Limon
Limon is a beautiful province of Costa Rica, located on the eastern tip of the country. It limits to the northeast with the Caribbean Sea to the west with Heredia, Cartago and San José with Puntarenas in the southwest and southeast with Panama. Limon is the pearl of the Costa Rican Caribbean. Is marked by great cultural diversity with a predominantly black population and with important roots of indigenous culture in Costa Rica, the Afro-Caribbean, white and Chinese, each group brings to the area its own style. It is the area where cultures converge more than in any other side of the Costa Rican territory. It has a warm climate, typical of the coast and humid, with an average annual temperature of 25.5 º C. The marks of historical temperature in Limon are 35C and 15C. It is located about 209 km from San Jose. Located south of the province in the Cordillera de Talamanca are the highest peaks in the country, most notably the Cerro Chirripo, highlight point of the geography of Costa Rica with 3819 meters above sea level and whose night temperature drops to below zero degrees in the dry season, with a historic mark of 9 ° C below zero. In 1973 it was reported as a brief snowfall at its summit.
Limon has located in its territory the oil refiner RECOPE and several state institutions as JAPDEVA. It has a little industrial area and is dedicated mostly to agriculture. It has the largest banana production in the country that makes Costa Rica the second largest exporter of the fruit. Also is the largest lemon producer in the world. This region suffered a devastating earthquake in 1991. Its port is the largest in Costa Rica and one of the largest container transit centers in Latin America. Christopher Columbus, Italian navigator who discovered America in 1492, arrived in this province, specifically to the Island Uvita, in September 18, in 1502.
The name of the province is because it was a lemon tree, in front of the governor’s office in the area, which was the only of its kind.
Lemon was a sparsely populated area because the attacks of mosquitoes and pirates during colonial period. During that time was inhabited by indigenous groups like the Huetar, Suerre, Pococí. Its development began with the leasing of land from U.S. companies seeking to establish their banana plantations. The first center of population began with the leak of Indians to high and inaccessible mountainous areas, exodus that lasted until independence. Focus of Indians as mentioned above, its first urban settlements began with the black slaves brought from the banana plantations, it was believed that they would not stay long in the territory for which their studies were conducted with the texts brought from Jamaica by which a variety of mix of English, Spanish and French is still preserved in the coastal area of Limon.
Limon offers 336 km of white sands, palm trees and beaches and lush national parks that protect tropical rain forests and coral reefs as well as hundreds of species of flora and fauna in danger of extinction. In this province is located all the Caribbean coast of the country.
Tortuguero National Park, located in this zone, contains the largest sample of protected tropical rainforest and here you can travel through their channels and rivers, to observe the flora and fauna, see the spawning of sea turtles and have the opportunity to observe more than 300 species of birds within which lies the beautiful green macaw, the Pavón and toucans. In this zone are carried out major scientific research and has become a special item for the scientific and ecological tourism. The place is also famous for the wide diversity of marine ecosystems, such as Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo, Uvita Island, Punta Uva, Cocles and Gandoca-Manzanillo. The carnivals in the city of Limon is one of the most famous popular parties in the province, and is celebrate in October when it commemorates the arrival of the Spaniards to land in Costa Rica.
Highway 32 connects San Jose to the lush, spotless Caribbean beaches of the Limon province. Only eighty miles east of the airport, this area is also home to the famed Tortuguero National Park, and miles of perfectly preserved rain forests that stretch right up to the warm Atlantic shores. The capital of this region, Puerto Limon Costa Rica, is a perfect stopping point in one of the most geographically diverse areas in all of Central America. Whether you want to explore the swamps to the North, the domineering mountains to the south, or the warm, turtle-laden beaches that are the area’s main attraction – if you love nature, you will never run out of things to do Limon Costa Rica.
Perhaps the most underdeveloped major city in Costa Rica Limon still thrives around its gritty port capital. Columbus first landed there in 1502, though for many years the main visitors to Puerto Limon Costa Rica were pirates, who used the tranquil waters as a convenient hideout. The port town seems to have changed little in the meantime – one trip amongst the city’s hunched and humid streets and it seems perfectly reasonable to expect to still find a pirate flag flying amongst the ships in the harbor. But that is just part of the ebullient charm of Puerto Limon Costa Rica, a city still enchanting despite its lack of aesthetic appeal.
Some say that the beaches near Limon are not quite as beautiful as others found along the country’s coastline. But that is not really a knock on the city’s seaside offerings – lounging on the beach is still the top recreational activity in Puerto Limon Costa Rica. But the city’s real appeal is its location. The perfect setting for the nature buff, the diving, snorkeling and surfing is the some of the finest on the country’s Caribbean coast. Just yards away from the white sands lies the sprawling prehistoric rain forests, a wonderful diversion when the weather is dry and one of the most impressive things to do Limon Costa Rica. Unfortunately, the area gathers more yearly precipitation than almost any spot in the country, though that will be unlikely to deter those seeking the lush forests offered throughout the area.
And when you want a break from the bustle of the city, one of the most popular things to do Limon Costa Rica is to grab a spot in Vargas Park, near the city’s drooping seawall, and take up the sometimes frustrating, but always rewarding hobby of sloth spotting. Though well camouflaged, they like to hang out near the city’s main marketplace, the Municipal Market. Many delightful examples of Costa Rican food can also be found here, with street vendors offering fresh tropical fruit that is beyond compare.
Investors have the chance to take part in a unique opportunity – getting in on the ground floor of a major revolution in Costa Rican real estate. New development in a long forgotten city is breathing new life into Costa Rica real estate and bringing a potential flood of tourist dollars.
A billion-dollar gentrification project is going to transform a forgotten port town in Costa Rica into a major Caribbean hot spot. If you get in on the right side of this massive cash injection, you could make a lot of money.
A billion is a lot to spend on a scheme like this. But Limón needs a lot of work.
For much of the last century, Limón was a company town. The controversial United Fruit Company managed the port, built the railroads and bridges, looked after the colonial buildings, and ran the local businesses.
Back then, bananas were a better business than tourism. When the company pulled out of town in the 1960s, Limón became Costa Rica’s forgotten province.
When the Costa Rica tourism machine began bringing in droves of foreign visitors in the 1980s, it was the northern Pacific coast that most benefited. Those who bought in the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the 1980s have done well…very well in fact. Prices have appreciated tenfold in some locations like Tamarindo. Today this area of Costa Rica is known worldwide as a playground for the rich and famous. By contrast, Limón isn’t…but I think this is set to change.
The Costa Rican government has decided to develop Limón in much the same way the Mexican government developed Cancun in the ’70s.
Last month, the Costa Rican President allocated $80 million to kick-start the restoration of cultural buildings in Limón and improve the city infrastructure. The rest of the money–$900 million–will come from private investment. When it becomes easier to get here, the tourist stampede is going to be staggering.
The first major development on this Caribbean coastline has been launched. The $40 million development includes a 500-slip marina, two breakwaters, a shopping center, 800 homes, a yacht repair area, and a luxury hotel.
The marina will change this sleepy Caribbean outpost. How much? Consider Los Suenos on the Pacific side of the country. This was Costa Rica’s only private marina. When it was developed, the area boomed. That will happen on the Caribbean side. Expect to see cafes, restaurants, bars, and boutiques springing up. Expect to see prices rise, reflecting the pricing of the marina residences.
The coastline here is the stuff of Caribbean postcards. The sand is white and the water is turquoise. Back from the coast, you have the Talamanca Mountains. You get magnificent views of the Caribbean and the surrounding mountains and valleys. The breeze is fresh and the wildlife abundant–70% of the coast is protected.
Buy here today and you can still get in at “forgotten” Limón prices. With the gentrification of Limón, and the new marina, this area won’t remain “forgotten” for long.
