Limón

Limón, also known as Puerto Limón, functions as the capital city of both the Limón canton and the Limón Province in Costa Rica. Positioned along the Caribbean coast, the city serves as the country's primary port and maintains a strategic maritime connection to North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe due to its proximity to the Panama Canal.

What drives the present-day economy of Limón?

The contemporary economy of Limón relies heavily on its vital maritime infrastructure and major port facilities. Trade and shipping operations are anchored by the Port of Limón, located just south of downtown, which processes both cargo shipments and cruise vessels, alongside current initiatives to transition the facility into a passenger terminal. Additional economic activity is driven by the nearby Port of Moín, managed by the state institution JAPDEVA, and the Moín Container Terminal, which is operated by the Dutch-based company APM Terminals. Together, these installations function as the main economic ports for Costa Rica.

Despite the economic activity generated by these ports, Limón faces significant challenges in its present-day environment. The strategic importance of the city's port infrastructure has drawn drug cartels seeking to utilize the shipping routes for drug-trafficking schemes, resulting in skyrocketing crime rates and an alarming murder rate within the city.