10 Best Things to Do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Are you looking for the best things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica? Puerto Viejo is a paradise for beach lovers and surfers but also a great place to watch sloths and try traditional Caribbean food.

Wondering what to do in Puerto Viejo? Relax at Playa Punta Uva Beach, visit the Jaguar Rescue Center, take a chocolate tour, experience the vibrant nightlife, or explore Cahuita National Park.

This ultimate guide to visiting Puerto Viejo includes how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

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Things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Where is Puerto Viejo?

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town that most people prefer to call Puerto Viejo. It is located on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, in the province of Limon, not far from the Panama border.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two seasons: a dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November.

However, Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast has different weather, usually more rainy and humid. The best time to visit Puerto Viejo is from February to April and September to October. However, tropical rain can still occur during these months. So bring quick-drying clothes, hiking shoes or sandals, a light raincoat, mosquito repellent, swimsuit, and sunscreen.

Puerto Viejo’s temperatures are warm all year round. The average annual temperature is 27°C. We visited Puerto Viejo in mid-April and had fantastic weather.

Here are all your hotel options in Puerto Viejo.

How to Get to Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is about 4.5 hours drive from San Jose, 20 minutes from Cahuita, and 1 hour from Limon.

There is no airport in Puerto Viejo. The nearest airport is Limon International Airport (airport code LIO), approximately a 1-hour drive away.

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Use Skyscanner to get cheap flights to Costa Rica.

Most people traveling to Costa Rica arrive at San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). From San Jose, you can reach Puerto Viejo by car, bus, private and shared shuttle, or domestic flight.

We have a detailed post on how to get from San Jose to Puerto Viejo with all the information you need + the cheapest way.

We picked up our car at the San Jose Airport and drove to Puerto Viejo. The roads are well-maintained and easy to drive. You don’t need a 4×4, but a car with a higher ground clearance is worth booking for your Costa Rica road trip. We did our 2-week Costa Rica Itinerary by rental car and enjoyed exploring the sights at our own pace.

Book your rental car with Discover Cars here.

Good to know
It always gets dark early in Costa Rica (between 5:30 PM and 6 PM). So we don’t recommend driving at night!

Are you thinking of renting a car? Be sure to read our guide to renting a car in Costa Rica and driving tips.

Where to Stay in Puerto Viejo

Although it is a small coastal town, the accommodation options are available for all budgets. You can choose from cheap hostels to mid-range hotels and boutique hotels.

For those who prefer nightlife and are exploring the area without a car, the ideal place to stay is in the town center. These are our recommendations.

Best hotels in Puerto Viejo

Luxury: Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel
Mid-Range: Hotel Banana Azul or Umami Hotel (Adults Only)
Budget: Kalunai Hostel

more hotels

We have a detailed post on the best areas and hotels in Puerto Viejo.

Photo credit: Umami Hotel

Best things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

1. Explore town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

One of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo is to discover the Caribbean-style beach town. We enjoyed walking through the bustling streets, experiencing the laid-back reggae vibe, and seeing beautiful, colorful street art. For the best experience, rent a bike to easily reach the nearby beaches.

The coastal town is calm and quiet during the day but starts to liven up at happy hour. A perfect place to enjoy the nightlife. There are plenty of great bars to choose from where you can dance, enjoy live music, and even take salsa classes.

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You can join a public yoga class at AmaSer for just 6-12 USD.

Did you know that Puerto Viejo is one of the best places to watch sloths in Costa Rica?

So keep your eyes open while exploring this small coastal town, and watch out for sloths and monkeys in the trees. However, if you see a sloth on the road, please do not touch it, as any human interaction can cause a heart attack! Ask a local for help or use a branch to move the sloth back to a safe area from the road.

If the sloth is injured or sick, call the Jaguar Rescue Center for help.

Another great place to see sloths → Manuel Antonio National Park

2. Playa Punta Uva Beach

Costa Rica has many beautiful beaches, and some of the best beaches are located near Puerto Viejo. Our favorite beach was Playa Punta Uva. The beach is only a 15-minute drive from the town center.

Punta Uva’s tropical white sand beach, with lots of palm trees and turquoise waters, is the perfect place for beach lovers or those looking for a quiet place.

Read our → Costa Rica Itinerary

Since this beautiful beach is free to visit, spend a few relaxing hours sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the magical sunset.

If you are looking for one of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo, we recommend renting a kayak at Punta Uva Beach. Paddle down the river to see the wildlife up close and have a great experience.

Book your sloth and kayak tour via Viator or GetYourGuide.

3. Jaguar Rescue Center

As the Jaguar Rescue Center is only a 10-minute drive from the town center, be sure to add it to your list of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo. The Jaguar Rescue Center is a temporary or permanent home for ill, injured, and orphaned animals.

Most of the animals brought here have been electrocuted, attacked by dogs, or hit by cars. Their goal is to rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. Don’t be fooled by the name of this rescue center, as there are no jaguars here.

Jaguar Rescue Center tours are available at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM and are available in several languages. The public tour takes about 1.5 hours, while the private tours take 2 hours. The group tour costs 28 USD, and private tours are 80 USD per person. No admission fee for children under 10 years.

It is good to know that you are not allowed to touch, hold, or take photos/selfies with the animals at the Jaguar Rescue Center. However, it’s well worth a visit, a fantastic opportunity to see the animals (sometimes even baby sloths) and support the work of the rescue center.

Here are all your hotel options in Puerto Viejo.

4. Eat traditional Caribbean Food

One of our favorite things to do in Puerto Viejo was to sample Caribbean food at the Salsa Brava Beach Bar. This place offers a different experience both day and night.

At Salsa Brava Beach Bar, you can eat delicious Caribbean cuisine with refreshing drinks and enjoy the reggae atmosphere and stunning beach views.

Good to know
Happy Hours usually run from 4 PM to 8 PM.

Recommended post → Best Hotels in Puerto Viejo for All Budgets

5. Cahuita National Park

One of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo is to visit the Cahuita National Park, just a 20-minute drive away. The Cahuita National Park is a protected area with stunning tropical rainforests, white sand beaches, incredible coral reefs, and many wildlife.

Walk along the 8.5 km long, well-maintained trail. You can see many animals in the national park, such as monkeys, sloths, raccoons, snakes, frogs, green basilisks, and coatis. Although you can visit the national park on a self-guided tour, we recommend joining a guided or private tour for the best experience.

Book your guided tour via GetYourGuide or Viator.

The national park is open every day from 8 AM to 4 PM and can be accessed from both entrances.

Good to know
Single-use plastic water bottles are not allowed in Costa Rica national parks, so bring your refillable water bottle.

Read the full post → How to Visit Cahuita National Park

6. Surfing in Puerto Viejo

Surfing is one of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo. Playa Cocles is a beautiful beach just a 10-minute drive from Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast. If you love surfing or want to take surf lessons, this beach is perfect for you.

Puerto Viejo’s surf season runs from December to March, sometimes with huge swells.

It is very crowded at weekends as it is a popular spot for locals, so we recommend arriving in the morning or late afternoon.

Recommended post → Best Beaches in Costa Rica

7. Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Looking for more top things to do in Puerto Viejo? Not far from the Panama border and just a 20-minute drive from Puerto Viejo is the magnificent Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, which is worth a visit.

It is home to many endangered species, such as jaguars, pumas, crocodiles, leatherback turtles, ocelots, and a variety of birds. Explore jungle trails, see wildlife, snorkel at Playa Manzanillo Beach, and take a photo at the Yical shipwreck.

Join a wildlife night tour in the jungle.

Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM. There is no entrance fee, but visitors must pay a donation.

When visiting this wildlife refuge, don’t miss the stunning view from Mirador Manzanillo. Then, go to Ara Manzanillo, which is only a 10-minute drive away.

Keep reading → What to Do in La Fortuna

8. Go on a Chocolate Tour

Honestly, one of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo is to take a Caribbean chocolate tour or join a chocolate making class. Although Costa Rica is famous for its delicious coffee, you shouldn’t forget the chocolate.

Cacao Trails Tayku, located between Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, is easily accessible by bus in 15-20 minutes or a short drive. The Caribbean Museum & Chocolate tour departs daily at 8 AM, 10 AM, noon and 2 PM. One and two-hour tours are available and are payable in cash only.

Join a cocoa tour and learn how cacao beans are grown, dried, and finally processed to make chocolate. You can taste the chocolate you have made yourself, which is a fantastic experience during your trip to Costa Rica.

See also → Chocolate Tours in Costa Rica

9. Playa Negra (Black Sand Beach)

Have you ever been to a black sand beach before? One of the best places to visit is Playa Negra Beach, which you can easily combine with other stunning beaches, like Playa Puerto Viejo and Playa Chiquita.

You can take some creative photos of the black sand and nearby shipwreck. Spend a few relaxing hours on the beach and enjoy swimming, surfing, and sunbathing.

10. Shopping from the locals

In the small town, you will find many boutiques and street vendors where you can buy handmade jewelry, painted wood items, clothes, Costa Rican magnets, and more.

You can also buy fresh and delicious fruit from one of Puerto Viejo’s fruit vendors.

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Take some fruit or a cold coconut with you and spend the day at one of the best beaches.

Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?

Definitely! Puerto Viejo is one of the best places to get the famous Pura Vida feeling and discover the most beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and diverse wildlife of Costa Rica.

Is it Safe to Travel to Puerto Viejo?

It is generally safe, but small thefts can happen at some beaches. So always keep an eye on your valuables while swimming in the water. Beware of rip currents!

The people are very kind, and we loved their laid-back attitude. But avoid walking at night and taking taxis alone. We recommend always locking your car and don’t leave any valuables in the vehicle.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.

How to Get Around Puerto Viejo

It is easy to get around Puerto Viejo by walking, bicycle, taxi, or tuk-tuk. Since some beaches are not too far away, most people rent bikes and explore the nearby attractions on their own.

You can rent a bike from anywhere in the town. Bike rental for 24 hours costs 11 USD. As bicycles are usually not illuminated, be careful when driving or walking at night.

You can also travel by tuk-tuk, which costs around 4-6 USD/trip.

Best Restaurants & Bars in Puerto Viejo

It was our favorite place in Costa Rica, where we could taste the different Caribbean dishes, which were amazingly delicious.

Salsa Brava Beach Bar (Best Caribbean food)
GypSea Café (Perfect for breakfast or lunch at Playa Chiquita)
Bread and Chocolate (Extensive breakfast/lunch menu, a variety of fresh baked goods)
Grow (Beachfront vegetarian restaurant and bar)
Hot Rocks (Cold drinks, food and live music)
Johnny’s Place (Perfect place to enjoy the vibrant nightlife)
Soda Shekiná (Traditional Costa Rican food)
Koki Beach Restaurant & Bar (A popular restaurant with a beautiful beach view)

Join a Caribbean cooking class.

How many Days do you Need in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica?

As the journey from San Jose is long, we recommend that you spend the day relaxing once you arrive. After that, you should spend at least 2 days exploring Puerto Viejo and its surroundings. We stayed for 3 days but wished we could have stayed longer.

If you have more time in Puerto Viejo, you should add these activities to your list:

Join a tour of the BriBri Indigenous Village & Bri Bri Waterfalls.
Take a day trip to Bocas del Toro, Panama.
Visit the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica, just a 30-minute drive away.
Go white water rafting on the Pacuare River.

We hope our list of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo will help you plan your next trip to Costa Rica. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

10 Best Things to Do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica