Puerto Limón, commonly known as Limón is the capital city and
main hub of Limón province, as well as of the canton of Limón in Costa Rica. It
has a population of about 60,000, and is home to a thriving Afro-Caribbean
community. Part of the community traces its roots to Jamaican laborers who
worked on a late nineteenth-century railroad project that connected San José to
Puerto Limón. Other parts of the population trace their roots to the
Nicaraguan, Panamanian, and Colombian turtle-hunters who eventually settled
along the Province of Limón's coast.
Until 1948, the Costa Rican government did not recognize
Afro-Caribbean people as citizens and restricted their movement outside Limón
province. As a result of this "travel ban", this Afro-Caribbean
population became firmly established in the region, which influenced the
decision to not move even after it was legally permitted. The Afro-Caribbean
community speaks Spanish and Limonese Creole, a creole of English. Puerto Limón
contains two port terminals, Limón and Moín, which permit the shipment of Costa
Rican exports as well as the anchoring of cruise ships. Health care is provided
for the city by Hospital Dr. Tony Facio Castro. Two small islands, Uvita Island
and Isla de Pájaros, are just offshore.
