Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Slow down. You're here.
Puerto Viejo doesn't try to impress you. It just does.
The main street is a few blocks long. The beach starts where the road ends. Howler monkeys wake you up before your alarm does, and by 8am the Caribbean is already warm enough to swim in.
This is where we're based. We've been running shuttles and tours from this town since 2014 — and after two decades on these roads, we still think it's one of the best places in Central America to slow down and actually feel somewhere.
What to do in Puerto Viejo
The South Caribbean has a rhythm of its own. Here's what to do with your time.
Beaches
Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, and Punta Uva stretch south of town for miles. Each one is quieter than the last. Bring a book. Leave your shoes at the hotel.
Wildlife
Sloths in the trees above the road. Howler monkeys at dawn. Poison dart frogs on the trail. The South Caribbean has more wildlife per square kilometer than most national parks.
Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge
The jungle starts at the edge of town and runs all the way to the Panama border. Hiking trails, mangroves, and one of the last stretches of undeveloped Caribbean coastline in Costa Rica.
Bird Watching
Over 400 species in the region. Toucans, hummingbirds, and kingfishers are common. If you know where to look, so are harpy eagles.
Chocolate & Culture
The South Caribbean has a distinct Afro-Caribbean identity — in the food, the music, the architecture. Visit a cacao farm, eat rice and beans on a Friday, listen to whatever's coming out of the open-air bars on the main strip.
Sea Turtles
Between March and October, leatherback and green turtles nest on the beaches around Tortuguero and Gandoca. One of the most significant nesting sites in the Caribbean.
Guided experiences from our local team
Every tour we run departs from Puerto Viejo. Our guides are local — they know which trail has the best wildlife, which reef is worth snorkeling, and which chocolate farm gives you the real story.
From Puerto Viejo to everywhere
Puerto Viejo sits at the center of the South Caribbean. From here, you can be in Bocas del Toro in 3 hours, San José in 4, or deep in the Gandoca-Manzanillo jungle in 20 minutes. We run daily shuttles on every route.
To Bocas del Toro
- Shared shuttle from Puerto Viejo
- Border crossing assistance
- Water taxi to Isla Colón
To San José / SJO Airport
- Private van, door-to-door
- Hotel or airport pickup
- Your schedule, your stops
To Cahuita & Manzanillo
- Shared shuttle
- Stops in Cahuita and Manzanillo
- Flexible drop-off points
Before you arrive
Weather
The South Caribbean has no true dry season. It rains — sometimes hard, sometimes for days. Pack a light rain jacket and don't let it ruin your plans. The jungle is green for a reason.
Cash
Puerto Viejo is mostly cash. There's an ATM in town but it runs out on weekends. Bring more than you think you need.
Getting around
The town is small enough to walk. Rent a bike to reach the beaches south of town. Taxis exist but bikes are faster and more fun.
Insects
Bring insect repellent. The mosquitoes are real, especially near the jungle and at dusk. DEET works. So does staying on the beach.
Common questions
By shared shuttle (4–5 hours, from ~$50/person) or private van (~4.5 hours, from $245/vehicle). We run both. Book directly online or ask us on WhatsApp.
Yes. Like anywhere, use common sense — don't leave valuables on the beach, lock your accommodation, and avoid poorly lit areas at night. The town is small and the community is tight-knit.
Most people say they planned 3 days and stayed a week. Give yourself at least 4–5 days to do a couple of tours, see the beaches, and actually decompress. The longer you stay, the more you find.
Yes — our Bocas del Toro One Day tour departs early morning and returns in the evening. It's a full day but very doable.