October Is Summertime on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast!

[Shannon Farley]

Savvy travelers know that the Costa Rica Caribbean Summer is in October. While the rest of Costa Rica is covered under a gray umbrella of rain, the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast shines beneath a radiant Caribbean summer sun.

 

The Caribbean Coast varies from the standard weather patterns of Costa Rica. October is when Limon holds its annual carnival celebration, and is a perfect time to visit the beautiful beaches of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.

 

The Costa Rica Caribbean Coast is very different from the rest of the country. The region’s Jamaican-African roots are highlighted by local reggae music, Creole patois spoken alongside Spanish, a laid-back attitude and distinct cuisine like coconut shrimp, rice-and-beans, Jamaican spice cake and papaya juice.

A top Caribbean attraction to visit during Caribbean summer is Cahuita National Park. Located just south of the town of Cahuita and north of Puerto Viejo, Cahuita National Park is one of the most beautiful and scenic regions in Costa Rica.

The Caribbean Sea here is known for its crystal-clear aquamarine color, multitudes of bright tropical fish, and one of the largest and only mature coral reefs on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. The reef fans out over an area of about 600 acres (around a square mile) off Cahuita Point by a horseshoe-shaped beach. The entire park covers 2,732 acres of land and 55,200 acres of sea; and the southern beach is a nesting area for several kinds of sea turtles.

 

Snorkeling in the area is fantastic; you can swim right out from shore or go further out by boat. The magnificent underwater coral garden has 35 species of coral, including enormous Elkhorn Coral, Brain Coral and graceful Venus Sea Fans. A bountiful variety of marine life live here, such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers, lobsters, white shrimp, crabs, barracudas, octopi, sting rays, small sharks, and about 125 types of fish like blue parrot fish, clownfish and angel fish.

 

The Cahuita National Park is ideal for beach walks and sunbathing on its white sand beaches fringed with coconut palms and coastal almond trees. You can also hike trails in the park, where you might see white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, howler monkeys, raccoons, coatis, iguanas, land and water crabs, and birds like the green ibis, yellow-crowned night heron, boat-billed heron and kingfishers.

 

Le Caméléon Hotel, on the gorgeous beach of Playa Cocles by Puerto Viejo Costa Rica, can arrange snorkeling and hiking tours in Cahuita National Park for you. The Costa Rica boutique hotel is currently offering special offers: Caribbean Summer special deal and Web Last Minute Offers. An Enchanting Hotel of Costa Rica, Le Caméléon offers private yoga classes, spa services, and the La Sula Sea Lounge fronting Cocles Beach.

 

Article by Shannon Farley