Puerto Viejo has a special magic, hard to forget, visitors and residents remain fascinated by the amazing beauty of the jungle, the hypnotic charm of the sea and strong vibrations flowing in the air. It is an ideal spot for sun and nature lovers.

Old Harbour was the original name of Puerto Viejo, with which it appeared in ancient pirates maps. Like any port its history has always been linked to the sea, the coming and going of pioneers, travelers, adventurers and the inevitable cultural exchange that occurred between indigenous peoples, Afro – descendants and others from around the world, enriching its cultural heritage and giving the town its current cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Puerto Viejo is a natural enclave where the splendorous rainforest fuses with the warmth of the Caribbean Sea. The native indigenous peoples who inhabited these lands were joined two centuries ago by the turtle fishermen of Afro – Caribbean origin, with whom they began a business relationship, a cultural exchange and miscegenation, largely due to the isolation of the area. Later on, other Afro – Caribbean immigrations came from the West Indies and in the last century people came from all continents. Currently, Puerto Viejo has become a cosmopolitan place that welcomes different ethnic groups from around the world that share their daily lives in a spirit of peace, harmony and deep respect for nature.

Puerto Viejo is a crossroads, ideal if you are looking for contact with other cultures or local people, share or learn from their lifestyles, habits, interests, needs and their leisurely pace of life that beats to the rhythm of the Caribbean. You can practice your Spanish, get an afro hairstyle, taste the indigenous chocolate, dance salsa or merengue, buy art from Paris, clothing from Ibiza, get a Thai massage, eat a Caribbean breakfast, a French lunch and a Japanese, Italian, Mexican or the middle east dinner. A five senses trip around the world without leaving Puerto Viejo.

It doesn´t matter if you are looking to have a relaxing or an exciting holiday. You can rest in luxury, hidden in the jungle resorts and sunbath on its beautiful beaches, or if you are looking for action, Puerto Viejo is your best destination. It is the ideal scenario, where you can practice a long list of, cultural and recreational activities, such as sports, social or artistic ones. You can have a health and wellness tourism, by meditating, practicing yoga, getting a massage, eating healthy diets, improving your Spanish in a language school or taking a course in Caribbean cuisine.

If you’re bold you can live many experiences, surfing the powerful waves of Salsa Brava, gliding at high speed above the tropical forest in a dizzying canopy, ride on horseback through the jungle, rivers and beaches, walking through the jungle and discover its secrets, visit a waterfall or enjoy of a diving experience while discovering its amazing marine bottom.

If you find yourself with a more adventurous spirit you can explore the mountains of Talamanca, a jungle region where much of the cultural heritage of the Bribri and Cabecars live, where you can share with these indigenous communities their ancestral traditions.

Pueto Viejo is the best place for shopping; you will find art and souvenir shops that fill up its streets with variety and quality products. Practice fair trade by buying your travel souvenirs or gifts to local artisans or stores, art works by local artists done with natural products such as coconut, bamboo, seeds or seashells. 

And if at night you still have energies Puerto Viejo has a hectic and fun nightlife with bars and discos on the beach, to the delight and amusement of everyone. You can´t miss a live performance of calypso music or a jam session, a tropical cocktail under the moonlight, dance reggae, listening to the legendary Bob Marley in front of the Caribbean Sea; experiences that will never forget. In Puerto Viejo, you will never run out of fun options.

To the south of Puerto Viejo there are plenty beaches that you can´t miss. Playa Cocles, located at 1 kilometer from town, is the closest and most popular among surfers, it is followed by Playa Chiquita and then by the beaches of Punta Uva, perhaps one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. In the center of Puerto Viejo the best bathing beaches are Playa Negra, El Chino and Salsa Brava, these last two have calm waters pools protected by coral reefs.

Black Beach

Playa Negra is the one that welcomes you when arriving at Puerto Viejo. It is a huge black sand beach, of volcanic origin, extending to the north up to Puerto Vargas in Cahuita National Park. In Playa Negra you find the Lanchón, an old and rusty old pier, which as a local monument reminds us of the past history of Old Harbour.

Playa del Chino

The famous beach known as El Chino is an emblem for Puerto Viejo, with natural pools formed by the coral reef, it is ideal to enjoy a relaxing swim in front of the old building that houses the oldest and most historic Caribbean local convenience store, the Commissariat of Manuel Leon, El Chino, in the heart of this unique and cosmopolitan Caribbean village.

Playa Salsa Brava

In Salsa Brava you find one of the greatest natural wonders in Costa Rica, a Hawaiian style wave, internationally renowned, which is formed in deep water and breaks right and left against a sharp reef. It is one of the most technical, fast and dangerous waves that a surfer can find.  The Salsa Brava wave, in Puerto Viejo center is only suitable for advanced surfers.

The Salsa Brava beach has natural pools of calm water between the coral reefs and it has just been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag, thanks to the efforts of its residents and entrepreneurs who have been given the task of keeping it clean and suitable for swimmers.