For many, a trip to the Caribbean is often associated with cushy cruises, all-inclusive resorts, 24 hour buffets, and non-stop blended cocktails, not necessarily things that people travelling to Costa Rica are looking to find.

Instead, most expats make the move down to Costa Rica to get closer to nature, to find adventure, or to simply submerge themselves in the laid-back lifestyle of the locals.

Luckily the province of Limon (the most culturally diverse province in Costa Rica) and the beach towns of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, have something a little different to offer. Saturated with Caribbean heritage, both towns provide expats and tourists alike with a true taste of the Caribbean, without all the extras.

Located between the Caribbean Sea and the central mountains, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo each share a Creole culture that is unique to Costa Rica.

In fact, the first person to settle in Cahuita was an afro-Caribbean fisherman named William Smith in 1828, and from there many other fishermen followed, eventually creating an afro-Caribbean fishing village.

So what can expats expect to find?

A blend of Caribbean and Costa Rican culture wrapped up in a relaxed, beach town setting that is very welcoming of expats.

Locals in this region typically speak Spanish or an africanized-creole English, the radio will play variations of both salsa and reggae and you will be able to enjoy traditional Costa Rican cuisine like gallo pinto (rice and beans) as well as Caribbean favorites like spicy jerk chicken.

Cahuita

Costa Rica Cahuita

Found near the southern end of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, Cahuita is not yet overrun with tourists. Upon entry you will instead be welcomed by a laid-back, local village type vibe, complete with porches and hammocks.

With only around 4,000 residents, Cahuita was once secluded from the rest of Costa Rica. Only in the last thirty years has the town begun to emerge from this isolation, especially after the construction of the highway between Puerto Limon (27 miles north of Cahuita) and Costa Rica’s capital San Jose.

Without a doubt, the main attraction of Cahuita, other than its sandy beaches and crystal blue water, is the Cahuita National Park. Covering 6.5 square miles of land and sea and an additional 86 square miles of marine area, the Cahuita National Park is actually a small reserve as far as Costa Rican reserves go. Visitors to this majestic reserve can expect to find monkeys, iguanas, birds, sea turtles, snakes, and sloths living in the lush rainforests, mangrove swamps, and coral reef (Costa Rica’s largest) of the Cahuita National Park.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

puerto viejo CR – Magalie L’Abbe

The larger of the two coastal villages, Puerto Viejo can be found just ten miles south of Cahuita and is quickly becoming a Costa Rican tourist hotspot for its world class surfing.

With all of the charms of Cahuita, but on a larger scale, Puerto Viejo is full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs for those that crave an exciting night life, but still has that relaxed beach town feel for those that don’t.

Like Cahuita, this town has much to offer for both expats and tourists and you can spend your days surfing, hiking, horseback riding, and boogie boarding or simply stretched out on a hammock breathing in the Caribbean breeze.

Living on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast

For expats coming down to Cahuita or Puerto Viejo, it is always recommended that you rent before you buy. This is so you can be absolutely certain that you’ve chosen the perfect spot. But don’t worry some do buy real estate on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.

However, jumping from rental to rental is  a trend with expats in this region. But don’t let that worry you, for moving around down here is nothing like moving around back home.

Almost all of the rentals in these towns come fully furnished, and because of this, people can pack up their few things in a heartbeat.

Why do they move?

With of all the options it can be hard to make a decision. Do you want to live by the beach or in the hills? In an apartment or a house? If a house, what style of house? If you basically only need to pack some clothing and a few pots and pans, it’s easy to pick up and go whenever the mood strikes.

So if Costa Rica’s hidden Caribbean coast has you intrigued, plan a trip down to see what it’s all about. And like the many expats before you, take some time before you buy and rent around, as you look for that ideal location along this breathtaking coast.