The Caribbean littoral was first visited by Christopher Columbus in the year 1502. He anchored at Caray, the modern Port Limón, and remained there for 17 days. He was so impressed with the coast that he called it “Costa Rica” meaning in english “Rich Coast.”

No important colony was ever established by the Spaniards at Limón or elsewhere on the caribbean coast of Costa Rica.  The healthful highlands of the Central Plateau were originally settled by Spaniards coming up the west coast from Panamá.   Later, some communications were established by way of trails to San Juan river, and still later overland down the Reventazón river valley to the mouths of the Matina and Moín rivers.  The trails were hazardous affairs usable only by mules or mens on foot.  The heavy rains on the steep slopes of the mountains, the swamps and dense forests, prevented them from becoming arteries of trade and they were valueless except for the occasional traveller who had no alternative.

For practical purposes, Costa Rica was divided into the settled and potentially productive highlands, without effective communication the outside world, and the unhealthy coast where the only crop was cacao (chocolate) produce by a few malaria ridden settlers.  This condition continued throughout the colonial days and kept Costa Rica one of the poorest of the New World Spanish colonies .

Coffee was first grown in Costa Rica in the first part of the 18th century but did not begin to achieve real importance until about 1840.  From that time forward it become of vital importance that adequate transportation facilities be established between the Central Plateau.  Where the coffee could best be send out to the world markets.

During the years before the Atlantic railway was built, coffee was exported by hauling in ox carts to Puntarenas and then by ship to the market, principally in Europe.  The coast from Puntarenas to Europe was five pounds sterling per ton and took five months, while the rate from Matina was 30 to 40 shillings and took about six weeks.  The difference, of almost four times in length of voyage and more than double the cost came out of the pockets of the coffee planters and, eventually, out of the standard of living of the whole Republic.

Clearly, the answer to the problems was a railway to the Port of Limón.

The first railway in Costa Rica was a nine-mile stretch of track between Puntarenas and Barranca, on the Pacific coast. This “railway” used donkeys, or mules, for motive power and was, consequently, humorously called “El Burrocarril” it was built under a contract published in the Official Bulletin Number 19, dated March 30th, 1854, and this first “Railway line” was finally open to the traffic on November 12, 1857.

This “railway” was never a success but it did serve the purpose of stimulating public thought on the necessity of a transport by mechanical means.

During the years between 1854 and 1871, various plans, for trans-isthmian railway in Costa Rica, were considered.  The plan given most consideration was to follow the route, proposed by Don Francisco Kurtze, from Limón, on the caribbean coast, to Caldera near Puntarenas on the Pacific.  This plan was never was undertaken because it was considered to be too large an undertaking.   However, it is interesting to note that Kurtz’s proposed location followed the general route along which the Costa Rica Railway and, later, the Pacific railway were constructed.