If you’re traveling to the southeast part of Costa Rica and looking for basic information, this article is for you.

Puerto Viejo is a small town in the south Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, located in the province of Limon. Known for its laid back attitude, Puerto Viejo that translates to Old Harvard is a small town and most visited town in the south Caribbean. Even though Costa Rica is a small country, you will find the landscape and the culture of this unique area very different.

You know you’ve arrived in Puerto Viejo when you see an old shipwreck growing a beach Almond Tree on its Rusty deck. You might even find some people learning how to surf because this is a great point for beginners. 

In Puerto Viejo you will find most of the basics you need while traveling. There are two Banks, ATMs, supermarkets, pharmacies, tour agencies, restaurants, a bus station, bicycle rentals, taxis, a great nightlife and on the weekends a farmers market. Sounds big, But it will only take you a few minutes to walk or drive across town. 

 What to do in Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a unique place and still maintains a lot of its original culture with a mix influence of the tourists that have been visiting this place for the last 30 to 40 years.

The town is a great place to start your day before heading to your daily Adventure like the beach, waterfall or indigenous reserve. It has several great breakfast joints and if you’re here on a Saturday morning you can go to the local farmers market. 

If you need to run errands like going to the bank, grocery shopping or even visiting the pharmacy, this is the place for that. 

Walk around town and go into the local coffee shops or get some great gelato, sit back and take a break. I recommend the one by the bus stop. 

In the evening stroll around check out the different souvenir shops and local Artisans you might also want to check out the local tour agencies, looking to inspire you for the next day’s adventure. There’s a great variety of places to dine, you can choose from different ranges in price and cooking styles. You should at least once visit a local Caribbean restaurant to fully enjoy your experience of this place. Grab some cocktails or a refreshing beer to enjoy the rest of your evening, if you feel like spicing up your holiday ask a local which is the bar that’s going on that night. Party usually starts around 10 or 11 at night.

Take a look at my top 5 recommendations you should definitely do when you visit the South Caribbean of Costa Rica. Link Here.