Puerto Viejo is a beach town on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, close to the border with Panama. This town is known for surfing its fantastic surf breaks for all levels, and eco-tourism including national parks teeming with wildlife, it’s easy to see why!
THINGS TO DO
Explore the Coastline
While Puerto Viejo’s beaches all have their distinct features that make them special, they all share one thing – they are all breathtakingly beautiful! Better yet, they are all within walking/biking distance of each other, so you really get the chance to explore multiple beaches to find your favourite!
For a definitive ranking of Puerto Viejo’s beaches, click here.
Jaguar Rescue Center
When two European biologists decided to buy a house & retire in paradise, they probably never expected to become the veterinarians of all things Costa Rican! However, as more and more locals discovered that these gringos had experience working with wildlife, they started dropping off various species of sick and injured animals at their house – and the Jaguar Rescue Center was born! This center has progressed from the biologists tending to injured animals in their living room, to being a state of the art center for wildlife rehabilitation. The center is completely staffed by volunteers, so 100% of the proceeds from the tours goes straight to the animals.
Read more about the Jaguar Rescue Center here.
Kayak Punta Uva
If you’re looking to venture away from the beach and get more of the jungle vibes (without paying for an expensive jungle tour), kayaking Punta Uva is for you! The kayaks rent for about $26 for 1.5 hours, and you can kayak through the inland river that runs through the jungle, spotting various species of wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, turtles, and birds.
For more details you can click here!
Visit Cahuita National Park
About 10 miles north of Puerto Viejo, Cahuita National Park is a marine park and protected wildlife area. There is no entrance fee, and it is completely donation based, so it makes for a cheap but worthwhile day trip! The whole park is a loop about 5 miles long, and you have the freedom and flexibility to explore as far as you want.
For tips and tricks about Cahuita National Park, click here!
Shop the Markets in Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo is a lively, authentically Caribbean beach town. Walking through, you’ll see markets, restaurants, bars, and of course, the beach. There is a shipwreck right off the main beach that kids jump off of – perfect for playing around on a hot summer day! There are also plenty of tours available at various stalls in town, so if you want to book a excursion, this is the place to go!
Go Surfing
Puerto Viejo has surf breaks for all levels. Playa Negra and Punta Uva are great for beginners, with smaller breaks and weaker riptides. For more advanced surfers, Playa Cocles is the place to go! Playa Cocles offers stronger and bigger waves, but also has lifeguards on staff to protect from the dangerous currents. Surfing lessons are available on any of these beaches at the rate of $50-$60 USD for a 2 hour lesson. If you would prefer to DIY it, surfboard rentals are around $15 USD per day.
WHERE TO STAY
This one really depends on your personal preferences.
- If you want a more lively, party scene, stay in the town of Puerto Viejo. There are tons of restaurants and bars in the area and the nightlife is popping!
- If you’re not interested in partying, but still want to be walking distance to the town, we recommend staying in Playa Cocles. We stayed in an Airbnb in Playa Cocles for around $35 USD per night, which is a great central location to all of the beaches. It’s about 1.5 miles to Puerto Viejo town.
- If you want to have a bit more peace & quiet away from city life, Punta Uva is for you! Punta Uva is about 5 miles south of Puerto Viejo, so you’ll most likely want to rent a bike to get around the area (we walked from Punta Uva to Playa Cocles and it was a TREK).
There are plenty of accommodations for any budget, ranging from backpacker hostels to luxury resorts. However, one thing that did surprise us is that nowhere (including the restaurants) seemed to have AC… so prepare to sweat no matter where you stay!
COMPLETE COST BREAKDOWN
For the 7 days we were in Puerto Viejo, we spent $513.85 USD which averages out to $36/person/day.
Accommodation: $255.62 for an Airbnb in Playa Cocles
Food: $118.12 on groceries/food
Activities: $77.96 on activities
Transport: $6.14 on rental bikes, $50 on bus tickets to Bocas del Toro
Misc: $6 on Jaguar Rescue Center tour tip
Overall, Puerto Viejo is not a super cheap destination. We made it a point to save money by walking everywhere, buying groceries and cooking at home, and avoiding pricey activities. In particular, accommodation really adds up quickly. An average dorm bed in a hostel in Puerto Viejo will cost around $14 USD, so for the two of us it would’ve been around $28 USD per night to stay in a dorm. We were willing to fork out the extra $8 USD/night to get an Airbnb for $36 USD/night to have our own kitchen, bathroom, laundry etc.
We would recommend a shoestring budget backpacker to allow at least $40/day in Puerto Viejo. If you want to explore more, do one or two guided tours, occasionally eat out, and stay in a private room, we recommend $60/day. For luxury travellers who want to eat all of their meals out, stay in a resort, and take guided tours regularly, we recommend at least $150/day.