Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

A reggae town on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, close to Cahuita National Park, black- and white-sand beaches and wildlife rescue centers, full of Afro-Caribbean flavor.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca lies on the Caribbean coast of Limón Province in southeastern Costa Rica, about 50 km from the Panamanian border. This reggae town is where Afro-Caribbean culture, Indigenous Bribri culture and backpacker culture meet. The sights are strung along a single coastal road: about 15 km to the north are Cahuita National Park and, farther on, the Sloth Sanctuary; Playa Negra lies on the west side of town, while to the east come the Salsa Brava surf break, Playa Cocles, the Jaguar Rescue Center, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva, ending at the fishing village of Manzanillo and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge at the end of the road. In the inland hills, the Kèköldi Indigenous Reserve offers cacao tours. The Caribbean coast has no distinct dry season; Feb–Apr and Sep–Oct are relatively the driest, with the best sea conditions — the opposite of the Pacific coast. From San José it is about 4–5 hours by bus; shuttle vans and self-driving are also options. Renting a bike is the best way to get between town and the beaches. Plan on 3–5 days. Note: rip currents can be strong on the beaches; go out in groups at night and keep an eye on your belongings.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries