Limón province covers the entire Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, from the Nicaraguan border in the north to the Panamanian border in the south. It has a distinct character from the rest of the country — Afro-Caribbean culture, English Creole spoken alongside Spanish, reggae and calypso, coconut-based cooking, and a slower pace.
Puerto Limón, the provincial capital and main port, is where Christopher Columbus landed in 1502. Many travelers pass through on their way to the beaches south of the city. It's worth a stop: the Parque Vargas has fine tropical plantings, and the city comes alive in October during Carnival (see Festivals).
South of Limón city, the coast runs through Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo, and the Gandoca-Manzanillo wildlife refuge before reaching the Panamanian border. This stretch has some of the best beaches and most relaxed towns in Costa Rica.
North of Limón, the Tortuguero canals cut through jungle lowlands to one of the world's most important sea turtle nesting sites.