All things guides · Caribbean

All Things Puerto Viejo

The other Costa Rica: Afro-Caribbean culture, reef snorkeling, sloth sanctuaries, and a string of beaches best explored by bike. No high-rises, no crowds — just reggae, patí, and turquoise water. The complete guide to the Caribbean coast.

Good to know

  • Rent bikes. The coast road south is flat — Punta Uva, Playa Negra, and the Jaguar Rescue Center are all an easy ride apart.
  • Eat the culture: rice-and-beans in coconut milk, patí, and Caribbean-style ceviche — this coast's food is nothing like the Pacific's.
  • September–October is the Caribbean's dry season — while the Pacific soaks, this side shines. Plan accordingly.
  • Book wildlife tours ahead — the Jaguar Rescue Center runs timed guided tours that fill up.

Everything on the map

Tap a category above — the map and the list below filter together. Every pin is from The Costa Rica Map.

Want this tuned to your dates?

These routes are the classics, but the right stops change with the season, your pace, and who's traveling. On a 45-minute planning call we'll reshape any route around your trip — or your move.

Book a $49 planning call Open The Costa Rica Map