adventures

Spend your last day in Limon at the Jaguar Rescue Center. This home for ill, injured, and orphaned animals specializes in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small primates, helping to protect, rehabilitate, and release them back into the wild. Plus, the center’s La Ceiba release site offers night tours and allows you to view the animals in their natural habitat. Alternatively, visit the sloth sanctuary—also home to monkeys, iguanas, and colorful birds. If you happen to be in Limon during one of the turtle nesting seasons (July to October for green sea and hawksbill turtles, February to April for leatherback turtles), don’t miss an excursion to Tortuguero National Park.

On a stretch of Costa Rica that bustles with activity, Puerto Limon—aka Limon—tends to have a less touristy feel than other areas of the country. The port city welcomes throngs of cruise ship passengers throughout the year, which means you can choose from plenty of sightseeing options. Here’s how to make the most of 24 hours in Limon.

Morning: Sightseeing Shore Excursion

Start your day by discovering the hidden gems of this culturally rich and naturally diverse city. Guided sightseeing tours depart from the dock, typically beginning with a quick overview of the city before venturing into the surrounding rain forest. Trek through the lush landscape, taking in the flora and fauna—look out for wildlife such as three-toed sloths, butterflies, toucans, hummingbirds, and colorful amphibians. A stop at a local banana plantation is usually included. Costa Rica is the second-largest banana producer in the world, with 80 percent of its plantations located in Limon.

Afternoon: Canal Cruising

Hop aboard a riverboat for a leisurely cruise through the narrow Tortuguero Canals that flow from Costa Rica’s high country into the Caribbean Sea. Located in Tortuguero National Park, this network of natural waterways allows you to explore the dense jungle surroundings easily and comfortably. Sail past plantations and floral gardens as your guide helps you spot crocodiles, monkeys, and iguanas. Along the beaches, you might even see leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles digging nests and laying eggs, depending on the season. More adventurous travelers can paddle around the canals in a kayak or canoe.

Night: Good Eats

Thanks to its residents, Limon is infused with Afro-Caribbean culture that’s reflected in the town’s bars and restaurants, many of which have a calypso vibe. You’ll notice Jamaican and African influences in popular dishes like jerk chicken, curry, and seafood, with coconut milk and exotic spices featuring prominently. For dinner, check out Soda El Patty, a Caribbean eatery that serves pati (flaky beef turnovers filled with onions and peppers); “soda” refers to a place that offers typical Costa Rican cuisine. Afterward, head to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca—closer to the Panama border—for music and dancing. Nearby Cahuita has a more low-key atmosphere.