5 Absolute BEST Things to do in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Looking for the best things to do in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca? Then you’ve come to the right place. While recently visiting this slice of paradise, we found the absolute best things to do, from hidden gems to popular attractions.
You’ll find the people in Puerto Viejo are so friendly and truly living the “Pura Vida” life. The best way to join the locals is by finding out the top things to do and places to see while you’re here!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our FAVORITE thing we did in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is this guided tour of Cahuita National Park! We saw sloths, monkeys, and even snakes. Then we snorkeled over coral reefs and two shipwrecks! Bonus: it includes a waterfall swim too!
Puerto Viejo Park
- Our Top Choice
- 5 TOP Things to do in Puerto Viejo
- Book here to get FREE 24-hour cancellation!
- Book this Cahuita National Park tour here before it sells out!
- Book this rafting adventure here now and pay later!
- Book this top-rated chocolate tour easily here!
- See amazing animals up close on this Jaguar Center tour!
- Where to Stay in Puerto Viejo
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
5 TOP Things to do in Puerto Viejo
1. Jungle kayaking (a MUST-DO!)
Tour Details
If you love wildlife, water, and adventure, then this jungle kayaking tour is something you absolutely cannot miss while visiting Puerto Viejo!
This tour is highly rated (just check out the HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews here!) and starts in Punta Uva, a beautiful beach area near Puerto Viejo. Here, you’ll jump into your kayak with your expert guide to paddle along beaches and through the jungle in search of wildlife.
This is a wildlife tour, and you’re guaranteed to see all sorts of critters, including bird species, big blue butterflies, interesting insects, and other animals like poison dart frogs, iguanas, snakes, sloths, armadillos, and several species of monkeys.
You’ll likely even see wild sloths (most tourists never see sloths outside of rescue centers!).
This tour is easily the most popular in Puerto Viejo, and as such, it often sells out. Be sure to check availability and book well in advance to avoid missing out.
The best part? This tour only costs $60 USD per person (a steal of a deal, if you ask me!).
2. Visit Cahuita National Park
Tour Details
Cahuita National Park is one of the best national parks in Costa Rica known for its incredible wildlife and coral reefs. There are more than 500 different types of fish and with two shipwrecks to explore – snorkeling is a treat!
The park is located about 20 minutes from Puerto Viejo, so you can join this guided tour or take the bus. I suggest going on a tour because it makes your day much easier and more comfortable. Plus, with a guide, you’ll spot WAY more animals in the park.
Honestly, wildlife (especially sloths) can be very hard to see if you don’t know where to look. A guide is an expert, plus many of the guides in the park often communicate to ensure you see everything the other guides have spotted, too!
This particular tour is our personal favorite. It includes round-trip transport from Puerto Viejo, a guided hike through Cahuita National Park, and then a visit to Bribri Waterfall, where you can cool down with a swim!
This tour is highly rated, with dozens of 5-star reviews – read all the recent reviews here! It’s also a good deal, at only $90 USD.
Related Read: For even more adventures in Cahuita National Park, check out the 5 best tours here!
3. Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River
Tour Details
Hands down, the most adrenaline-packed way for you to check out the incredible scenery around Puerto Veijo is by whitewater rafting. There are Class II-IV rapids to navigate along the Pacuare River, and when you aren’t paddling, the scenery is full of cliffs, rainforests, and waterfalls!
This full-day rafting excursion is sure to get your heart rate up. Find out why they nickname some of these rapids “pinball” and “double drop” as you paddle through the magnificent twists and turns of the Pacuare River.
With breakfast and lunch included, you will be well-fueled for your 6.5-hour adventure-packed day. Tours run seven days a week and begin bright and early at 6 am. Hotel pickup is included in the $125 USD price.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
4. Chocolate-Making Experience
Tour Details
If you like chocolate – who doesn’t like chocolate? – then I highly recommend that you go on a chocolate tour! Our personal recommendation is this chocolate tour that takes you out to a local indigenous village of the Bribri people.
To us, this is the most authentic chocolate experience in Puerto Viejo, where the people in the village will show you the traditional method of making chocolate!
The tour includes pick-up in Puerto Viejo, the chocolate-making experience, and even a visit to the Bribri Waterfall (another one of the best things to do in Puerto Viejo!). You’ll also learn about the Bribri Indigenous culture, something many don’t get to do.
This chocolate tour lasts about 6 hours and costs $90 USD. It is highly rated with tons of 5-star reviews and is one of the most raved-about tours in Puerto Viejo.
5. Jaguar Rescue Center
Tour Details
A stop at the Jaguar Rescue Center is a must for all animal lovers! This incredible facility has been helping rescue and rehabilitate animals in Puerto Viejo since 2008. It’s also one of the best wildlife rescue centers in all of Costa Rica!
The center is actually named after the first rescued animal that was brought in – a jaguar. Nowadays, wild cats are rare to see at the center, but you will see other animals like sloths, monkeys, opossums, toucans, deer, snakes, and more.
For us, a highlight was seeing the baby sloths. Honestly, they were the cutest ever!
You can either make your own way to the center and join one of their public group tours or join an organized tour like this one that includes transport. If you’re staying in Puerto Viejo, this tour with transport is a great option!
The tour also takes you to Punta Uva afterward for some more sightseeing!
Where to Stay in Puerto Viejo
Now that you know all the best things to do in Puerto Viejo, all that’s left is to book your stay! While this is a smaller center, there are still plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re a budget traveler looking for a chill hostel or craving a bit of resort luxury, there’s something for you. Check out our top picks for all price ranges.
Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort – $$$
If you are looking for an affordable luxury stay, this is the place for you. At the Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort, you’ll stay in your own private bungalow in the heart of the jungle. Lounge by the infinity pool, pamper yourself at the spa, and enjoy the convenience of being directly across from Playa Cocles.
Every room comes with a terrace overlooking the gardens! Expect to pay between $110-200 USD per night, depending on the size of the room you choose, but they are all pretty large! Book a room online in advance here.
Saranda Boutique Hotel – $$
Tucked near Playa Negra, Saranda Boutique Hotel delivers cozy, quirky charm without breaking the bank. The rooms are unique—small pod-style designs that feel compact yet comfortable. Despite the creative layout, everything feels thoughtful and well-maintained, from the cozy beds to the spotless spaces. The property also features a lovely outdoor pool and relaxing terrace space. Plus, we loved the free bike rentals to get around and the delicious included breakfast!
You can check availability and reserve your stay here on booking.com.
Playa 506 Beachfront Hostel – $
For a relaxing stay, check into the chill vibe of Playa 506 where you can listen to the ocean as you dream in a hammock. This property walks right out onto the beautiful sandy beachfront of Playa Cocles. With clean rooms and friendly staff who are always willing to help, this is a place where I felt right at home.
This hostel offers convenient group living accommodations including shared kitchen and hangout areas while having a more low-key vibe. Things really quiet down after dinner time here, so if you want to party, you’ll have to head into town. Expect to spend around $27 USD per night when you book a stay here on Booking.com or here on HostelWorld.com.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
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Pura Vida!
Thanks so much for reading our guide to Puerto Viejo and all the amazing things you can do while you’re here. As you can see, this small town packs a lot in! You could spend your entire vacation in Costa Rica just around this area and still have an incredible time.
If you’re planning to visit other Costa Rican destinations or are interested in reading more about our favorite spots, check out more of our detailed posts including:
Ultimate guide to Guanacaste, Costa Rica and fun things to do
Things to know before visiting La Fortuna Waterfall + complete guide
Where to stay in Montezuma – The BEST hotels & areas in Montezuma
Thank you for your help. We did a few tours you recommended and were NOT disappointed. We wish we would have booked a car through you. Lesson learned.