A tourist to Limón can easily find something to keep them interested, even though the trail to their object of desire may be anything but easy.
Tourist attraction ideas for Limón, Costa Rica are limited at best but if the tourist looks hard enough, there are interesting adventures to be had awaiting them, especially if the tourist is interested in nature. A visit to the canals north of Limón, or to KéköLdi Indigenous Reserve can prove interesting as well as a visit to the many National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, an International Park or the Biological Park that are available to tourists. These points of interest present the tourist with an opportunity to witness the natural beauty offered by this area.
The canals north of Limón carry a tourist past a red mangrove area. In this area, a tourist can expect to see a variety of birds such as herons, egrets, kingfishers, ospreys, jacanas, cormorants and anhingas. The canals leave the mangrove area and head on to a national park. The area beyond the mangroves has been heavily harvested, but it is not unusual to see sloths and iguanas.
KéköLdi Indigenous Reserve, located in the Talamanca Mountains, is home to a community of native people, Bribri and Cabecar. After obtaining permission from the Talamanca Association for Ecotourism and Conservation office in Puerto Viejo, a tourist will have the opportunity to learn first hand about the native lifestyles, customs and beliefs.
The National Wildlife Refuges located close to Limón include Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge borders Tortuguero National Park on the south and the San Juan River on the north. Much of this refuge was clear-cut before the refuge gained protected status. Although more heavily forested, the refuge land closer to the coast has had some clear-cutting done on it. Creeks and lagoons are found throughout the refuge and are home to freshwater creatures from shrimp to bull sharks, especially tarpon and snook, making this refuge a fisherman's paradise. The best wildlife viewing generally occurs from a boat where it is possible to see spider monkeys, mantled howler monkeys, sloths, macaws, falcons, toucan and other mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and tropical plants typically found in a rain forest.
Tortuguero National Park is the western Caribbean Sea principal nesting site of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle. Tourists visiting here can witness turtles as they emerge at night from the sea and travel to the shore to lay their eggs. Nesting season occurs from July to October. From February to April, this area becomes the nesting grounds for the Leatherback Sea Turtle. Tortuguero National Park also has forested areas as well as freshwater creeks and lagoons. 7 species of river turtles are located in these areas along with otters, manatees, gars, snook, tarpon and many others. A boat ride will offer an interesting peak at the flora and fauna available here. This park is only accessible by boat or plane.
Braulio Carrillo National Park is divided into two sections, the Barva Volcano sector and the Zurqui sector. The Barva Volcano sector includes the Barva Volcano, which has remained inactive for many years, allowing the tourist the opportunity to explore a volcano, even though it has not been active for years. Wildlife is abundant in this area due to the forest covering on the summit of this volcano. Many birds make their home here, including Resplendent Quetzal, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Flame-throated Warbler, and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher. A tourist exploring this sector of the Park also has the opportunity to hike to a rain filled lake, or to follow a hiking trail from the top of the volcano to about 35 meters above sea level. While the Barva Volcano sector is made up of volcanoes, the Zurqui sector is predominantly rain forest, complete with the frequent mists and rains that rain forests are known for. This area is an excellent place for bird watchers to plan on visiting, with some 400 species of birds known to reside in Braulio Carrillo National Park.
Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica's first marine national park protects the coral reef development found in this area. Even though the majority of the coral found here is not alive, the marine life is abundant and the clear water conditions create a situation that is perfect for seeing it. The majority of this park is underwater, but there is a small amount of swampland. This area has only one trail, which runs from the beach to the ranger station. A walk along this trail usually includes getting to see sloths, monkeys, lizards, crabs and many kinds of birds.
Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge protects a marine environment that is populated with live coral. This refuge also protects a sea turtle nesting beach, an estuary for spawning Atlantic Tarpon, and other marine life such as oysters and a swamp forest where Raphia Palms are found.
La Amistad International Park extends into Panama. The Limón section is hard to reach, so all ranger stations are on the Pacific side of the ridge. Hiking through the park from any of these ranger stations will take the tourist through a variety of life zones, from wet forest the higher peaks where low-growing paramo vegetation grows. Animal species often seen in this park range from termites to primates.
Hitoy-Cerere Biological Reserve protects a remote and almost unexplored rain forest. Trails in this reserve are limited and often very muddy, making this reserve the perfect area for the adventurer who wishes to get off the beaten path.
Chirripo National Park, home of the highest peak in Costa Rica, Mount Chirripo, is the perfect backdrop for any adventure. A 10-hour hike to the shelters located on top of the mountain leads a tourist through lower montane rain forest through montane rain forest and finally emerging to subalpine rain paramo.
A tourist to Limón can easily find something to keep them interested, even though the trail to their object of desire may be anything but easy. This area could also easily be a nature lover's paradise.
