Things to do in Puerto Viejo
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Puerto Viejo
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
The Caribbean mini dry season; some of the best beach weather of the year.
Drier and sunny; good all-round.
Heaviest rain on this coast.
Wet but with sunny mornings; surf is consistent.
Transitional; can go either way.
What's on
- Limón Carnival October
The province's big carnival week in nearby Limón: parades, music and street food.
Best things to do in Puerto Viejo
Playa Punta Uva
The coast's prettiest, calmest beach with easy reef snorkeling.
Playa Cocles
The surf beach: consistent waves with schools and rentals on the sand.
Cahuita National Park
Beachside rainforest trail with monkeys and sloths; entry by donation.
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Protected rainforest, wetlands and reef at the wild end of the road.
Playa Chiquita
Quiet coves linked by jungle trails; swim where the locals swim.
Chocorart
Hands-on bean-to-bar chocolate farm tour in the jungle.
Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve
Guided Bribri cultural tour with forest trails and a waterfall swim.
Best restaurants in Puerto Viejo
La Pecora Nera
The Italian institution: wood-fired pizza and fresh pasta. Book ahead.
Restaurante Tamara
Reliable Costa Rican and seafood: casados, grilled fish, coconut rice and beans.
Cafe Rico
Healthy café and coffee stop; the default breakfast meeting spot.
Todo es Posible
Vegetarian Italian with vegan options in a garden setting.
Salsa Brava Restaurante Caribeño
Lively Caribbean cooking: rondón, jerk chicken, coconut seafood.
KOKi Beach Restaurant & Bar
Beachfront splurge dinner with sand at your feet and sunset cocktails.
El Refugio Grill
Grill-focused with vegetarian and vegan options; dependable group dinner.
Como en mi Casa Art Cafe
Art-filled café with healthy vegetarian-friendly plates.
Best bars in Puerto Viejo
Green Jaguar Irish Pub
Irish pub on the Caribbean coast with live music and a mixed crowd.
Outdoor things to do in Puerto Viejo
Playa Negra
Dramatic black-sand beach with a surf break, minutes north of town.
Salsa Brava
Costa Rica's most powerful reef break; experts surf, everyone else watches.
Manzanillo
Sleepy fishing village at the end of the road, bordering the refuge.
Best hotels in Puerto Viejo
Hotel Boutique Indalo
Stylish boutique hotel in town with a pool; good for couples.
Umami Hotel
Modern mid-range hotel near the center, clean and well run.
Hotel Escape Caribeño
Comfortable rooms a short walk from the beach and bars.
Selina Puerto Viejo
Beachfront hotel and hostel with bar, restaurant and live music.
Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort
Beach and jungle resort with pools; good for families.
Casa Caribe
Small beach hotel with a personal feel near Playa Chiquita.
Namuwoki
Intimate lodge-style stay in the jungle near the beach.
Conga Boutique Hotel
Boutique hotel with a pool near Punta Uva.
Is Puerto Viejo expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | CRC 20,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | CRC 40,000 a person |
| Splurge | CRC 85,000 a person |
| No limits | CRC 140,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve: a few days ahead
- La Pecora Nera: a few days ahead
- Hotel Boutique Indalo: weeks ahead
- Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort: weeks ahead
- Conga Boutique Hotel: weeks ahead
- La Pecora Nera: book dinner ahead in high season.
- Kekoldi tours: book a day ahead; they run with community guides.
- Hotels in September and October: book ahead; the dry mini-season fills.
Is Puerto Viejo safe?
- Puerto Viejo has more petty theft than the Pacific towns: do not leave bags on the beach, lock your room, do not walk the beach or coastal path alone late at night. Emergency number: 911.
Puerto Viejo travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Beach-sold chocolate tours can be a guy with a bag of cacao; book an established farm.
- Riptides at Cocles and Salsa Brava are serious; swim at Punta Uva instead.
- Reef snorkel trips need a boat; anyone selling a cheap trip without one is selling a swim.
Getting around Puerto Viejo: public transport and more
- Rent a bike: the definitive way to move along the coast road between beaches.
- Taxis are cheap for hops to Punta Uva and Manzanillo; agree the fare first.
- The coast road is paved but narrow with no shoulder; ride single file with lights at night.
- Buses from San José take about 5 hours; shuttles are faster and pricier.
Who Puerto Viejo suits
| Solo travellers | Great |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Great |
Make Puerto Viejo your trip
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