[2] The county is noted for its beautiful beaches, especially in Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, which are popular tourist locations.

Talamanca contains one of Costa Rica's three official border-crossing points with Panama, the Sixaola-Guabito crossing.

[9] As of 2010, 52.3% of Talamanca inhabitants have access to sanitation (either piped or septic tank), and 75.2% are connected to electricity.

Fifty-five percent of this land falls under the Chirripó, Amistad, and Cahuita National Parks; and 2% belongs to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge (a major sea turtle nesting ground).

[13] In defense of these areas, for example, on July 27, 2011, the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (Minaet) carried out the demolition of two hotels (Las Palmas and Suerre), due to their occupation of 4 hectares of land within the Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge.