The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
¡Pura Vida!
In the Caribe!
Yep! That little landing strip above is what we landed on, right on the beach south of Limon, parallel to the Atlantic Ocean (or South Caribbean Sea). I got here early before my room was ready, had breakfast, arranged 3 tours, walked the beach to “downtown” Puerto Viejo, photographing people and street scenes before visiting an art gallery then taking a taxi back to the hotel where my room was ready with the best deck view of all the rooms; the only one with a view of the beach. A snack, little nap, on computer and will soon go for my 4 PM relaxation massage, then dinner. Tomorrow I hang out here with tours the following 3 days and then return home.
¡Pura Vida!
“De Cabin in de Wata” Next Week
Next Thursday I’m back to the most laid back part of Costa Rica, Caribe Sur! That’s the South Caribbean and my favorite hotel there, Banana Azul (in their best room overlooking the beach!) And now there is a new video about the town it is located in (best seen fullscreen):
And the first song (De Cabin in de Wata) in that video is an original Costa Rica Caribbean and not Jamaican like so many of the singers there use. I immediately thought of the theater movie Güilas, which I wrote about earlier that used this same song in their Limon Province story. The song also has its own video that’s as good if you like more nature instead of people and this one includes the words on the screen:
And the same Costa Rican singer, Walter Ferguson, also has this nice song:
Everything is very relaxed and authentic on the Caribbean side. I try to go every September or October when rain is lowest there and will go again in February to another favorite place, Tortuguero. Part of my . . .
¡Pura Vida!
Two More Trips Added for This Year
A follow-up to my earlier post: Next 4 Months of Trips Planned – Retired in Costa Rica!
First to the Costa Rica South Caribe again:
First to the Costa Rica South Caribe again:
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| “The Howler Suite” at Banana Azul Hotel I wanted this room last September but not available – very popular! So I now have it reserved for 5 nights this coming September! Planning ahead sometimes pays off! 🙂 Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
Also on the Caribbean side, across the border in Panama is the popular tourist area of Bocas del Toro. I now have a full week or 7 nights in June at Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge:
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| In addition to BIRDING there are beautiful BEACHES & ISLANDS to visit by boat + SNORKELING Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
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| KAYAKS available at all times for bay & rivers + miles of HIKING TRAILS for more birds! It’s the kind of place with plenty for me to do just on the hotel grounds. Great anticipation! Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
See this cool video about Tranquilo Bay
And keep reading this blog RETIRED IN COSTA RICA as the adventures just keep getting bigger and better. I will truly never be bored here and never run out of something to do or photograph! I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t retire here! I’m sure having fun! And seldom repeat a place!
And I will keep adding photos to my gallery: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA
Kind of funny: The other day some new students of Spanish at Su Espacio were in class and saw one of my photo books there. One student said “I know him. I read his blog about Costa Rica!” So David enjoyed telling me that I am now famous! 🙂 This blog has only 80 subscribers plus drop-in visitors vary from 50 to 300 a day, so really not that big, but I’m glad that some considering retirement here are reading it plus others and hope it is helpful in your “Costa Rica decision process.”
¡Pura Vida!
Caribbean Signs
OOPS! I found this old post never posted. It was the least important of all the photos I made on my September trip to the South Caribbean, Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. The day I walked into town by way of the beach, I found many colorful signs in Puerto Viejo and put together this little collection. Remember, all businesses in Puerto Viejo are locally owned “Mom & Pop” business with no chain hotels or restaurants there. Signs in no particular order. Last one best! 🙂 The simple tourism on the Caribbean coast reminds me of going to Panama City Florida in the early 1950’s.
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| Downtown Map located most businesses Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica |
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| If you haven’t figured it out yet, Imperial is the main beer company in Costa Rica and thus makes many of the business signs! All Over Costa Rica |
The Trip Gallery for this trip a few weeks ago has more interesting photos than these! 🙂
My Flora & Forest of Caribbean Coast photo gallery
Caribbean Beaches photo gallery
2016 Trip to Manzanillo trip gallery
2016 Trip to Tortuguero trip gallery
2015 Bribri Yorkin Reserve trip gallery
2015 Night in Puerto Viejo trip gallery
2010 Tortuguero Visit trip gallery
2010 Getting to Tortuguero trip gallery including Banana Plantation
South Caribbean — The Book!
Just click the image above to go to the online preview of the book in my online bookstore. Free!
Or if you just want to see photos of my latest trip there, go to the TRIP Gallery below or one of the other trips made to this area of Costa Rica.
STILL CONFUSED ABOUT ME LIVING NEAR THE CARIBBEAN?
If you still find the word “Caribbean” confusing, think of it this way: All those islands south of Florida (Cuba, Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rica, Haiti, Virgin Islands, etc) are in
THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA
And me, Costa Rica, all of Central America, part of southern Mexico, Columbia in South America are all on
THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA
Does that help with geography? Now to complicate it a little more, all of us in Central America (except El Salvador) have an east coast and a west coast. Our east coast is the Caribbean Sea (I think technically a part of the Atlantic Ocean) and our west coast is the Pacific Ocean. So I just spent 5 days on an Atlantic Ocean beach and in December I plan to spend 6 days on a Pacific Ocean beach. But still always in Costa Rica! 🙂
Finishing My Caribe Report with Galleries
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| For my last morning’s sunrise I watch fishermen go out. And . . . Below are four categories of my photos not shown yet all linked to sub-galleries in this trip gallery with more bikes, birds, nature and culture photos. |
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| Caribe Bicycles The Major Mode of Transportation Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Masked Tityra Samasati Reserve Actually we walked down a rural road in front of the reserve. Near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| 3-Toed Sloth Cahuita National Park Near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Interesting Signs Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica |
These all represent things I found interesting in the Costa Rica Caribe and made a lot of photos of each. The linked title takes you to a sub-gallery on that subject with most birds in the Samasati gallery. Or to just thumb through my whole Caribe Trip, go to the trip gallery:
¡Pura Vida!
Retired in Costa Rica!
Hotel Banana Azul
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| Too many clouds for a traditional sunrise this morning, but I thought this shot to left of the sun was okay. Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica |
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| The Garden I face from the Dining Room — Bird feeder off to the right Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica |
This morning I decided to not keep posting so many photos on the blog, thus began my trip photo gallery for this experience where you can find lots of photos! Since this was to be the hotel post today, I will give links to three sub-galleries on the very relaxed and enjoyable Hotel Banana Azul:
Or for the whole trip, go to my trip photo gallery called
2017 Sept 4-8 — Caribe Banana Azul Puerto Viejo
including my visit to Cahuita National Park & Samasati Reserve
including my visit to Cahuita National Park & Samasati Reserve
And/or check out the Hotel Banana Azul Web Page
And plan ahead! They stay booked solid much of the time,
even in the “off season” which it is now.
And plan ahead! They stay booked solid much of the time,
even in the “off season” which it is now.
This new caribe gallery is the latest of my “TRIPS” Photo Galleries
where I am working backwards to document my Costa Rica trips
and neighboring countries’ trips in my bigger CR gallery:
At the time of this posting, I’m back to July 2015
and the trips started in January 2015!
Almost finished! Travel with Kevin is next!
¡Pura Vida!
Puerto Viejo — THE CARIBBEAN TOURIST TOWN
I think it is officially called “Puerto Viejo de Talamanca” because it is at the foot of the Talamanca Mountains and nearest town to some of the Indian reservations. It is also called “Puerto Viejo de Limon” because it is in the Limon Province and near the larger port city of Limon, also a symbol of the Caribbean for Costa Rica and where they have the Caribbean and Reggae festivals and big parades like Mardi Gras. Another reason for the extension on the name is there is another town called Puerto Viejo which I have also visited on the Caribbean slope, but inland next to the mountains. It is called “Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. It is on the Sarapiqui River. Well, a few shots of buildings in the Caribe Puerto Viejo which you could call “Rasta Town” or a hangout for some American youth who see themselves as new hippies or rasta or whatever labels are used today. Colorful but not highly appealing to me.
A 6 mile Beach Walk
I arrived early yesterday before my room was ready and so I decided to walk to the Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo from the hotel by way of the beach and back. My odometer showed it to be nearly 6 miles round trip, counting a walk around town. The next post will be about the interesting town. But here’s a few shots from the beach walk:
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| I walked from those blue hills around the bay to this town beach. Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| The bend in the bay before getting to the town. Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| I get to cross this stream coming into the bay and see the one-lane bridge on the road running parallel with beach. Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Approaching town there are runners & this abandoned barge. Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Near every hotel is this standard sign warning of undertow. Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| A faster way to get to town? 🙂 Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Great Kiskadee One of six species of birds seen along the beach walk. Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Semipalmated Plover For birders, yes, similar to Wilson’s Plover except this one has orange legs & orange on base of bill (click to enlarge) Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Non-breeding Western Sandpiper Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Breeding Western Sandpiper Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Whimbrel Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Brown Pelican Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
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| Great-tailed Grackle male Puerto Viejo, Caribe, Costa Rica |
I was high-energy yesterday and did more than I should probably, but doing very little today to make up for it! Thus I have a lot of photos still from yesterday to share and may do another post tonight. Every new place is an adventure and full of photo-ops!