Manzanillo is the last town on the Caribbean coast in Costa Rica in the canton of Talamanca, Province of Limon. Ten miles south of Puerto Viejo de Limon the road literally ends in the small village of Manzanillo. A quiet unspoiled typical Caribbean town with no more than 300 inhabitants. Scattered wooden houses, built on poles according to the traditional building style, dirt roads give you the impression that you travel back in time. Manzanillo is a town of fishermen, most of them living of catching the famous Caribbean lobster and red snapper. Ingredients for the tasty Caribbean food that can be found in Costa Rica. Manzanillo is located in the center of bay between Punta Uva and Punta Mona in the Gandoca – Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. The pristine beach is excellent for swimming, since the coral reefs in front of it break the waves. Famous in and outside Costa Rica, the only restaurant in Manzanillo is called Maxi’s, named after it’s founder, one of the first Afro-Caribbean settlers who moved in from Panama. A two story building holds a local bar and soda on the ground floor and an open restaurant with sea view on the first floor. This is the perfect spot to discover the Caribbean taste of Costa Rican food. The population of the town is almost entirely local and foreign influences are practically non existent. The small open fishing boats are also used for tours to go fishing or spot dolphins close to the border with Panama. The reefs that took a big beating from the big earthquake in 1991 when the seafloor rose up to five feet but still offers a stunning show of colorful marine life. In Manzanillo you can rent kayaks, snorkeling and diving equipment, horses for a ride along the beach. The guide office makes it easy to book a guided walk inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge with a local guide, the only ones who are permitted to enter the park. During the weekends Manzanillo is a favorite destination for the people of Costa Rica who come in buses to spend a day on the beach and the village is crowded. Around four in the afternoon all the visitors are on their way home and locals enjoy having the village for themselves again. Most tourists stay in the vicinity of Puerto Viejo where bikes, scooters and even quads can be rent. The road between this town and Manzanillo is a beautiful combination of the splendid nature of the rainforest on one side of the road and beautiful beaches like Cocles and Punta Uva on the other side. The entire way you will have plenty opportunities to stop to eat and drink something in the many bars and restaurants you pass and experience one of authentic destinations in Costa Rica.