The best part of Limon is its people," says a popular Costa Rican song. But the song doesn't go far enough, because the best part of Limon is its people... and its beaches, its vibe, its music, its climate and its greenness. We recently took a short trip to our favorite spots in the province: Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Cahuita, Puerto Vargas and Manzanillo. Here we show you a bit of the best the area has to offer:
Where to Stay:
Most hotels are near Puerto Viejo and Punta Cocles. There's something for every budget, from basic rooms to exotic resorts. Most lodging options offer rooms decorated with palm, wood and lively colors, all set amid beautiful gardens. If you'd like something cool, peaceful and in the jungle, Hotel Cariblue offers 22 bungalows made from resistant woods. Each has a hammock that looks out to extensive tropical gardens. They also boast a pool and gourmet restaurant. Most bungalows are for four to six persons, and one holds up to seven people.
La Costa de Papito offers rustic, comfortable bungalows each with its own unique design and decorated with locally made art. It has a great location, with access to Cocles Beach on the north, where the surf is great, and a freshwater river to the south. Cocles Beach has been awarded the prestigious Blue Ecological Flag, and is the only beach on the Costa Rica's Caribbean with lifeguards. As an additional attraction, this hotel has the Pure Jungle Spa, whose wide ranger of treatments and organic products (cacao, papaya, pineapple, cucumber, coffee) make for a wonderful stay.
Where to Eat:
While it might be presumptuous to say that you can eat anywhere, the truth is that all of the places that we visited have fulfilled our expectations. Of course it all depends on individual taste, but one thing is for sure: the Caribbean boasts some incredible cuisine.
Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Manzanillo showcase plenty of restaurants, from light snacks homemade ice cream, fruit, vegetarian food, fresh baked bread to a traditional Caribbean menu rice and beans, patacones, seafood, local beverages to gourmet Italian, French and Japanese cuisine.
What to Do:
Activities here run the gamut, and each hotel can organize tours for you. Adventure, guided visits to the national parks and wildlife reserves, canopy, scuba and snorkeling, dolphin watching, night tours of the forest, and birdwatching are some close by activities. Destinations include the Tortuguero Canals, Cahuita National Park, surfing Salsa Brava, and the local communities.
How to get there:
By Land: From San Jose, take Highway 32 to Limon. There, swing right towards Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Puerto Vargas, Codes and Manzanillo. The trip takes around four hours.
By Bus: Public buses leave from San Jose at the Terminal Caribenos, Calle Central, Ave. 13.
By Air: Many companies offer daily flights to Limon.
Geographical Division 
