If you are considering or have decided to visit Costa Rica, you might already know a lot about what this small Central American country has to offer to both - visitors and locals. From beautiful beaches with crystalline waters and rain forests oozing with wildlife to imposing active volcanoes, - Costa Rica has a piece of everything. The country is charming, but not only for its landscapes, but also for the people who live there and who are known to be kind and welcoming.
So the question is not whether to visit Costa Rica or not, but rather where exactly in Costa Rica to go. In this article, we’ll let you know more about the differences between the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica. Hopefully, this will help you choose which option is the ideal one for your trip and vacation to Costa Rica.
The Pacific Coast
With a length of, approximately, 632.31 miles (1016 km), the Costa Rican Pacific Coast is the most extensive of the two. It goes from Costa Rica’s shared border with Nicaragua in the North, in the Guanacaste Province, to the border with Panama in the Southeast, in the Puntarenas Province. It goes across three of the country’s different subregions, the Chorotega, the Central Pacific, and the Brunca.
The Pacific Coast is a tourist magnet and it is one of the most popular areas across the whole country for people to visit. And with good reason. On the Pacific Coast, you can find an array of some of the most beautiful beaches and beach towns like Tamarindo, Nosara, Junquillal, and Playas del Coco in the Guanacaste area, and Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa, and Uvita in Puntarenas. And, of course, the breathtaking Playa Conchal, covered by small seashells instead of sand.
If you choose to visit Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, you’ll never be bored. Be it a relaxing vacation at the beach, watching the waves, listening to the sea and feeling the breeze, or a more action-packed adventure like paragliding, snorkeling, surfing and even hiking surrounded by beautiful wildlife, the Pacific’s got you covered. It is a small paradise on Earth for all tastes as you can definitely find the right place for activities you enjoy during your visit.
And if what you love is the nature aspect of Costa Rica, don’t worry. The Pacific Coast has the most Natioconstraconnal Parks out of the two coasts. In the Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula, for example, you can spot beautiful white-faced monkeys and spider monkeys, and if the time is right, you might even get to see the sea turtles during their spawning season.
It is also very advantageous location-wise because from here you can easily travel to other Costa Rican areas if you wish to experience other types of adventures as well, like the Monteverde zip lines and abundant biodiversity, and active volcanoes like the Arenal in San Carlos. And not only that, if you visit Guanacaste, you can arrive directly at the Guanacaste Airport, the international airport located in this province, closer to your destination.
The Caribbean Coast
While smaller in length, at around 131.7 miles (212 km), the Costa Rican Caribbean Coast is abundant in charm. It extends from the border with Nicaragua in the Rio San Juan in the North, to the Sixaola River at the border with Panama. While the Pacific is composed of two different Provinces and 3 subregions, the Caribbean Coast is completely in the Limon Province and the Huetar-Atlantica Region.
Generally, more humid weather-wise, the Caribbean hosts some of the most beautiful beaches Costa Rica has to offer. Be it gray, white, black, or yellow, the sand on Limon’s beaches is recognized for its eye-catching colors. Some of the most popular beaches in the area include Punta Uva, which is known as one of the best beaches in the whole country, Playa Blanca, with beautiful white sand, Manzanillo, with striking blue waters, and Cocles, the perfect destination for surf lovers.
While this Coast has fewer National Parks than the Pacific Region, some of the most interesting and nature-rich National Parks and Conservation areas are in the Caribbean. Tortuguero, for example, is one of the most important nesting places for the green turtle and, if you visit, you might even spot one of the four different species of turtles that lay their eggs in the park. Not only that, but you can also find wildlife species like manatees, jaguars, monkeys, and caimans.
But there is definitely more to the Caribbean Coast and Limon than just exuberant wildlife and dreamy beaches. This area is also known for its richness in culture and delicious food. The food in Limon is a delicious mixture of not only flavors but also the cuisine of different cultures like some of the country’s indigenous populations and the African roots of the immigrants who came to the country in the 1890s. If you visit the Caribbean, you can’t leave without tasting the rice-and-beans, agua de sapo, and pati.
As you can see, both coasts have a lot to offer, from the landscapes and the nature to the people, the food and the adventures, so deciding exactly where to go is definitely not an easy choice. However, no matter which Costa Rican destination you ultimately visit, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable trip. And, if you don't have time constrains, the country is small enough that you don’t even have to choose!
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