Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The biggest city on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, the birthplace of United Fruit and capit-
al of Limón Province, this hardworking port city sits removed from the rest of the country.
Cruise ships deposit dazed-looking passengers between October and May. Around here,
business is measured by truckloads of fruit, not busloads of tourists, so don't expect any
pampering.
A general lack of political and financial support from the federal government means that
Limón is not a city that has aged gracefully. It is a grid of dilapidated buildings, overgrown
parks and sidewalks choked with street vendors. Crime is a problem: the city, distressingly,
has as many homicides annually as San José - even though San José has five times the
population. It's worth noting, however, that most of this violence is related to organized
crime and does not affect travelers. Despite its shortcomings, Limón can be a compelling
destination for adventurous urban explorers.
