Uvita Island (Isla Uvita), placed approximately 885 meters (2,904 toes) offshore from Limon Port in Costa Rica, officially referred to as Isla Quiribrí, is the most superficial vicinity inside the Caribbean region wherein the surprising frigatebird nests. In the Cabecar language, Quiribrí means "chook song," related to the track of the extraordinary frigatebird that echoes for the duration of the island, searching out the coral cliffs.
This area boasts a rich diversity of vegetation and fauna, with plentiful sea grape timber, from which the colloquial name of Uvita Island originates. Visitors can explore the clear waters and white sandy seashores here, in addition to visiting the ruins of the primary quarantine health facility used to treat sufferers with malaria, fever, and leprosy.
Map of Uvita Island
| Name | Uvita Island (Spanish: Isla Uvita) |
| Country | Costa Rica |
| Province | Limón |
| Coordinates | 09°59′37.68″N 83°0′40.68″W |
| Area | 0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 |
| Population | 0 |
| Airport | N/A |
History of Uvita Island
In addition to its spell-binding rocky cliffs, blue sea, white beaches, and delightful forests, Uvita Island also has a captivating history. It is Costa Rica's first gateway to the arena. In 1502, Christopher Columbus anchored his ships there for maintenance, naming the island La Huerta.
According to ancient information, Columbus seems to have arrived at an island called Ufita before putting a foot on the mainland. Most students trust this island is present-day Isla Quiribrí, positioned off the coast of Limon Port.
Since 1985, the island has been a national monument in the USA. Despite its beauty, it is not heavily visited by tourists or maybe locals. It's a small island protecting over 4,500 rectangular meters, taking into consideration self-guided exploration as there aren't any guided trails (even though getting misplaced is sort of not possible).
You can join some Uvita tours on GetYourGuide or Viator. They include surf schools, whale and dolphin watching tours, waterfall adventures… you name it!
Attractions on Uvita Island
The attractions here include small white seashores lined with coconut timber, ideal for resting and bathing, as well as cliffs that almost create a lunar landscape and super waters for browsing, snorkeling, and diving.
One of the most curious capabilities of Uvita Island's topography is its cliffs, for which waterproof closed-toe shoes are encouraged due to their sharpness. This landscape isn't, without a doubt, rock but the skeletons of heaps of corals that emerged after an intense earthquake in Limon in 1991. The earthquake precipitated the seabed to an upward thrust of nearly a meter, exposing those remnants of marine existence, forming caves, swimming pools, arches, and different whimsical reliefs.
Uvita Island is considered one of the pleasant surf spots on the Costa Rican coast, boasting global-class browsing situations. It is a sharp dead reef simply meters from the sea surface, recognized for its length and energy, with speedy and deep tubes brutal to any surfer's capabilities. The waves on Uvita Island wreck under numerous conditions, from wind swells generated by storms or cyclones to massive, high-period swells from the North Atlantic all through winter. The reef can deal with waves of any length, generally exceeding one and a half meters.
How to Get to Uvita Island
To reach Uvita Island without using public transportation, you must travel to Limon Port and hire a boatman who typically provides this service. They usually require a minimum of 6 people to join the trip, although it's often possible to persuade them to proceed with fewer passengers by increasing the price.
The journey lasts approximately 20 minutes, and the cost may vary, but if traveling as a group, the price per person should not exceed $8. Once on the island, admission is free.
