Costa Rica: Caribbean vs. Pacific side?

Question

I'm visiting costa rica very soon. I don't know which side to visit. I want to see beaches often and I love clear, clean water. I also want a place ecologically sound and aware. Please help me on my decision! Thanks!

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Limon is not beautiful, and when i was there, a guy got stabbed in the street in a fight. Not sure if that's a common occurance or not, but I figured since there's nothing great there anyway, I'll avoid it next time.

Costa Rica is beautiful in coastal and jungle areas, but I prefer the carribbean side because the water is warmer, clearer and has better snorkling.

Answer 3

I believe zuly_c meant Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, which is in the *province* of Limon.  Yes, the *city* of Limon is not worth visiting, but your bus will go through it on the way to Puerto Viejo.

I recommend settling in to Puerto Viejo for several nights.  My girlfriend and I just returned from there last week!  We stayed five nights in our own $50/night jungle house at the Coco Loco Lodge in P.V., but there are many wonderful places to stay in P.V.  It's nice to not have to pack up your bags and move to a new hotel every other day.

We stayed five nights because within 10 miles to the north and south of P.V. are many many wonderful activities.  I recommend going to the non-profit A.T.E.C. office in P.V. to hire tour guides.  We went on three guided rain forest hikes: one along the beach in Cahuita, one in the wildlife refuge in Manzanillo, and one at night (nice!) at Punta Uva.  Also went snorkeling above the coral reef in Cahuita--careful!  I got a coral rash!  There are also plenty of places in P.V. to go horseback riding, rent bicycles, and eat fantastic food (our favorites were Loco Natural for dinner and Bread & Chocolate for breakfast.)

The Pacific coast is much more developed and has way more tourists and foreigners living there (we visited the Nicoya peninsula, too.)  We preferred the Caribbean coast, especially Puerto Viejo where there is both Tico culture and Afro-Caribbean culture (lots of live reggae music in the evenings.)

If you decide to go there, you will catch your express bus for about $9 from the (clean and safe) Terminal Caribe bus station in San Jose.  Be sure to buy tickets for Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (the bus that goes to Sixaola) and not the *other* Puerto Viejo.

As for places that are ecologically aware, that's everywhere in Costa Rica as far as I can tell.  Tourism is a major part of the economy (as is coffee!)  The Ticos are proud of their environment and natural beauty of their country, and they protect it.  Pura Vida!

Answer 4

Go to Puerto Viejo, Limon in the Atlantic side. a small ecologically aware.