This would be my last weekend in Costa Rica, and I still had not made time to visit the Caribbean coast.  It’s a little more than a 4 hour drive from Alajuela, but I made it a day trip.  Hwy 32 goes Braulio Carrillo National Park over mountainous terrain.  Past Guapiles, the terrain flattens out and you begin to see a lot of banana farms.  I drove past Limon which I was told to stay away from because it wasn’t safe and there isn’t much to see.  So, I continued down the coast on Hwy 36 past Cahuita and Puerto Viejo to Punta Manzanillo.  This area of Costa Rica has not seen much development.  There are a couple of touristy areas, but otherwise it is pretty remote and pristine.  Azure waters, white-sand beaches, and lots of palm trees dot the coast.  If you’re looking for a place to relax and disconnect from the world, this is the perfect spot.

¡Pura Vida!