These towns each have their own restaurants, beaches, and other amenities but are more spread out. The road out of town paralleling the coast leads to several smaller communities like Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Playa Punta Uva, and Manzanillo. The small downtown, where many of the area restaurants, bars, and shops are concentrated, is conveniently located next to the beach. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is located in southeastern Costa Rica, close to the Panama border. Below are the essentials for planning your visit to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. And with some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, lush jungle, and an array of restaurants and nightlife, it is no surprise that Puerto Viejo is now a popular destination. Here, coconut rice, Reggaeton beats, colorful homes, and a laid back attitude dominate. With residents of both Afro-Caribbean and indigenous descent, Puerto Viejo offers a unique culture that can be found only in this part of Costa Rica. Salsa Brava – Puerto Viejo’s legendary surfing wave.Īrtisanal chocolate producers offer samples of their locally grown treats.Set along the turquoise Caribbean Sea in southeastern Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a laid back beach town with a distinctly Caribbean feel. There’s no better way to beat the heat than cooling off in the Caribbean. When the water is calm, you can snorkel just offshore. White sand beaches are surrounded by coral reefs. Lanchas (“long boats”) are used by local fisherman and tour guides. Ask your hotel for other tips.įollow this advice and you should have a safe and wonderful vacation. Never leave valuables unattended, don’t wander around lonely streets at night (especially in downtown Puerto Viejo), and don’t walk the jungle path between downtown and Playa Cocles, where theft is common. But crime is more of a problem here than other Costa Rican beach towns. I don’t think anyone should stay away from Puerto Viejo because of it’s reputation for crime, which is overblown and does have a racial element. Although locals admit crime does happen, they insist the reputation is based more on racial stereotypes than actual statistics. These days, nothing bothers Puerto Viejo’s residents more than the town’s reputation for crime.
But despite all the changes, the town still remains delightfully low-key, which is why so many visitors keep coming back. Puerto Viejo is now one of Costa Rica’s most popular backpacker destinations.
#Downtown puerto viejo costa rica series
You’ll pass a series of beautiful beaches - Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva - before ending up at Manzanillo, a tiny Afro-Caribbean village delightfully trapped in time.įor most of the 20th century, Puerto Viejo was largely disconnected from the outside world. The further you go, the less developed it gets. If you’re looking for someplace more peaceful, head southeast along the main road. If you’re looking for parties and nightlife, downtown is the place to be. Set back from the hustle and bustle is a quiet residential community. The main road through town is packed with restaurants, shops and bars. Although people often refer to the entire stretch of road as Puerto Viejo, the name technically refers only to the grid of streets set back from a sandy, palm-fringed point. The layout of Puerto Viejo is simple - virtually everything lies along a 13-km (8-mile) road. For a discussion of the various options, including my recommendations, see Best Ways to Get to Puerto Viejo. There are several ways to get to Puerto Viejo, including driving, public bus, private shuttle and Uber. But if you visit during a stretch of beautiful sunny days, you might quit your job and join Puerto Viejo’s tight-knit community of expats, many of whom came here on vacation and never left. Of course, much depends on the weather, which is always prone to rain. You could easily spend a month here and not run out of things to do. Surfing, snorkeling, boat trips, wildlife sanctuaries, chocolate tours, day trips to indigenous communities. But there are plenty of additional activities. A place where bicycles outnumber cars, hammocks are more important than air-conditioning, and yoga is a way of life.īeaches and social life are the town’s main draw. For those looking to get away from corporate sorts and package tours, this Caribbean village is a countercultural breath of fresh air. Puerto Viejo has incredible beaches, delicious food, and a dread-locked, tropical Rasta vibe.
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