The town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is located in the province of Limón, perhaps Costa Rica’s warmest region.  Simply known to visitors as “Puerto Viejo” (although this might lead to confusion given that another Puerto Viejo exists in the northeast part of the country) this small town has become extremely popular because of its beaches and has gained worldwide fame among surfers, who show up there every year to try and master the country’s most powerful wave, known as Salsa Brava.

Because of its strategic Caribbean location, Puerto Viejo is a cultural melting pot, populated by Costa Ricans, Jamaicans and European ex-pats who infuse the town with a rich ethnic flavor. Puerto Viejo is one of the friendliest locales in Costa Rica and because of its proximity to Panama (the border is less than 30 miles away) it’s also a relatively busy town, where party-goers, surfers and passersby mingle under the golden sun.

Highlights

• Playa Negra and Playa Uva in Puerto Viejo, are two of Costa Rica’s most visited beaches.
• Manzanillo, located less than 10 miles away from Puerto Viejo, is an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling.
• The mountains that surround Puerto Viejo are home to Bribri people, one of Costa Rica’s native tribes.
• The popular Jaguar Rescue Centre is located minutes away from Puerto Viejo and is known among nature lovers for its conservation policies; they rehabilitate wild animals and send them back to the jungles.