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The
present Route to the Caribbean Coast
and its Capital and our major trade
harbor, Puerto Limón, is covered in
a couple of hours driving from San José:
you leave the year round spring climate
and mild altitude of the Central Valley
and soon you feel the warm and slightly
humid Caribbean coast.
If
you feel you have to arrive quicker
there, take the "new road"
(pista) to Puerto Limón starting N of
San José, crossing Zurquí Mountain under
an impressive tunnel. Don't fail to
pay a call at the Rain Forest Aerial
Tram located next to the Braulio Carrillo
National Park. This first ecological
attraction of that kind in the country
started its history in 1994. It has
a length of 2,6 km and a total capacity
of 16 cars that hold up to 5 visitors
each.
But
if you are not in a hurry, we recommend
you to take Eastwards the "old
road" via Cartago, the former Capital
of Costa Rica in the Spanish colonial
times (be there on August 2nd for the
pilgrimage to the Lady of The Angels,
our Patron Saint), then Paraíso, Cervantes,
Juan Viñas, Turrialba and Siquirres
through an ever green, agricultural
scenery. Turrialba is presently emerging
as a base to practice rafting on Reventazón
river, to visit Turrialba Volcano and
Guayabo National Monument, among other
interesting spots. It is also an agricultural
center with high production based on
milk, such as cheese and cream.
Puerto
Limón boasts a strong black population
emigrated from Jamaica decades ago as
guest workers to build railroads so
that coffee export should be made easier.
Limón recently recovered many of its
Victorian Caribbean architecture and
the new pedestrian boulevard to Vargas
Central Park is a must to enjoy the
local ambiance. Another exotic culture
also influenced the present face of
Puerto Limón: the Chinese one, both
from the Continent and Taiwan. Once
a year, the Chinese people organize
there a huge remembrance festival. Two
nice beaches await you, Portete and
Bonita, just at the N of the City.
Further
to the South, untouched beaches line
up for you along the shadows made by
huge palm trees to get to Cahuita and
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, two major
capitals for Costa Rica Caribbean Culture,
close to Cahuita National Park and Talamanca
Indian Reserve. We recommend you to
stay at the tropical Punta Cocles Hotel.
A
place for reggae, calypso, rice and
beans, night open air life, often softened
by Bob Marley's rhythms, sipping a delicious
piña colada, sitting on the beach, dreaming
under the stars.
After
Punta Cocles and Gandoca Manzanillo
National Park, you find Sixaola at the
end of the road at the Panama frontier…
  
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