Limon bound
Limon Bound?
For many, a trip to Costa Rica would not be complete without a stay on its laid back Caribbean Coast. The drive to Limon on the country’s Atlantic coastline can be a spectacular journey. Leaving San Jose will take you through the toll booths and on into the Braulio Carrillo National Park, which on a clear day offers fantastic views of tree-covered mountains as far as the eye can see. The road is cut into the mountainside and there are frequent small waterfalls flowing down its sides, hidden by the huge leaves that thrive in the wet climate of the park. Look out for the ‘Poor Man’s Umbrella’ plant – a gigantic rhubarb-like leaf that would indeed serve as an emergency shelter! A striking sight is from the bridge over the Rio Sucio or ‘Dirty River’, which crosses the yellow waters of the river, which are actually colored from the mineral content of its source, rather than any form of contamination! Don’t let the name put you off!
The road winds round and round and up and down, so those who suffer from travel sickness would be wise to medicate themselves before this stage of the journey. This road is definitely not a night drive. Try to plan your journey to allow yourself plenty of time to come out of the park while you still have daylight, as the sharp curves can be terrifying in the dark, especially when accompanied with the thick fog or rain that can fall onto this mountainous area.
Recently, bigger than usual landslides have led to road closures and restrictions in driving hours through this section of highway. Do check with your car rental company before beginning your journey to ensure that the road is safely passable and whether there are restrictions on the amount of vehicles allowed through or the hours in which the road is open.