Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Top Things to do in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
10 Things to do in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca That You Shouldn't Miss
Only real-deal surfers should brave the torrid waters of Puerta Viejo de Talamanca, known both for their beauty and for their dangerously strong riptides. Surf’s especially up at Salsa Brava and Playa Cocles. Not to fear—the rest of you water bugs can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking and diving in the calmer waters of Cahuita or Manzanillo. Rent a mountain bike to coast to Manzanillo for a full, fun experience.
Restaurants in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
1. La Ceiba
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 155 reviews
In this magical place the nature has survived to the destructive madness of human. Here some men are putting all their efforts to save animals when others wanted to annihilate them. La Ceiba RN, 50hec. of Primary forest (Gandoca-Manzanillo National Refuge) where the Jaguar R. C. reintroduces the animals that come through the Jaguar RC.
Reviewed By Quinn302 - Brooklyn, United States
Our children will never forget Costa Rica, in large part because of our stay at La Ceiba! We stayed there for two nights over Christmas 2019. It was such a beautiful way to experience Costa Rica. Upon arrival, we were all thrilled to ride a little lift over the stream and literally into the rainforest. We were met by our guide, Ashli, who proved to be incredible! We were traveling with our two children (ages 8 and 10). Our son is blind, and has a dream of one day working to preserve and rehabilitate wildlife. Ashli immediately formed a bond with him, and patiently answered all of his many questions! The walk up to the houses was beautiful, as we were surrounded by huge trees all around. We even saw a monkey near the main lodge! Ashli explained that they were trying to release that monkey back into the wild, but it continued returning to the lodge. We watched silently as their talented staff carefully put the monkey on their shoulder and started the long walk back out to re-release it. Once in our tree house, our children were in heaven! They spent an hour just swinging in the hammock and taking it all in. I should note that my husband and I were a little unprepared for how "natural" it literally all is...this is an open-air treehouse, so you have to be comfortable knowing that wildlife can and will come quite close! When we were staying there, a family of bats were living in the upstairs eve. Our son didn't mind, but our daughter was freaked out by this. She slept in our bed with us (zipped under the mosquito netting!). On another occasion, we were hanging out on the porch when a parrot came right up to the ledge! Ashli had trained us to scare the birds away, so that they don't get used to humans. On our first night, we made sure to walk up to the lookout tour. From there we could see howler monkeys! You can hear them all around you as well. Please note that it is quite humid in this area in December, so if you choose to wash your clothes, they will likely not air dry! We made that mistake on the first day of our visit, after washing some sandy clothes from the beach. We then had to drive with wet stinky clothes in our car for a few days! While hot water is provided at La Ceiba, you do have to be careful not to use too much too quickly, or you may run out for the day. We appreciated the home cooked meals by the staff at La Ceiba, and enjoyed hearing about their adventures while eating together. You should note that there is not an open bar or cafe of any sort once you're at La Ceiba; you should break drinks and snack food in with you. On Christmas Eve, we were lucky enough to take a nighttime guided walk with Ashli. It's hard to explain how incredible that was!!! It was one of the coolest things I've ever done in my lifetime. Not only did we see incredible wildlife and learn so many amazing facts (Ashli is so passionate about her work, and had so much knowledge to share), but we were also able to stand in the middle of the rainforest in the complete dark with all lights out, and just listen to the sounds all around us. I'll never forget that. You should absolutely make sure to take this nighttime tour!
2. Chocorart
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 233 reviews
In the Chocolate tour you first visit the cacao plantation and receive an insight of the work involved in growing, care taking cacao trees and harvesting the cacao pots. There are other tropical fruit trees and large up to 60m tall shade trees native to the area of tropical rainforest, inhabited by diverse wildlife such as the howler monkeys, agoutis, kinkajous, sloths and many birds among others. All is managed organically, respecting the natural environment. You learn about the fermentation process and visit our traditional sun drier covered with the cacao beans. We taste different fruits from other trees depending the season. In our workshop you will receive a fruit juice of the farm and appreciate all the manual work to manufacture the chocolate, the way how the cacao beans are roasted on fire, then broken with stone and grinded by hand. You will come into the enjoyment to taste an ancient special chocolate drink and at the end a tasty dessert with the freshly made chocolate.
Reviewed By pebse2017 - Nelson, Canada
I didn't get to go on this tour as I was in injured, but I sent my teens and husband. When I asked my teen how it was, he said it was amazing....so that says a lot! What made it special was all the fruit that the gentleman picked along the way and shared ( a tropical fruit wonderland) and the process of making chocolate by hand. It was a very close to nature experience for my kids, which they rarely get to see anymore. Hard to look up as this person doesn't advertise very well, but I think the tour is at 2 or 3pm on most afternoons.
3. Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 76 reviews
Surrounded by the Bribri Reservation, the precious Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve is home to wildlife and foliage found in no other place in the world.
4. Luluberlu Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 113 reviews
Luluberlu is a local Art Gallery and boutique in the centre of Puerto Viejo. It is the story of Natacha, a french artist famous for her mosaics, moving to Costa Rica. It's not just a place to shop, it's a place where you can discover the world of mosaics and art. The boutique with its workshop is definitely worth a visit. In the gallery you can purchase paintings of local Caribbean artist and national artists. Luluberlu offers a wide selection of lamps from around the world but also an exclusive collection made in the Art Gallery workshop, handcrafted souvenirs, mosaics and jewellery. Besides art and souvenirs, you can find an exclusive collection of beachwear and bikinis created in the boutique and clothing of different national designers. Luluberlu is a versatile boutique where everyone can find something unique !
Reviewed By leeeeza - Nashville, United States
This is located on a very bumpy back street and sticks out of its surroundings because of the colorful front. The mosaics are amazing - both what’s for sale and also the floors. There are unique gift items at all price points. Highly recommend a visit.
5. Finca La Isla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 137 reviews
Established in 1987 in an abandoned cacao farm the botanical garden is a permaculture farm with a mature collection of fruit and spice trees in production and lots of tropical flowers. Corridors of rainforest make it into a fascinating nature park. Visitors will be able to try a fresh fruit drink, taste fruits in season, sample homemade natural chocolate, and learn about medicinals and ethnobotanicals. Finca la Isla is a working farm producing black pepper, fruits, and ornamental plants in commercial quantities. Besides the opportunity to see very rare tropical plants visitors will learn about tropical crops like bananas, black pepper, and nutmeg. The botanical garden is one of the very best places in Costa Rica to see frogs in the wild. Our rainforest will provide the chance to see four different kinds of poison dart frogs, reptiles, toucans and many other birds, sloths, and the marvel of symbiosis and diversity that is the tropical rainforest. Visitors are guaranteed to see the red poison dart frog in the wild.
Reviewed By Sightsee624321
Had a great experience today walking through the garden. Alan was a dream host and spent an hour after our walk chatting with us and allowing us to try different fruits. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. for only 3500 c you see wildlife, learn about plants, and get to try some local fruits. Thank you Alan for your excellent hospitality!
6. La Feria Legendaria de Playa Chiquita
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 393 reviews
Reviewed By jimmypO7437GC
This is one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, you can find your spot where can be alone and watch birds and if you are lucky sloths.
7. Playa Cocles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 506 reviews
Reviewed By HAL_lecythiscr - San Jose, Costa Rica
Pretty nice beach with a lot of palms and trees (giving nice sahed), with clear water, white sand and many fish species dweeling close to the old coral rocks.
8. Punta Uva Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 740 reviews
Reviewed By Shakirak2013
This beach was calm and beautiful with moderate waves. Even though so popular there were no crowds and we went for long long walks in the morning. There were all kinds of beautiful tress since the rain forest is there and besides palm trees there were many ancient tress, We saw a 400 year old tree in the forest nearby on a hike. There were all kinds of flowering trees and plants: Hibiscus, ginger and many trees I do not know. There were a lot of birds and the chirping was truly amazing to here in the early morning. We could identify many birds. There was a river closeby and we went kayaking in it and it was lots of fun. Would love to go back there. Very peaceful, idyllic and serene
9. Puerto Viejo Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,306 reviews
This public beach is popular with surfers.
Reviewed By macmarill - Colorado Springs, United States
We were 200 meters from the playa niegra beach part of the Puerto Viejo beach and in early January they have some big waves. The sand where we were was black. The beach was clean except the part that is situated alongside the road. They need trash cans for people to leave their trash, otherwise the water is warm and clean.
10. Playa Negra
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By 6coondawgs - Ogden, United States
We stayed just north of playa Negra at La Piscina Natural. The beach here is beautiful and not busy. We were the only people on the beach when we walked and had a picnic on the beach. We saw sloths along the road to playa Negra from Cahuita.
