national park
Cahuita National Park
A Caribbean national park protecting Costa Rica's most developed coral reef and palm-fringed beaches rich in Afro-Caribbean culture.
37 km · about 45 min drive
North AmericaCosta RicaLimón Province
Limón
Limón Province, Costa Rica · North America
About Limón
Limón sits on the route: 35 minutes from Matina, 37km from Cahuita National Park.
Limón is in Limón Province, Costa Rica, with about 63,000 people. The nearest town is Matina, about 29 km away.
Limón (Spanish pronunciation: [liˈmon]), also known as Puerto Limón, is the capital city of both the province and canton of the same name. One of Costa Rica's seven "middle cities" (i.e., main cities outside of San José's Greater Metropolitan Area), Limón has a population of 71,514, which made it, as of 2022, theRead more
most-populous city in the country outside of the Greater Metropolitan Area and the second most-populous district in the nation.
Founded in 1854 by Philipp J. J. Valentini and officially established as a district in 1870 during the Liberal State, Limón is the only planned city in the country built in the 19th century. Located in the Caribbean coast, its purpose was to become the country's main port, a role the city still retains to this day, given its strategic location in the Caribbean Sea, close to the Panama Canal, to connect Costa Rica with North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The Moín Container Terminal, operated by Dutch-based APM Terminals, and the nearby Port of Moín, operated by the state-institution JAPDEVA, serve as the main economic ports for the country. The Port of Limón, located just South downtown, receives both cargo and cruise ships, though plans to convert it into a passenger terminal are underway.
The city is of historical significance for the country, as it was one of Christopher Columbus' moorings during his fourth and last voyage. On 25 September 1502, Colón recalls landing on a town named by the locals as Cariay, with the nearby Quiribrí island just offshore.
Today, Limón is recognized as one of Costa Rica's most culturally and racially diverse cities. It is one of the main communities of Afro-Costa Ricans in the country, mainly as a result of people of Jamaican descent arriving for the construction of the Atlantic railroad in the country, and a subsequent travel ban from the central government, which limited people of Afro-Caribbean origin to move outside of the Limón Province. Aside from Spanish, the Afro-Costa Rican community also speaks the English-based Limonese Creole.
Limón faces numerous problems, with the main one being the skyrocketing crime, as drug cartels confluence in the city due to its port being an important part of their drug-trafficking schemes, resulting in an alarming murder rate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Limón?
Within an hour or so of Limón: Cahuita National Park (37 km).
Are there any good drives near Limón?
The nearest famous roads are Cerro de la Muerte.
Where is Limón?
Limón is in Limón Province, Costa Rica, about 29 km from Matina.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 63,081
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Region
- Limón Province
- Timezone
- America/Costa_Rica
- Coordinates
- 9.9907, -83.0360
Tags
Worth the detour from Limón
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
Driving roads near Limón
- 75 kmCerro ChirripóCosta Rica's highest peak at 3,820 meters, where on clear days you can see both the Pacific and Caribbean from the summit.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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