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Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

TRAVEL GUIDE

Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast

TRAVEL GUIDE

The tourist brochures tout the country's Caribbean coast as "the other Costa Rica." Everything about this part of Costa Rica seems different: different culture, different history, different climate, and different activities. (Expect different prices, too. Your travel dollar goes further here than elsewhere in the country.) This region was long ago discovered by European adventure seekers—you're quite likely to hear Dutch, German, and Italian spoken by the visitors here—but is lesser known in North American circles.

The ethnic mix differs markedly here, as it does all along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The region was first settled by the British, and then, throughout the 19th century, by the descendants of Afro-Caribbean slaves who came to work on the banana plantations... Read More

The tourist brochures tout the country's Caribbean coast as "the other Costa Rica." Everything about this part of Costa Rica seems different: different culture, different history, different climate, and different activities. (Expect different prices, too. Your travel dollar goes further here than elsewhere in the country.) This region was long ago discovered by European adventure seekers—you're quite likely to hear Dutch, German, and Italian spoken by the visitors here—but is lesser known in North American circles.

The ethnic mix differs markedly here, as it does all along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The region was first settled by the British, and then, throughout the 19th century, by the descendants of Afro-Caribbean slaves who came to work on the banana plantations and construct the Atlantic railroad. That makes the Caribbean coast the best place in the country to find English speakers, although the language is disappearing as Spanish takes over.

It is rainier here than in other parts of Costa Rica, and the rain is distributed pretty evenly year-round without a distinct dry season—though October (when the rest of Costa Rica is getting deluged with rain) is the driest month. The region will never draw the typical fun-in-the-sun crowd that frequents the drier Pacific coast, but it does offer a year-round forested lushness and just as many activities at a more reasonable price.

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Language

Spanish

Nearby Airports

SJO

Electrical Outlets

120v/60 cycles; plugs are U.S. standard two- and three-prong

Currency

Costa Rican colón

Language

Spanish

Electrical Outlets

120v/60 cycles; plugs are U.S. standard two- and three-prong

Currency

Costa Rican colón

Nearby Airports

SJO

High Season: February to April Climate is the Caribbean's bugaboo and will forever prevent it from becoming the same high-powered tourist...Read More

Discover the best neighborhoods in Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

High Season: February to April Climate is the Caribbean's bugaboo and will forever prevent it from becoming the same high-powered tourist...Read More

Discover the best neighborhoods in Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

High Season: February to April Climate is the Caribbean's bugaboo and will forever prevent it from becoming the same high-powered tourist...Read More

Discover the best neighborhoods in Tortuguero and the Caribbean Coast with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

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