The Caribbean coast is ideal for surfing


White-water rafting


You’re never far from a secluded spot in Costa Rica


just north of the border with Panama, where visitors get the chance to understand their traditions and way of life, as well as to partake in some of their rituals and daily tasks. Learn how the Bribri women produce chocolate while you’re there, or sample one of the natural remedies handed down through generations. The landscapes are just as fascinating, home to dozens of bubbling hot springs, a natural phenomenon that is a by-product of past volcanic activity or tectonic plate movements.


Pacuare River: Rafting the rapids Swap bubbling springs for raging rapids on the Pacuare River, a 67-mile waterway that’s one of the best places in Costa Rica for white-water rafting. From its source near the centre of the country, the river runs through Limón Province to the Caribbean coast. And if you can tear your eyes away from the rapids for just a moment, you could spot


monkeys, parrots and ocelots bounding around in the rainforest that lines the banks.


The world-class rafting on the


Pacuare River is thanks in part to the amount of rainfall, which helps to keep water levels high and the rapids at their most exhilarating for rafters from mid-May right through to December.


Limón: Town and country The shores of Limón were discovered by Christopher Columbus in the early 1500s, when his final voyage took him across the Caribbean to Costa Rica. Encompassing magnificent coastline, towering mountains and tropical wetlands, the region has something for everyone. The province’s capital city, Puerto Limón, is a popular cruise port, and like nearby towns, it has a rich Afro- Caribbean culture. The town itself is known for its cashew wine, which is made from locally grown nuts. But in Costa Rica, you’re never far from a secluded spot. For some


❂


Prepare to get drenched under the 200ft Huacas Falls, which is just one of dozens of waterfalls and tributaries that make rafting along the lower section of the Pacuare River one of the most thrilling rapid rides in the world!


peace and quiet, take a short boat ride to uninhabited Uvita Island, less than a mile offshore, which is popular among snorkellers and fishing enthusiasts. An hour inland from Puerto Limón is Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure. As well as animal and insect habitats, the park has exhilarating ziplines and an aerial tram ride, so you can spot wildlife in the trees as you whizz past.


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