Costa Rica: Puerto Limon

Puerto Limon is a historic city on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and it definitely has a different feel from the highlands and most other large cities in the country. The city was founded in the 19th century as a port by mostly laborers from Jamaica and also China, brought here to work in vast banana plantations. The street have many old colonial-style building and architecture along the grid of a small central town, surrounded by water in two sides. There is also a spectacular Parque Vargas with massive towering palm trees and occasional resident sloths hanging out in the trees. The city is the birthplace of Costa Rican Calypso music. Streets are safe to walk and locals are very friendly.