Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a tiny coastal hamlet in the Limón region of Caribbean Costa Rica. Surfers and hikers frequent the area. Foreigners are purchasing and constructing in this neighborhood. There are two beautiful National Parks nearby, Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green, with the rainforest reaching all the way down to the shore.
Clear ocean, coconut trees, superb surf, and a laid-back Caribbean vibe make Puerto Viejo a popular tourist destination. Puerto Viejo, located on the Caribbean Coast approximately an hour south of Limon, is the hub of activity between the smaller settlements of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The laid-back beach resort is surrounded by rainforest, blue oceans, banana plantations, and picturesque rivers.
Puerto Viejo was formerly a modest fishing community, but it has expanded significantly in recent years. Avid surfers attracted to the legendary Salsa Brava waves have made Puerto Viejo a surfing destination. There are currently several souvenir and surf stores, pubs, restaurants, motels, and tour businesses in the town center. Bikes and pedestrians dominate road traffic along the coastal roadways, in keeping with the beach setting and Caribbean vibe.
Puerto Viejo enchants tourists with its unusual combination of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans, and indigenous Costa Ricans. Rastafari culture is well-established in town, and many Rastas sell handcrafted jewelry and other items along the town’s bustling roadside.
