Caribbean Region
A bit of history
The South Caribbean area, especially the area of the Talamanca Mountains, was originally inhabited by different indigenous tribes organized in clans. When C. Columbus arrived to this coast, the Tariaca tribe was in power over the Bribris, Cabecars and Terrabas. Thanks to the tough geographical conditions, the extreme tropical weather and not last the strong fight against the oppressor, the indigenous tribes under the leadership of Pablo Presbere, managed to expel the conquerors and the missionaries. It was the year 1709.But the danger of invasion and occupation was also coming from pirates and corsairs that ransacked the cocoa plantations and captured the indigenous people to be sold to the Caribbean islands as slaves.
It was in 1872 when the first immigrants arrived from the Antilles, especially from Jamaica, thus establishing the first bonds with the indigenous population and soon making a an indelible impact on Costa Rica cultural and economical development.
The newcomers soon represented the main workforce hired to build the railway that extended from the Central Valley to a town today known as Limon.
An other landmark in the history of the Caribbean is represented by the arrival of International companies that soon turned the Caribbean fertile land into prosperous banana plantations. The indigenous tribes, unhappy of their arrival and not willing to be used as slaves in the plantation decided to move inland and up on the Talamanca mountain range. This situation caused a revolt lead by the then Talamanca King Antonio Saldana, the last king of Talamanca (1860 -1910).
In the years that followed the economic situation changed drastically. Plague and low market prices marked the decline of the cocoa and banana plantation.
In the last 15 years or so many foreigner, tourists and travelers alike, lured to the beauty of this region, settled in the Caribbean and opened small business. This generetad a new impulse in the local economy creating a what is nowadays an important tourist infrastructure.