Inland regions of Costa Rica

Heredia

With an extension of 2,656 sq km and a population of 75,000 people, Heredia is the smallest province of Costa Rica. It keeps its colonial tradition and the adobe architecture can still be seen in Barva and Santo Domingo.



Coffee plantations are ubiquitous in the region, and many of them are open to visits.
Among the natural wonders of the region there is the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a tropical rainforest reserve. Excellent for birdwatching, especially quetzals. The imposing Barva volcano, 2,906 meters high, dominates the western part of the Park.

Cartago

Also known as The Old Metropolis, the city of Cartago was Costa Rica’s capital city until 1823, when San José became the new one. This is the most important region of Costa Rica in terms of colonial art and heritage.



The region has a wet tropical climate and is located between two ridges, Central and Talamanca, where is the Cerro Chiripó, the highest mountain in Costa Rica with its 3,600 m. But Cartago’s main point of interest is the Irazú volcano, a 5-craters monster, still active today, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.


Alajuela

Called “Land of mangoes”, this is one of the country’s biggest regions. It is located at the north of the country, bordering with Nicaragua. The city of Alajuela was founded in 1782 and it is the birthplace of historical personalities such as the national hero Juan Santamaría.

This province possesses natural treasures ranging from rainforests to the lust northern plains. Visitors can enjoy the sights of two of the most active volcanoes in the world, whose flows of lava form a fascinating night show, and the Poás volcano, in the central Volanic Ridge.

Caribbean Costa Rica: The region of Limon

The Caribbean province of Limón comprises the whole eastern coast of Costa Rica and is a true natural paradise, formed by a mixture of impenetrable jungles, imposing mountains and idyllic beaches. It is, by its culture and geography, the most diverse region of all Costa Rica. It boasts the highest percentage of protected land and an huge variety of flora and wildlife.



This was the first part of what today is Costa Rica that was visited by Christopher Columbus when he reached its coast in 1502. Due to the huge amounts of gold that natives used to wear, Columbus called it the “Rich Coast” or Costa Rica.

It was though the last region to be colonized, and when it eventually happened, the scarcity of workforce made necessary to bring workers from other Caribbean islands. This is the reason why the region is a cultural melting pot of a strong Caribbean flavor, with well renowned Carnivals

The Creole English spoken by most inhabitants of Afro-Caribbean descent is also a distinctive trait of this region. As it couldn’t be otherwise, the Limón old city’s quarters have an architecture of strong Caribbean Victorian architecture, and gastronomy is also close to that from English-speaking Caribbean islands.

There are also indigenous communities which have kept the purity of their culture, such as the Keköldi and Bribri groups.
The port city of Limón is an essential point of entry for the economy of Costa Rica and the greatest example of multiculturality of the region. Just one or two hours away are Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, two great places to taste authentic local culture.
The Tortuguero National Park, in the North of the province, which is the place where the green turtle lays its eggs, and the National Wildlife Refuge Barra del Colorado, a privileged spot for deep sea fishing, are two of the most emblematic natural wonders of the region.



Finally, the National Wildlife Refuge Gandoca-Manzanillo is close to the Panamanian border. This refuge protects thousands of acres of beach and shores, a place where several species of turtles lay their eggs and home for the manatees.

Costa Rica regions: Puntarenas

Known as “the Pearl of the Pacific”, Puntarenas is the biggest region in Costa Rica, with an extension of 11,276 sq km, and spreads along 700 km of Pacific coastline, from the limit with Guanacaste to the border with Panama. Its main attractions are beaches, national parks and natural reserves.



The Carara Biological Reserve has thousands of acres of forests and mangroves. Only part of it is open to general public, although some more restricted areas can be explored if accompanied by professional guides.



The Manuel Antonio National Park is small but is one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica. Its rainforest are home for the titi monkey, among more than one hundred species of mammals and a similar amount of birds.

The South of Puntarenas forms the Corcovado National Park, a refuge for endemic and very threatened species such as the golden toad.

The port of Caldera and the city of Puntarenas are visited every day by tourist cruise boats, and is often taken as a departure point to explore Costa Rica by land.
The region is also famous for its local seafood gastronomy and its colorful Carnival.