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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!
5 TOP Things to do in Puerto Viejo
1. Jungle kayaking (a MUST-DO!)
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 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!).
Book here to get FREE cancellation on this unique kayaking experience!
2. Visit Cahuita National Park
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.
Book this popular tour to Cahuita National Park before it sells out!
3. Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River
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.
Book this rafting adventure here and you can pay later!
4. Chocolate-Making Experience
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.
Book this top-rated chocolate tour easily here!
5. Jaguar Rescue Center
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!
See amazing animals up close on this tour to the Jaguar Center!
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.
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.
Selina – $$
Selina Puerto Viejo offers great accommodation for mid-range travelers with shared dorm-style rooms or private accommodations including rooms with bunk beds or two-bedroom suites. There are even unique teepee tents (with a double bed inside!) for a fun take on camping. You’ll pay around $30 USD per night for a bed in a dorm room, around $80 USD for a teepee tent, and more in the $100-150 range for suites and family rooms.
Seline also offers outdoor shared kitchen space, pool, yoga shala, and exciting events on the weekends. If you are looking to socialize and participate in fun group activities, this is the hostel for you. There is always something going on at the Selina! Start the day with a yoga class at 8 am, try out group fitness activities and wellness classes or participate in a guided medication.
There is also a co-work option for the digital nomads who are looking for longer-term accommodations. They have a separate co-work room with desks that you can set up in. During the weekends, Selina is one of the top places to go for events and parties. With different DJs and themed events, this is the place to go for young travelers looking to dance and let loose. Book your spot here on Booking.com or here on HostelWorld.com.
Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort – $$$
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.
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.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
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
Trish Maldonado
Tuesday 15th of October 2024
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.