Travel guide · Southern Caribbean
Puerto Viejo
Reggae, rice and beans, and jungle all the way down to the sand. The Caribbean side runs on its own slower rhythm.
Gonzalo’s picks
What to do in Puerto Viejo
A few favorites to get you started. Tell Gonzalo what you love and he’ll suggest more, plus the hotels and restaurants he trusts.
Nature
Cahuita National Park
A flat trail along the beach, under the trees, with monkeys and sloths overhead and a coral reef for snorkeling.
Beach
Playa Punta Uva
Calm turquoise water framed by palm trees, and one of the prettiest beaches in the country.
Off the beaten path
Manzanillo
The end of the road: a quiet village and a wildlife refuge with forest trails, reefs, and empty beaches.
Local life
The coast by bike
Rent a bike and ride from town to Cocles, Punta Uva, and Manzanillo, stopping for Caribbean food along the way.
Wildlife
Jungle wildlife
Toucans, sloths, and tiny poison dart frogs live all around. A local guide will help you find them.
Getting there
Airport → Puerto Viejo
A private transfer from SJO airport takes ~3.5 hrs, door to door.
On the wayThrough the mountains to the Caribbean
Plan your transfer
Plan your days in Puerto Viejo with Gonzalo
Gonzalo drives you there and shares his favorite picks along the way: trusted hotels, tours and activities, and the spots only locals know about.
Photo credits. Activity photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their licenses.
- Palm-lined beach and calm Caribbean water at the entrance to Cahuita National Park · Pavel Kirillov from St.Petersburg, Russia · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Turquoise water and coconut palms at Playa Punta Uva near Puerto Viejo · Jaimedelamata · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Leaning coconut palms on the beach at Manzanillo, Gandoca-Manzanillo area · Haakon S. Krohn · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fishing boats on the beach at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca at dusk · Letartean · CC BY 3.0
- Keel-billed toucan perched on a branch in Costa Rica · Ttschleuder · CC BY-SA 3.0