Puerto Viejo – A Caribbean Walhalla
If you are planning to go to Costa Rica don’t forget to head southeast to Puerto Viejo. As soon as you enter this laidback village, you step into real a Caribbean Walhalla. Locals are crossing the colourfully streets with surfboards and reggae vibes are spread all over the place. Since the village is so small you can easily get around by bicycle. This small paradise on the Caribbean coast was once my hometown for 7 months. Even though this place is worth keeping a secret, I will share my favorite places around.
– Jungle road to Manzanillo –
If you are heading outside Puerto Viejo town you will arrive to a mind-blowing road that is completely surrounded by jungle. This 26km road leads to Manzanillo. It is amazing to get out on this road for a morning run or to rent a bike and discover all the hidden treasures along the way. Make sure to keep your wide eyes open because it is not unlikely to spot sloths and other wildlife over here.
– Playas –
If you rent a bike (+/- $6 for 12 hours) and get out on that incredible road I told you about, there is a huge chance that you will automatically find yourself beach hopping. After some 3 to 4 km you will pass by Playa Cocles, which is a popular beach for surfers. (If you are a more advanced surfer than you should also check out Salsa Brava, which is a reef right in front of the village that is known for its waves.)
Further down the road to Manzanillo you will pass among others Playa Chiquita, Playa Grande and my favorite beach Punta Uva (grape point). If you get at this quiet beach you will understand why this is the beach to be.
– Paddle boarding / Kayaking at Punta Uva –
Behind the beach of Playa Punta Uva you find a river that is flowing through the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. It is great to get out here on a paddleboard or a kayak to spot wildlife and breath in the jungle air. At the beach you can rent kayaks after 09:00am.
– Jaguar Rescue Centre –
What needs to be on your where to go list in Puerto Viejo is the Jaguar Rescue Centre. This is a centre where rescued animals from all over Costa Rica get rehabilitated in the hope to release them back in their natural habitat.
Visiting the centre means helping the foundation. For $20 you can get on a 1,5 hour guided tour. The entrance fee will be used to provide medicines, food and shelter for the animals.
While you are supporting an amazing foundation you will get introduced to all the animals and learn about theirs backgrounds. The tours are given by dedicated volunteers that are closely connected to them. The Jaguar Rescue Centre is open from Monday till Saturday and you can participate on a tour at 09.30am or 11.30am.
If you are planning on staying for a longer period in Puerto Viejo than it is worth to join the foundation as a volunteer. I guided tours over here for two months and I can guarantee you that this is an incredible experience.
– Lazlo’s Catch of the Day –
If you want to taste fresh fish from the Caribbean this restaurant in Puerto Viejo is a must. It is owned by a Hungarian fisherman, who is getting out at sea during the mornings in order to serve mouth-watering food during the nights. There is no menu, you can choose from whatever the catch of the day is. While you are waiting for your freshly grilled fish and veggies, you can admire his son Robbie who is real expert in creating exotic drinks from behind the bar.
*It is also an option to join the owner on his daily fishing trip and catch/prepare your own fish.
– Outback Jack –
What I love about Puerto Viejo is all colorful small places. The real eye catcher of Puerto Viejo is Outback Jack. This Australian restaurant / bar can be found in the centre of town and is definitely worth stopping at. You can easily spend a couple of hours over here just to admire the interior while having a drink with the owner at the bar.
– Lazy Mon –
The Lazy Mon is often filled with locals and travellers who love to hang out here. This restaurant / bar has the perfect location for sunsets as it located directly at the beach in the centre of the village. If you are chilling out with some great food it is definitely recommended to try out a Coco Loco, which a coconut cocktail from the Caribbean. As soon as the sun goes down the restaurant turns slowly into a bar with amazingly good vibes until the late hours. Don’t miss out on the awesome Caribbean parties on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. On Sundays there is are open jam sessions where you enjoy live music acts or get on stage yourself to share your talent.
If you can’t get enough of the caribbean nightlife you can also check out Salsa Brava Beach Bar (right in front of the Lazy Mon) and Johnny’s Place. Both places are located at the beach in down town Puerto Viejo and are therefore also worth hanging out at during the daytime.
Chill the fuck out, life is what they call Pura Vida out here
