Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, known locally simply as Puerto Viejo, sits on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, about 40 kilometers from the Panama border. This stretch of coastline combines quiet beaches with wildlife refuges, a coral reef, and Bribri indigenous communities, all within a compact area. Whether you’re interested in wildlife, time on the water, or the region’s Afro-Caribbean and indigenous culture, there are plenty of things to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
Wildlife Experiences in Puerto Viejo
Wildlife watching is one of the most popular things to do here, from short visits near town to half-day trips into the surrounding refuges.
Sloth Encounters at the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica
About 11 kilometers north of Cahuita, the Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured sloths. Guided visits introduce both two- and three-toed sloths and the people who care for them, and the standard tour includes a short canoe trip through the surrounding wetlands.
Rainforest Hikes at Gandoca-Manzanillo and Cahuita
The Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge begins just south of Puerto Viejo and stretches to the Panama border, protecting rainforest, wetlands, and coastline.
Cahuita National Park, a short drive north of town, has a flat coastal trail where howler monkeys, sloths, and coatis are common sightings.
Dolphin Watching from Manzanillo
Boats leave from the small fishing village of Manzanillo to look for dolphins in the waters off the refuge, including bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins.
Turtle Nesting at Gandoca Beach
Leatherbacks, the largest sea turtles in the world, nest on Gandoca Beach from about March to July. Guided night visits are timed around the turtles’ nesting activity.
Birdwatching
The forest edges and wetlands around Puerto Viejo are home to many lowland Caribbean species. Look for keel-billed and chestnut-mandibled toucans, collared aracaris, masked tityras, and the bright red-and-black Passerini’s tanager.
The Jaguar Rescue Center
Just outside town, the Jaguar Rescue Center cares for injured and orphaned animals, including sloths, monkeys, and birds, intending to return them to the wild. Adventure Life can pair a visit with a nearby chocolate farm.
Active Adventures in Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo’s location between the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest means there’s plenty to do on land as well as in the water.
Kayaking Over the Reef
Guided kayak routes at Cahuita National Park pass directly over the reef, with your guide pointing out what’s below.
Snorkeling at Cahuita National Park
Cahuita’s reef holds sea fans, brain coral, parrotfish, angelfish, blue tangs, and spiny lobsters, in water shallow enough to snorkel without a diving certification. Snorkeling in the park requires a certified guide, and most trips reach the reef by boat, so it pairs easily with a hike on the coastal trail. For more on Cahuita, see our guide to
Costa Rica activities for nature lovers.
Surfing Salsa Brava and Gentler Breaks
Salsa Brava, right in Puerto Viejo, is one of Costa Rica’s best-known surf breaks. It’s a fast, powerful wave over a shallow coral reef and is suitable only for experienced surfers. Beginners take lessons at gentler spots nearby, such as El Barco, just around the point, and Playa Negra. Playa Cocles, south of town, is popular with intermediate and experienced surfers, but it has strong currents. The Caribbean surf season generally runs from about December to March.
Sea Fishing
The Caribbean waters off Puerto Viejo hold tarpon, king mackerel, red snapper, and tuna, among other catches.
Canopy Tours
Zip-line circuits near Puerto Viejo move through the forest canopy, giving you a view of the treetops from above.
Horseback Riding on the Beach
Beach rides near Puerto Viejo are set up for riders of all experience levels, from first-timers to experienced equestrians.
Biking the Coast Road
Many visitors simply rent a bike and ride the coastal road south of town past Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, and Punta Uva, stopping at beaches along the way.
Cultural Experiences in Puerto Viejo
Cacao Farm Visits
Small cacao and chocolate operations near Puerto Viejo show visitors how chocolate is made, from the pod to the finished bar. Cacao has been part of the local economy and of Bribri tradition for generations.
Afro-Caribbean Food and Culture
Puerto Viejo’s Afro-Caribbean heritage, much of it rooted in Jamaican families who arrived in the late 1800s, shows up in the town’s food and music. Try rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, or a patty, a spiced meat pastry sold at small shops around town.
Day Trips from Puerto Viejo
Some of the most memorable experiences on this coast are a little farther from town. Each of these takes most or all of a day.
Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River
The Pacuare River runs through forested canyons on Costa Rica’s Caribbean slope, with mostly Class III rapids and several Class IV drops. Day trips from Puerto Viejo are long: pickup is usually around 6 a.m., with about four hours on the river and a return in the late afternoon, roughly 11 hours in total. If you’d rather not make that drive in one day, an overnight at a riverside lodge breaks it up. See our
Costa Rica rafting tours for itineraries that include the Pacuare.
Manatee Viewing at San San Pond Sak, Panama
Just across the border in Panama, the San San Pond Sak wetland is a protected area and one of the few places in Central America where West Indian manatees live. Boats travel along the river to observation points where you can watch manatees in their natural habitat, along with wetland birds. The trip requires crossing the border at Sixaola, about an hour and a half from Puerto Viejo, so bring your passport and allow time for immigration on both sides.
Bribri Communities in Talamanca
Inland from the coast, Bribri communities such as Yorkín and Amubri offer a look at daily life in Costa Rica’s indigenous territories, including cacao and banana farming, traditional thatched homes, and the role of the awá, the traditional healers and spiritual guides who hold the community’s knowledge of medicinal plants. Yorkín is reached by boat along the Yorkín River. Adventure Life can arrange community visits as part of our
Costa Rica cultural tours.
Best Time to Visit Puerto Viejo
The Caribbean coast follows a different weather pattern from the rest of Costa Rica. Rain falls throughout the year, but the coast has two drier stretches: February to March, and September to October. The second comes just when the Pacific side is at its wettest, which makes September and October a good time for Puerto Viejo and Cahuita. For month-by-month details, see our guide to the
best time to visit Costa Rica.
Plan Your Visit
Between its beaches, wildlife, and Afro-Caribbean and Bribri traditions, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca offers a wide range of things to do in a small area. Browse
hotels in Costa Rica and let Adventure Life’s Trip Planners build a Puerto Viejo stay around the experiences that matter most to you, as part of a broader
Costa Rica trip.
