Caribbean Coast

Pros: very relaxing
Cons: no one is in a hurry here. Be prepared to wait a long time in a restaurant.

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions

Puerto Viejo is a little town on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. This laid back area of the beach is a popular place for all types of travelers. There you will find surfer dudes,...

Pros: spectacular and exotic wildlife, relaxed atmosphere
Cons: hot & humid, possibility of storms, difficult access

Costa Rica is a country of spectacular natural beauty having an array of attractions including exotic beaches and coral, volcanoes, mountains, tropical rainforests, scarlet sunsets and a very diverse range of wildlife covering everything from the mighty...

Pros: This one has it all
Cons: You kidding me?

Tucked into the lush jungle along Costa Rica's gorgeous Caribbean coast, Rio Parismina Lodge is a jem that every angler, flyfisher, jungle lover, and eco-tourist must visit.

For anglers and flyfishers, the mighty tarpon is king at Rio...

Pros: beautiful, laid back, very tropical
Cons: can be dangerous

I traveled through Costa Rica for 4 weeks the summer of 1998. I stayed in Puerto Viejo for three days but wished I had stayed longer. Being an American it is really hard to describe the laid back feel of this town, comparing it to a carribean island...

Pros: Great beaches, surfing, reggae music, food and people with less tourists
Cons: Hard to get to, weather is typically more overcast

The Caribbean coast is off the beaten track for many visitors to Costa Rica, but rewards those with enough time and curiousity to make the trek. I went to Cahuita/Puerto Veijo at the end of a 2 1/2 week trip to Costa Rica in July of 1997 and found it to...

Pros: unspoiled and low key
Cons: long travel time to get there

for a true taste of the real caribbean, you need to go to an island without tourists. yes, there are still "undiscovered" places. we have found our haven on the island of st. vincent. it takes forever to get there and you're probably going to have to charter a plane. it is well worth it. after many trips there, we have been accepted as "locals" and have been welcomed into many homes where we experienced the true caribbean. walking through the rain forest and eating fruit right off the trees is amazing. going to a beach bar-b-que where the featured dish is sheep's head soup was scary but i learned how to make the best dumplings! stepping outside my comfort zone while travelling has always opened doors for me and truly expanded my world.

Pros: Weather, palm trees, people, Mayan ruins, islands, sun, shopping.
Cons: Sailing vessel maintenance is poor; be prepared; don't count on your guide/captain too much.

My wife and I went to Belize City for our 25th anniversary. We wanted to go to the Caribbean, and had been to CR, USVI and the Bahamas before. We planned this trip for just after carnival (Feb -16), when things would be a little more laid back, but we were there for Valentine's Day, which was nice. The weather was perfect, although it had been raining in the weeks leading up to our trip.

There is a lot to do in Belize. We found Mayan ruins nearby, sailed out to St. George's Cay for snorkeling and a light lunch, went to the museums and markets for great shopping at the new cruise terminal, and ate at several of the great restaurants, including Smoky Mermaid downtown. We stayed at the Best Western Belize City, which is halfway between the airport and downtown, close enough to be cheap for taxis in-town ($5) but not too close. We had everything at our hotel and there was a grocery close by for essentials.