![]() ![]() The Jaguar Rescue Center (US$15 per person, guided tours only, closed Sunday, reservations highly recommended) near Playa Chiquita is a haven for far more than just jaguars. The tiny frogs love the plant nursery and grounds here and a bit of patience and persistence paid off for us with sightings of red-eyed tree frogs, green and black frogs, and strawberry frogs though the snazzy-sounding transparent glass frogs on the property eluded us.įrom top left to right: Red-eyed tree frog, a pair of strawberry frogs, a black and green poison dart frog and a lone strawberry frog all spotted at Finca La Isla’s Botanical Garden on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.ĭuring a stroll through the Finca La Isla’s permaculture farm, we also saw a baby boa coiled up inside a huge bromeliad and our self-guided tour was capped off with a tasting of some of the fruits grown on the property and a sampling of the chocolate they make from cacao seeds grown there. Thankfully, there are places to see both (and more).įinca La Isla’s Botanical Garden is one of the best places to get an eyeful of various species of zanily patterned, brightly colored, totally gorgeous poison dart frogs (US$5 per person, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10-4, wear walking shoes and bug spray). If anything is going to tear you away from the beaches and your new commitment to doing nothing it’s poisonous frogs and rescued baby sloths. Animal attractions on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast The cheapest, tastiest option we found was Mare Nuestro where you can get a big grilled fish with sides for around US$6. A harder find was somewhere to get reliably good food at a decent price. Puerto Viejo has more than its share of mid-to-upper-range eateries. A cheap eat on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast Most accommodations are close to but not right on the beach to keep development at bay and nature at the forefront.Ī woodpecker snacks on a banana flower on the grounds of Shawandha Lodge on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. In addition to the usual suspects (rowdy hostels, mediocre mid-priced hotels, and vacation homes for rent) there are some real lodging finds with unexpected character along the southern Caribbean coast. Or, just don’t sit under the almond trees… Hotels of Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast There’s a sign posted in Puerto Veijo that advises in the case of an encounter with these “red worms” you can either spend US$20 and go to the doctor, though there is no treatment, or spend US$20 on rum and deal with the pain that way. A red caterpillar lives in the almond trees around here and if you touch it (or vice versa) it inflicts an extremely painful wound. Warning: you will be tempted to fling your towel out in the shade of one of the many almond trees on these beaches. But what else do you really need with the chillest stretch of beach we’ve seen in Central America in front of you? Manzanillo beach along Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast.īest beach for: chilling with a cold beer Furthest away from Puerto Viejo is Playa Manzanillo and the tiny town of Manzanillo where you can get a cheap meal, a scoop of ice cream, a camping spot, and cold beer but not much more. ![]() It’s got an infectiously slow pace, a festive but not fraternity party vibe, and a surprising selection of services (from bakeries to chic boutiques) yet it won’t trip your tourist trap radar. There’s also a lovely barrel called Salsa Brava which breaks a few hundred yards from Puerto Viejo’s shoreline, keeping surfers (and surfer watchers) satisfied. ![]() It’s a lovely, sometimes-coastal drive from Puerto Limon (see our Travel Tip about this dodgy port town below), past Cahuita, and into the beach town of Puerto Viejo del Talamanca and Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Beach towns of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast But we left our hearts on this 11 mile (17 km) stretch on the Caribbean side. We really enjoyed Pacific coast locations like Santa Elena, Tamarindo, Uvita, Ojochal, the Nicoya Peninsula, etc. Puerto Viejo is the only real town on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and it’s a charmer with a mix of surfers, international travelers in the know, and local families on holiday.ĭon’t get us wrong.
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