| By now nearly everyone is sick of winter and thinking | | | | annually to witness a real spectacle of nature. |
| about some place warmer. Costa Rica is the | | | | Limon is typically the starting point to head north by |
| destination of choice, in part, because of its reputation | | | | boat or small aircraft to Tortuguero or along the Costa |
| for being one of the most beautiful countries in the | | | | Rica Caribbean highway to great beaches south, |
| world and also because of its staggering diversity. This | | | | including the beach where Columbus first landed. Limon |
| small Latin America country is only a couple of hours | | | | is not a recommended vacation destination and is best |
| south of Florida, has spectacular tropical mountains, | | | | thought of as the place to go north or south. Heading |
| volcanoes, and some of the great beaches anywhere. | | | | south will take you to Puerto Viejo. This little town is |
| Travelers come for its great surfing beaches, beach | | | | legendary for surfers and a favorite trip to Costa Rica. |
| communities with daytime fun and adult nightlife, and | | | | From November through April, it is often filled with |
| deserted beaches where tropical mountains meet the | | | | surfers. The best-of-the-best head for the |
| shore. | | | | world-famous three-mile long La Salsa Brava wave. A |
| Most tourists travel to the country's Pacific coast and | | | | short distance away beginners and intermediates can |
| never tour the unspoiled Caribbean beaches where | | | | have lots of fun surfing at Playa Cocles. |
| the country got its name more than 500 years ago | | | | About 25 miles south of Limon and a short distance |
| from an explorer we know as Christopher Columbus. | | | | north of Puerto Viejo is Cahuita, a very small, laid-back |
| Only a relative handful of travelers know about | | | | community with kilometer after kilometer of pristine |
| Columbus and even fewer walk the very same beach | | | | beaches, some almost black and others pure white. |
| where he came ashore in 1503. Even if history bored | | | | September and October are the driest months of the |
| you to death in school, it has to give you chills to | | | | year and visitors who come around October 12 take in |
| imagine walking in the footsteps of history. | | | | Carnaval at Limon, a week-long fiesta celebrating |
| Do not be fooled. Columbus may have gotten here | | | | Columbus Day. Cahuita is popular for its wonderful |
| earlier but was not the last explorer. There are still | | | | reef snorkeling around its two shipwrecks. Not a lot of |
| new places for modern day explorers to discover for | | | | nightlife here so head a few miles south to Puerto |
| themselves. Costa Rica has nearly 400 miles of | | | | Viejo. |
| Caribbean shoreline. Its eastern coast is still largely | | | | Finally, there is the Gandoco-Manzanillo Wildlife |
| undeveloped compared to the Pacific side of the | | | | Reserve nearly at the Panama border. When |
| country and has a unique Caribbean ambiance. This is | | | | Christopher Columbus discovered Costa Rica, this is |
| Bob Marley country. | | | | where his boat landed. In this tropical paradise you will |
| For an increasing number of ecotourists, their Costa | | | | find crystal clear waters perfect for swimming and |
| Rica vacation includes a trip to Tortuguero National | | | | scuba diving. Or, if you like, snorkeling at Costa Rica's |
| Park. This is a remote reserve along the northern | | | | largest coral reefs. Not to mention, kayaking, hiking, and |
| Caribbean Coast, initially formed to protect the ancient | | | | terrific wildlife viewing. The rare Tuxuci freshwater |
| green sea turtle nesting grounds. Today it has become | | | | porpoise was discovered here just a few years ago |
| the largest green marine turtle nesting beach on the | | | | and the rivers and lagoons are often teeming with |
| planet. Tortuguero provides critical nesting areas over | | | | fighting tarpon and snook. |
| a 20 mile stretch of beaches for four of the seven | | | | So, leave the crowds behind, discover adventure on a |
| sea turtle species and thousands of people go there | | | | great Caribbean Costa Rica vacation. |