Anyone stayed on Caribbean Side?
 

We are staying 5 days south of Pueto Viejo in Manzanillo. Is this a mistake - are we too remote to see any of the sights.

I think anytime on the east side is too much time. You'll see alot of jungle and beach where your going. I prefer a little more built up areas where you have more choices of rooms and food. Most of the tourist areas are on the west coast but it depends on what your looking for. I booked 3 nights in Limon for Carnival several years ago and left after one night. Went to look at a hotel for sale in Pueto Viejo a couple of years ago and swore I'd never return to the east side. I just think there is too much caribean attitude on that side.

No doubt there are far too many blacks for someone from a racist hellhole like the USA.

I don't think 'A Tico' is really a tico at all. I've never seen that attitiude or rudeness from real Costa Ricans.

I think we see who the racist is, the first letter didn't say anything about blacks.

I'd have to agree. I think that the US is a virtual melting pot of so many different nationalities. We are a country who opens its arms to people of other nationalities. To be called a racist hell hole is going a bit far. I, for one, am a bit offended by this comment, however we are each entitled to our own views. I just hate to read negative posts like that. I hope all Costa Ricans don't take that attitude as I am so looking forward to exploring the wonderful country, it's people, and culture. Sorry, I just had to comment.

We just returned from Costa Rica and stayed in Cahuita(close to Puerto Viejo) for 3 days. We really liked the atmosphere and everybody was very nice. We went to Puerto Viejo for the day and really liked it too. It's very laid back and the beaches seems nice too. We liked it better than the pacific side.

We visited Costa Rica about 11 years ago - actually we went 2 years in a row - so my information isn't exactly current. Each trip was 2 weeks. First trip was San Jose, Cahuita, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. Second trip was Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, San Jose and the Guanacaste region. I liked the contrast between the 2 coasts - each area was unique, both in terms of the geography (which really varies throughout the country) and the culture. At that time, there wasn't a lot of development on the Caribbean side, but I imagine it's more developed now.