Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica: travel guide
Laid-back Afro-Caribbean surf-and-jungle town (Limón) famed for the Salsa Brava reef break, reggae nightlife, cacao farms and palm-fringed beaches running south to Manzanillo.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Currency
- CRC
- Time zone
- America/Costa_Rica
- Nearest airport
- LIO
Plan a Puerto Viejo de Talamanca trip
Top places to visit in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Playa Cocles
Beach · about 2 h
Long golden-sand surf beach ~2 km south of town with lifeguards and a relaxed scene.
Punta Uva
Beach · about 2.5 h
A postcard turquoise bay with a snorkelable point and a jungle headland to climb.
Playa Manzanillo
Beach · about 2 h
A pristine white-sand beach at the end of the coast road and gateway to the wildlife refuge.
Salsa Brava
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h
Costa Rica's biggest, heaviest reef wave, breaking dramatically just off the town.
Cahuita National Park
Nature · about 4 h · entry USD 5
Coastal rainforest and coral reef ~18 km northwest, with an easy shoreline trail full of sloths, monkeys and coatis.
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife · about 3 h
Mangrove, reef and rainforest refuge explored on foot from Manzanillo, with dolphins offshore.
Jaguar Rescue Center
Wildlife · about 1.5 h · entry USD 27
Renowned wildlife rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary in Playa Chiquita, visited on guided tours.
Keköldi Indigenous Reserve (BriBri)
Cultural · about 3 h
BriBri indigenous territory above town offering cultural visits, an iguana farm and medicinal-plant walks.
Manzanillo Village
Cultural · about 1 h
A tiny Afro-Caribbean fishing hamlet at the end of the road, famed for its seafood sodas.
Playa Chiquita
Beach · about 1.5 h
A string of secluded, jungle-fringed coves with calm entry and coral.
Playa Negra (Puerto Viejo)
Beach · about 1.5 h
Black-sand beach stretching northwest from town toward Cahuita.
Things to do
- Cahuita NP Guided Wildlife Walk Wildlife · 3 h · from USD 30 per person
- Punta Uva Snorkeling Tour Water · 3 h · from USD 50 per person
- Jaguar Rescue Center Tour Wildlife · 1.5 h · from USD 27 per person
- Cacao Farm Chocolate Tour Food · 2.5 h · from USD 32 per person
- Coast Bike Rental (Self-Guided) Cycling · 8 h · from USD 10 per person
- BriBri Indigenous Cultural Tour Cultural · 4 h · from USD 45 per person
Day trips and tours
- Caribbean Coast: Cahuita Park & Cacao 7 h · from USD 90
Where to stay in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Playa Cocles about CRC 110 per night
Long golden-sand surf beach ~2 km south of town with a relaxed hotel strip.
- Puerto Viejo Town Center about CRC 70 per night
Restaurants, bars, surf shops and the town beach beside the Salsa Brava break.
Hotels
- Hotel Pura Vida 2-star · USD 45 to USD 75 per night
- Banana Azul 4-star · USD 130 to USD 220 per night
- Rocking J's 1-star · USD 12 to USD 35 per night
- Physis Caribbean B&B 3-star · USD 110 to USD 170 per night
- Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel 5-star · USD 250 to USD 450 per night
- Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort 4-star · USD 150 to USD 260 per night
Where to eat
- KoKi Beach Mediterranean, Seafood · about USD 20 per person
- Bread & Chocolate Cafe, Bakery · about USD 12 per person
- Stashu's con Fusion Caribbean, Fusion · about USD 18 per person
- Soda Shekiná Costa Rican, Caribbean · about USD 9 per person
- Café Rico Cafe, Breakfast · about USD 10 per person
- Lidia's Place Caribbean · about USD 12 per person
- Selvin's Caribbean · about USD 16 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Shuttle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.