Caribbean Summer, the best kept secret
If you like the idea of paying low season rates during high season, then the Caribbean side of Costa Rica is the perfect destination. While most people think of September and October as the rainy months in Costa Rica, it is precisely these two months that are the best to visit the Caribbean Lowlands. These are the months with the most sunshine and the least rainfall. The Caribbean is a smooth, relatively short sweep of beaches, mangrove swamps, and coastal forests. While the rest of the country is experiencing rains in the afternoon, in the Caribbean, it is the best time to explore the beautiful nature reserves, national parks, botanical gardens, and surfing beaches. Enjoy the laidback life-style of this multi-ethnic jewel of Costa Rica. Angela comes from Limón and we both love the beaches, parks and especially the people and food here.
Since we started this web-site, we have been telling tourists that there is no off-season in Costa Rica. It is the erroneous publicity of the past (and still going on today) that called these two months the rainy season because these two months are the dryest on the Caribbean side. Here you'll find some of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica such as Cahuita and Cocles beaches, and some of the best snorkelling and SCUBA diving opportunities with lots of Coral Reefs that can be observed from a glass-floor boat. Here you can enjoy some of the wildest reef-breaks for experienced surfers and last but not least the absolutely best food in the country. If you don't believe it, try Chaos Paradise in Cahuita, or Salsa Brava in Puerto Viejo. You will want to come back here just to taste their food again.
Naturalists have the choice of some of the most amazing National Parks and Reserves such as the world famous Tortuguero National Park with its hidden jungle canals. These canals, known as the 'Amazones of Costa Rica' and the endless list of some of the most beautiful parks, wetlands and wildlife refuges, will give your camera a real workout. Here you'll find: The Friendship Park, Hitoy Cerere, Chirripó, Cahuita, Gandioca, Manzanillo, Banano River, Pacuare, Barbilla, Limoncito, Navarro, Sombrero, Tapantí, Tuis River, Las Tablas, San Vito, and the Paraguas Palustrine Wetlands and Lagoon. Also in this region, you'll find the Bri Bri Indians in the largest indigenous reserve of Costa Rica.
The Caribbean has the advantage that there is no dry season with brown landscapes and forest fires. Here, it is always green. It never gets as hot as in the south. This area covers 18% of Costa Rican territory but only 9% of the population lives here. Only Guanacaste has a smaller density. A third of the population here are blacks of Jamaican descent. Most of them live on or near the coast.
Foreign travellers are very attracted to this romantic and beautiful area but they usually don't know that September till November is the best time to come here. So, until everybody knows, you can enjoy low season rates during this season. Take advantage of this now because who knows how long it will last. The Caribbean is also the perfect location to make short excursions to Bocas de Toro in Panama in a boat or bus.
Text and pictures by Angela and Jörn Malek. The team of 1-CostaRicaLink wishes you the best of times in our little paradise called Costa Rica.
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