The
Caribbean Zone
The 150-mile Caribbean coast
extends from the border with Nicaragua in the North to the
border with Panama in the south.
Puerto Limón is one of
Costa Rica's two important ports. It is the cradle of the
country's Afro-Caribbean culture and the local version of
the English language. Few Americans live in this city.
The Caribbean coast below Puerto
Limón has many places to live. This area particularly appeals
to young people who like beautiful tropical settings, surfing,
reggae music and the Afro-Caribbean culture. A large colony
of foreigners from Europe and the United States live here.
The village of Cahuita,
probably the most popular spot on the Atlantic coast, lies
next to Cahuita National Park and has one of the best beaches
in the world. Despite a rising crime rate, it is still considered
one of the most laid-back places anywhere in Costa Rica. Puerto
Viejo, a few miles to the south, is a great place for
lovers of the Caribbean lifestyle and outdoor activities
such as snorkeling and surfing. There are some lovely swimming
beaches in this area and the water is crystal clear.
About nine kilometers down a
dirt road are Punta Uva, with a gorgeous beach for
swimming, and the fishing village of Manzanillo. This
area is spectacular and undeveloped-but not for long.
The Caribbean coast sounds very
enticing, however, the abundant year-round rainfall and humidity
make most Americans, Canadians and other foreigners choose
to live on the drier west coast.
If you live in a beach or rural
area, life is generally less expensive and more tranquil
than in San José. People living on a small budget might
consider this factor before choosing a permanent place to
settle.
In this section we have tried
to give an idea of the more desirable places to live in Costa
Rica. Since there are so many other great areas from which
to choose-it is impossible to describe all of them here-we
suggest you read some of the guide books listed in the back
of this book to get a better picture of what Costa Rica has
to offer. Then you should plan to visit the places where
you think you may want to live. The best guidebook of the
bunch is Moon Publication's Costa Rica Handbook by
the award-winning travel writer Christopher Baker. We highly
recommend this great book.
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