PROVINCES: Province of Limon

The most sparsely inhabited province of the country with the highrst rate of Blacks. It covers the fourth place in respect of surface. It protects the highest percentage of surface for reserves and national parks. The majority of Afro-Caribbean people that live in that province are Protestant.

Cahuita

A town at the entrance to the national park with the same name. There are low, wooden tchathed houses. From the Limon side a few small hotels stands. (It was linked with Limon by the road in 1979).

Till 1915 it was named The Bluff. The current Cahuita name derives from Indian language and consists of two words: cawi (a wood with red bark used for boats making) and ta (point).

Cerro Chirripo

The highest peak of the country (3.819 m.a.s.l.). Due to the vicinity of around 30 postglacial lakes, its name means "a place of eternal water". It`s placed between two provinces: Limon and Puntarenas, in Cordillera Talamanca. It`s within the Chirripo National Park. Its highest point is called "La Aguja" - "the needle". In 1904 a priest Augustin Blessing climbed on that as first. The further expeditions took place in 1905, 1913, 1915, 1920, 1932, 1942. In 1976 a gigantic fire destroyed 9.000 ha of paramo formation.

Cerro Durika

(3.280 m.a.s.l.). The peak in Cordillera Talamanca. It`s belonged to the private, biological reserve and is a part of La Amistad La Amistad International Biosfere Reserve. (It was established in1991, and on subsiquent year was opened for tourists). Its name means "powerful spirit" and was granted by Cabecar Indian tribe. Present shamans have a lot of respects for the peak. They initiated their pupils in caves where today remnants remain hidden behind waterfalls on the slopes of the volcan. The shamans and their pupils continue to sleep in these caves because they bring them powerful dreams where they can communicate with the other world and receive profound messages for their people. From the top a beautiful sight for cloud forests and Pacific spreads.

Cerro Kamuk

(3.554 m.a.s.l.). [Pico Blanco]. A peak in Cordillera Talamanca. Often called "the white peak". It`s covered by paramo. There is a hipotesis that it`s one of two places in Costa Rica, where lives unknown yet in that country tapir anta [Tapirrus terrestris].

Cerro Terbi

[3.760 m.n.p.m.]. The third peak of Costa Rica. Its name comes from the name of Indian tribe. It is within P. N. Chirripo, to the north of Crestones Hills. In precolumbian times there was a believe, that it is inhabited by devil Jezabel. It is caracterized by strong 70 km/h winds, and avarage temperature of 5 C.

Cerro Ventisqueros

[3.812 m.n.p.m.]. The second peak of Costa Rica. Its name means "snowy peak" and has to do with the fact that it is the only place in Costa Rica where happen the snow-storms. It is within P. N. Chirripo, a slightly to the south-west from Chirripo. There are strong winds from Atlantic side. From its top spreads the sight for Osa peninsula and bay of Dulce.

Guacima

The village situated to the north-west from Limon, on the route between Limon and San Jose. There is a butterfly farms, that is the second world exporter of their pupas. In the souther suburbs is placed founded in 1990 EARTH - the international school for students fromm all over Latin America teaching about sustainable agriculture in the tropics. It encompasses banana plantation and 400-ha forest preserve. To the north of town there is 120 ha flower farm (Costa Flores) that is claimed to be the largest in the world. There 600 varietes of tropical plants are grown for export.

Guapiles

The capital of Pococi canton - the second in province in respect of the size. It`s situated 60 kilometres off San Jose, in the north-east foothill of the Cordillera Central and is a first town of any size on the San Jose-Limon highway. It`s a transport center for the banana growing region. On saturday is held lively agricultural market. In its vicinity lies Las Cusingas Botanical Garden - an experimental place for 80 species of medical plants. There are 80 species of orchids and 30 species of bromeliads. It also preserves a tract of secondary forest.

Matina

The capital of canton with the same name. It`s situated in Matina valley, on the banks of Rio Matina. In XVII century that was the main caribbean port of the country, but due to the frequent pirates attacks (the last one took place in 1541) lost its importance. In 1637 governor Gregorio de Sandoval ordered to established there the custom office. In XVII century within the Matina, elites from Cartago were founding the cocoa plantations, on which worked Blacks slaves in completely isolation. On January 2000 due to the inundacione it was covered by the water. 150 people have been evacuated.

Moin

One of the main loading and unloading port. It has facilities for off-loading oil tankers to supply the country's only refinery. It`s situated to the north off Limon, on the caribbean sea. It`s one of the main entrance points for tourists visiting Parismina and Tortuguero regions. To the north from that the canals to Tortuguero National Park spread. Just north of Moin is an experimental fish farm where tilapia and carp are raised. In 1704 governor Serrano de Reina was acused with illegal trading with British in there.

Parismina

Small village on a small strip of land at the mouth of Rio Parismina. It suffered severely in the April 1991 earthquake. From a half of February to May, the giant schools of tarpons come to the coast.

Puerto Viejo

The health resort with bars and discotegues on the beache. It used to be named Old Harbour. It`s limited in its eastern side by tiny headland of Punta Pirikiki. To the north of that there is a black sand beach. In 1986, the electricity was brought to that. In December it has a waves up to 7 metres. Lately in its souroundings appeared very seldom endemic plant Osa Pulchra.

Siquirres

The capital of the canton of the same name. Its name is meaning "the reddish". It was recorded for the first time in 1678. In its suburbs two routes linking San Jose and Limon are met. There is a unique inarchitectonical respect round church with wood-panelled interior (its shape resembles the traditional Miskito Indians hut and). It has also a monument to to Martirel del Codo del Diablo in honour of those who lost their lives in the revolution 1948. There is a lively Mercado central facing the railway station. In 1934 there was signed the agreement after the big strike of banana plantators. Around the town are situated banana plantations. The goods trains left for Moin.