Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a beach lover’s paradise. Here amidst the exotic flora and fauna, lies a vibrant seaside town with gorgeous beaches, crystal clear blue waters, and some of the most amazing surfing opportunities. Fast becoming one of Costa Rica’s premier tourist hot spots, many international surfers come here from all over the world to ride the famed Salsa Brava waves, making this Caribbean influenced town is a ‘must visit’ place when in Limon.

Simply known as Puerto Viejo by the locals and not to be confused with Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui in Heredia, this bustling town lies 34 miles south east of Puerto Limon, and 10.2 miles south of Cahuita. Formerly a quiet little fishing village, Puerto Viejo has a charm that is all its own. Becoming increasingly popular, especially with the young hip crowd, this town is among the top rated surfing destinations of the world. With its relaxed atmosphere and its own unique blend of Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures, Puerto Viejo is a lively place to have a fun relaxing vacation.

This town has a wide variety of bars, discos and restaurants as well as reasonably priced accommodations and hotels scattered all over the place. Additionally, there are also plenty of good shopping opportunities available out here as well. With its gold sand beaches, tropical vegetation and many interesting attractions nearby such as the Cahuita National Park, Talamanca Indian Reserve and Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, visiting Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a great opportunity to experience Costa Rica at its best.

Most roads to this town are in pretty poor condition with the only paved road being the main highway from Limon to Manzanillo. The streets here are dirt paved. However, they give Puerto Viejo a kind of rustic touch that is distinctive and unique. The people here are also very friendly and all this adds to this tiny village’s charm.

Famous for its fabulous beaches, Puerto Viejo’s Salsa Brave beach is a surfer’s paradise. However, be warned of the waters here that have a strong rip current. So, swimming is not advisable. This beach is for surfing experts only. Aside from surfing, one can also indulge in horseback tours of the area, as well as snorkeling, diving, mountain biking, kayaking or boogie boarding. Whether you are looking forward to having a good time or just a laidback retreat, the shores of Puerto Viejo are a great place to kick back and soak in the sun.

Puerto Viejo ’s pace is slow and relaxed and laid back, in true Afro -Caribbean style. It is built around a lovely bay with calm water for swimming. The distance from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is 130 miles (210 km). Driving there is easy; you can follow the signs to Limon passing through the National Park of Braulio Carrillo and through the cloud forest. At the city of Limon you will find signs that will direct you to Puerto Viejo when you are approximately 33 miles (53 km) from town. There are buses that leave San Jose at several times during the day, which you can catch at the new Caribbean bus terminal (Gran Terminal del Caribe) on the Calle Central. It takes 4 ½ to 5 hours to get to there by bus. It is always important to ask if the bus will take you directly to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca because there are some buses that will take a turnoff to the town of Sixaola. You can also take a domestic flight that lands in the nearby air strip.