October is the most colorful month in Costa Rica where everybody starts preparing and packing their bags to go to Puerto Limón for the annual “Carnaval” celebration. Puerto Limón –or Limón, as it is commonly known- is a city situated near the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The province also has the same name (Limón) and it covers the whole Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Limón is not a very known tourist destination, but when October kicks in, it’s carnaval time, and every hotel will be booked! The party must go on – whether the sun’s not shining or if the rain is pouring down.

The carnaval covers a week-long celebration – including 2 weekends – and it’s centered around October 12th .  This because October 12th coincides with Día de la Raza / Día de las Culturas or Columbus Day as they call it in the United States.

The festivity includes a carnaval queen election, a parade, food, music, dancing, and on the last night there is a big concert!

The province of Limón is a very multicultural one, because a lot of the citizens trace back their roots from the ancient Jamaican workers and Nicaraguan, Panamanian and Colombian turtle-hunters who eventually established the area. So you can expect a very color- and flavorful celebration!

This year the event will take place starting on October 12th to October 21st. The children’s parade will take place on October 12th and on October 20th will be the main parade, that’s called the “Gran desfile del carnaval de Caribe.” Both parades start at 1pm and the main parade will begin in Barrio Jamaica town and will end in Parque Vargas.

The election and coronation of the carnaval Queen will take place on October 5th and this will be a pre-event before the official carnaval activities begin.

The organizers have designed a program where every day begins with tronadores y bombetas – intense exploding fireworks – at noon, followed by masquerades through the main streets and avenues of Limón Centro. And most nights will end with an open air concert or karaoke in Parque Vargas.  

The fireworks at 8pm will signal the end of the planned day.

And the final bombetas at midnight on Oct. 22 will signify the end of Carnaval Limón 2012.

So, do you want to experience the festive side of Costa Rica in addition to the beautiful nature? Then you can not miss the Limón carnaval from October 12th  to October 21st this year!

We for sure will be checking it out, will you?

If you are interested in visiting Limon – or another part of Costa Rica – we would love to help you. Please contact us for more information.

by Tiffany Dunker, Marketing Intern