Costa Rica Attractions / Atlantic/Caribbean / Puerto Limon

On his fourth journey to the New World in 1502, Christopher Columbus anchored in front of the Island of Uvita, just in front of the nowadays city of Limón. He named the country “Rich Coast” (Costa Rica), but his and the Spanish crown’s expectations of unlimited treasures never were fulfilled.

Limón boasts a population of some 85.000 people, most of which are of Afro - Caribbean heritage. The town has increased in size steadily since the 1970s and has proven to be a good place for Costa Ricans to settle down. The climate is warm and tropical, the surroundings are beautiful and a recent influx of tour operators has brought a new focus of the town. Limón was founded in 1870 as a port for exporting bananas and grains. Today it continues this tradition although it is now complimented by the arrival of cruise ships that stop off for a few hours of shore leave.