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High amounts of rainfall are characteristic for the Atlantic region (up to 5000 mm per year), as well as an average daytime temperature of about 26 °C (about 79 F). The months February and March are considered “dry season”. Extensive river systems, lowland rainforests close to the coastal areas and huge banana plantations are typical sceneries from the Northern coast until the harbor town of Puerto Limon.
The main attraction is the Tortuguero national park with its densely vegetated waterways. From February to July, it is nesting season for the leatherback turtles, between July and October the green sea turtle can be observed. Generally, the beaches in the Northern Atlantic region are not suitable for swimming due to the strong undercurrents.
In comparison, the Southern Atlantic coast of Costa Rica has been little developed. The most important tourist towns are Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, in which nowadays a well-developed infrastructure for tourism has been developed. In the backcountry there is the inaccessible Talamanca Mountain Range from which derives the name of the region. Until the 1970s this area has solely been inhabited by the indigenous tribes of the Bribrí and Cabecar as well as the descendants of the English-speaking, black immigrants from the Caribbean Islands.
The way of life can be described as typical “Caribbean” – relaxed and easy-going; a large part of the black population speaks English as well as Spanish. |
