Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, also known as Puerto Viejo de Limon or simply Puerto Viejo, is a delightful mix of ex-pat influences and Caribbean flavor on the southeastern coast of Costa Rica. Although it can feel a bit touristy (and the number of ex-pat owned establishments testifies to the influx of foreigners to the area), it’s still a cool place to spend a couple days drinking the cheap liquor the savvy tramper stocked up on at the border. There are a number of restaurants and bars in town, each turning out their own brand of nightlife. Walking the streets at night a tramper is tempted by everything from accordion-laced música típica, to the pulsing rhythms of reggaeton and the delicious aromas of internationally-infused cuisine. The town wakes up a little later than most, so if you’re an early riser it’s possible to have a number of beautiful beaches all to yourself while the rest of the population sleeps off the $1USD tequila shots from the night before.
Easily accessible from town are a number of great beaches: Playa Manzanilla, Punta Uvita, Playa Cocles, the list goes on. Rent a bike ($5USD/day) and head south along the beach road. If you’re not interested in biking the full 13km to Playa Manzanillo, there’s nothing stopping you from veering to the left and claiming a spot of beachfront for yourself.
GETTING // GOING • SLEEPING • MAP