Let's talk about Limon! I haven't been there (have you?), but would like to do a canal cruise sometime. I've found some generic information and will add it. What can those who've been there add? Please tell us what you saw and did!
From Expedia:
Along Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast, densely layered greenery highlighted by brilliantly colored flowers is reflected in mirror-smooth canal surfaces, prompting comparisons with the Amazon. That might be stretching it, but there's still an Indiana Jones mystique to the journey up here. When you arrive in Limón on a cruise ship, a day in the Caribbean is yours for the taking. Canals, natural and man-made, begin in Moín, near Limón, and run all the way to Tortuguero and beyond. The beaches at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and the sloth rescue center at Aviarios del Caribe near Cahuita are two more popular excursions. Or stay in Limón to shop and explore. (The terminal is right downtown.) A legion of taxi drivers waits at the terminal exit.
Limón's growing crop of tour operators serves cruise-ship passengers almost exclusively. Laura Tropical Tours (Terminal de Cruceros) has excursions to banana plantations, Tortuguero, and Cahuita National Park.
Mambo Tours (Terminal de Cruceros) can take you on three- to eight-hour excursions around the region. Tortuguero is one of those "everybody's a guide" places.
Daryl Loth is a wealth of information about the area and conducts boat excursions on the canals and responsible turtle-watching tours in season with advance notice.
In addition to providing transport to and from Tortuguero, Viajes Clic-Clic conduct tours of the canals. Operators in Cahuita or Puerto Viejo de Talamanca can hook you up with excursions to and in the park, or you can go on your own, especially if you use the entrance at the south edge of the village.
The Limón cruise-ship terminal contains an orderly maze of souvenir stands. Vendors are friendly; there's no pressure to buy. Many shops populate the restored port building across the street. Spelling is not its forte, but the Caribean Banana (50 m north Terminal de Cruceros, west side of Parque Vargas) stands out from the other shops in the Black Star Line building with a terrific selection of wood carvings.
Frommers, on Limon . . . definately not terribly enthusiastic about this port:
Limón is not generally considered a tourist destination, and I don't recommend it except during Carnaval or as a brief logistical stop on your way to someplace else. Most travelers use it primarily as a gateway to Tortuguero to the north or the beaches of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo to the south.
If you do spend some time in Limón, you can take a seat in Parque Vargas along the seawall and watch the city's citizens go about their business. There are even some sloths living in the trees here -- maybe you'll spot them. Take a walk around town if you're interested in architecture. When banana shipments built this port, many local merchants erected elaborately decorated buildings, several of which have survived the city's many earthquakes. There's a certain charm in the town's fallen grace, drooping balconies, rotting woodwork, and chipped paint. Just be careful, particularly after dark and outside of the city center -- Limón has earned a reputation for frequent muggings and robberies.
If you want to get in some beach time while you're in Limón, hop in a taxi or a local bus and head north a few kilometers to Playa Bonita, a small public beach. Although the water isn't very clean and is usually too rough for swimming, the setting is much more attractive than downtown. This beach is popular with surfers.
We did a bus tour to the rainforest area. It was about a 2 hour ride. Once at the rainforest we took a canopy tour over the rainforest and then on the way back, in the rainforest. It was quite pretty. We expected to see some wildlife, but not one sighting. At the entrance to the rainforest, we did see a sloth up in a tree. I suspect is was "planted" there. Not sure though. After the tour, we had lunch which was included in the tour. Had some local type food which was quite good. There is a gift shop on the premises. A bit overpriced.
On the bus ride back to the ship, we stopped at a Dole banana field. I'm sorry to say I felt quite bad for the workers. Tough job I think.
At the port, we meandered through the local vendors shops. No pressure, but not much to choose from either.
I'm grateful we had a bus full of fun people as that did make the ride very enjoyable.
Sheila, the canopy tour is really quite mild compared to a zip line. You just sit in an enclosed cage for 4 people and it gently takes you through the rainforest. Great for old people
IMHO, no I would not recommend it. But thats just me. I found it to be too long and a bit boring.
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