LA AMISTAD: CARIBBEAN REGION

Who says: "Good fences make good neighbors?"

Created in 1982, La Amistad International Park is a huge park along the (south)Costa Rica-(north)Panama border, stretching from the same Caribbean beaches that Christopher Columbus discovered over 500 years ago and extending nearly to the Pacific, explored by Sir Francis Drake 70 years later. Of course, most people have good Costa Rica vacations without thinking a single time about Columbus or Drake or what this magnificent little country must have been like 600 years ago.

Columbus was the first European explorer to see Costa Rica and, in fact, was so enthralled he named it Costa Rica(in English, Rich Coast).

He landed, literally came ashore for the first time, on a Caribbean beach that today is part of La Amistad.

During your Costa Rica vacation, you may visit the Caribbean Coast and look out over the vast Atlantic on the very same beach that Columbus stood. Like him, you'll be in awe.

Some things are the same today as then: spectacular white or black sand beaches, pristine waters, wildlife.

Some are different.

You may see dozens, perhaps hundreds of sea turtles nesting in protected areas. Columbus probably saw hundreds of thousands coming ashore---so thick that one could literally walk on their backs as they waited to come ashore at night (this is no exaggeration). Click to see more info about Sea Turtles

Getting To La Amistad International Park

Nearly 90% of this park sits along the Caribbean coast south of Tortuguero National Park, world famous for its sea turtles (the largest nesting area for green sea turtles in the world) and fabulous tarpon and snook fishing.

Want to know more about one of Costa Rica's Seven Wonders? Click to visit Tortuguero National Park.

When you travel Costa Rica, to get to either Tortuguero or La Amistad on the Caribbean coast (you can reach its interior portions on a different route which I'll discuss on a separate page), most people drive or take an express bus to Limon, a distinctively Caribbean city (think Bob Marley).

Tortuguero is north of Limon and can only be reached by boat (or airplane) because there are no roads into the park.

La Amistad, on the other hand is easily accessible by road. Simply go to Limon and head south. You'll be able to drive almost to the Panamanian border.

Still a little confused? Click to look at helpful Costa Rica maps.

Nearby Costa Rica Parks and Reserves

Barbilla National Park

Cahuita National Park, click

Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, click

Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve

Cuenca Rio Banano Protected Zone

Aviarios del Caribe Wildlife Refuge

Limoncito Wildlife Refuge

Pacuare Matina Forest Reserve

Cariari National Wetlands

Rio Pacuare Forest Reserve

Cuenca Rio Siquirres Protected Zone

Lacustrino Bonilla-Bonillita Wetlands

The park has all six species of Costa Rica's wild cats, click as well as peccaries, white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, sloths, armadillos, pacas, deer, and agoutis.

In addition, there are over about 400 species of birds, including the spectacular and highly endangered scarlet macaw, click quetzal and harpy eagles.

Offshore you'll find Costa Rica's largest reefs, a couple of sunken ships that can be explored by snorkeling or scuba diving, and hundreds of different kinds of fish.

Mile-after-mile of beaches with crystal clear water and great Caribbean Costa Rica surfing, click

Columbus, Your Imagination, Pura Vida

All of which brings me back to Columbus and YOUR imagination.

Take a few moments and look out over the Caribbean.

The same beaches that Columbus walked on.

Imagine his footprints.

Imagine tens of thousands of sea turtles waiting offshore in the moonlight, so many of them you can hear their paddling.

Imagine naming this magnificent place on your Costa Rica vacation. What would you call it?

I know what I'd name it: Costa Rica.

Just like Columbus.

Pura Vida!!!

Go to Costa Rica National Parks here

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