4deckers

There are so few posts about the southern Caribbean coast. Is this a part of CR that people don't normally go to? If so, why is that?

volcanogirl

We haven't explored the Carib. side much other than Tortuguero, but it does seem like a lot of people go to Puerto Viejo.

incabod

The Caribbean side has a couple strikes against it. The biggest is weather. They only have 2 months of dry season, September and October. The second strike (IMO isn't a strike, but for some...) is the infrastructure. It has not been built up at all again, a good thing) so there are not as many options.

The beaches are awesome, the forests are awesome. Local tribes like the Bri Bri are super cool to visit. I have not spent too much time over there, but the time I have spent I really dug it. Very laid back, more of an island feel then Central America. Brush up a bit on your Patois, I speak a little from my island touring days, fun to practice it over there.

More will chime in with their opinions on all this.
Cheers

hipvirgochick

Also, flights haven't gone to Limon for years so it seems less accessible to most that want to be somewhere in 3 hours. However, flights are either going now or will be soon...or so they say. I like less touristy myself and Puerto Viejo is one of my favorite areas. More Caribbean vibe, some say dirtier or that people do drugs there, so it is good to do your research...But I've gone with just my daughter and felt safe. Great food, great people, great music. No high rises or cement hotels!

shillmac

Like hipvirgochick, we really enjoy the Puerto Viejo area. There are lovely beaches, wildlife viewing is good, food is excellent, and the beach weather tends to be a little cooler than on the Pacific side (tradewinds). While it is true that there is LESS rain in Sept. and Oct., the Caribe doesn't really have a dry season comparable to the Pacific side and the rest of the country. We have been there in October, January, June, July, and August--have had great experiences every single time. December/January may average more rain than the other months, but the rule for this side of the country is that it might rain any time, any day of the year.

Drugs are everywhere if you are looking for them; I would hesitate to say that it is more of a problem there than any other of the popular beach towns.

The Sloth Rescue Center (Cahuita) and the Jaguar Rescue Center in PV are both very cool to visit. Hipvirgochick, please correct me on the names of their of these. You know what I am talking about.

Also you will find some very nice hotels, just not large megaresorts. Hope they can keep it that way!

hipvirgochick

I'll also chime I to say I've never been in those "drier" months and have had almost all sun when we've been there in April, May and June so you never can predict the weather.

qwovadis

Go like it a lot lots of rain dodgy druggy a rasta vibe
sort of feels more like Negril Jamaica than costa rica for me
Great jumping off spot to Bocas

pachamamacaribe.com bananazul.com albylodge.com 3 nice places

weather2travel.com Climate guides lots of rain hence more

tropical diseases last malaria epidemic and lots of dengue

there... but if you are a savvy traveler/backpacker type

odds are you will like it I do.

Le Chameleon Azanias and Cariblu are also good over there.

Have fun,

4deckers

Thank you for your replys! Please keep them coming qwovadis, I went to the website for pachamamacaribe and the reviews rocked. That will be our spot. I hope I won't regret NOT having a pool to cool off in. shilmac, we have heard great things about the rescue centers. (If you had to choose one, which would it be?) I cannot wait for October!!!

volcanogirl

I'm curious about this "druggy" vibe that gwo always mentions - as a tourist, are you going to encounter people doing drugs or selling drugs frequently? We were offered drugs in Belize, and it was no big deal, just said no thanks - is this kind of the same thing? Is it obvious or more underground? We haven't seen that anywhere else in CR, although I'm sure it happens everywhere.

hipvirgochick

You should also check out Banana Azul. My favorite hotel there...all around wonderful.

As far as the rescue centers both are worth visiting but if you have pick one I guess I'd go with Jaguar Rescue because they have many animals there including sloths. Avarios del Caribe (Sloth Rescue) is great because you really learn about the perils sloths encounter and the rehabilitation program in depth.