A Guide to Visiting Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Why Visit Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica is the perfect destination for everyone. If you are looking to relax on the beach, spot animals, wander around town or nightlife. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is the destination for you.

How to Get to Puerto Viejo from Liberia (or San Jose)

By Car

You can drive from Liberia to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica. This drive takes about 7 hours and will take you through San Jose. You will be going through several different beautiful areas so you can stretch the trip out into a few days and explore different cites along the way.

Private Transportation

You can schedule private transportation go get pretty much anywhere in Costa Rica. If you are booking private transportation just make sure to find a reputable company that has insured drivers and the correct vehicles to be using for tourism. If you are needing help finding transportation a great resource is the Costa Rica Travel Facebook Groups and there are always people recommending drivers and drivers offering their services.

By Bus

To get from Liberia, Costa Rica to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica you will need to take 2 different buses. An easy way to track this bus route is through the Moovit app. The times are not always perfect on this app but it will let you know which busses you need to go on and how long the trip will take (the Liberia to San Jose bus does not show up on there). The trip takes about 10-11 hours in total. Make sure to have Colones (the local currency) when taking the bus because it is one of the few places in Costa Rica that does not accept USD.

You can do this route in one day but it is a long day, there are also limited busses on the weekends so it is only possible on the week days. On the way there I did it in one day starting at 4am and I arrived in Puerto Viejo at about 4pm. On the way back I to Liberia I split it into 2 days and spent the night in San Jose and it is a much nicer trip.

Liberia to San Jose

The first bus you will take is the bus from Liberia to San Jose. This bus takes about 5 hours and tickets should be purchased online in advance because spots fill up. You will go to the — bus station in Liberia and depart from there. Bus tickets cost 5,366.30 Colones (about $11 USD)

Half way through you will stop in —- here you can get a meal, go to the bathroom or grab some stops. The stop here is for about 15 minutes. During the day they make announcements for when your bus is departing but at night they do not so watch for you bus and watch the time.

You will then walk down the road about 10 minutes to the next bus terminal or you can take an Uber for about $2 USD. It is not recommended to walk around this area of San Jose alone. During the day you shouldn’t have issues but stay aware of your surroundings but at night you should take an Uber.

San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

The second bus you will take is called Sixaola. This bus ride takes about 5.5 hours and costs 6,760 Colones (about $13 USD). In the back left corner of the bus terminal is where you will buy tickets.

Half way through you will stop in —-. You will stop here for 15 minutes and can use the bathroom or grab something to eat. The bus will stop at the main terminal in Puerto Viejo right alongside the beach.

Where to Stay in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Hotel

I don’t have any experience staying in hotels in the area but there are a lot of different hotel options in the area that would be better options if you are there with a family.

Hostel

There are a variety of different hostels available in Puerto Viejo and they all have very different atmospheres.

Casa Wolaba

If your looking for a super social hostel Casa Wolaba is probably the most popular. This one does fill up fast so you will need to book it in advance. It is pretty average to less expensive in price and is known for having lots of events and a super social atmosphere. It can be a bit more of a party atmosphere, so it wouldn’t be recommended if you don’t like night life.

Kalunai Hostel

I loved this hostel but a lot of people don’t. It is a less nice hostel which is why a lot of people don’t recommend it (no AC, or hot water, the rooms are smaller, etc.) but I loved the atmosphere. It was a great budget friendly option, includes breakfast and felt super homey and welcoming. The first night they set up a projector outside and we watched Ratatouille. There’s always card games outside and lots of people spend time in the hammocks in the main area during the day. If you want to relax and have a calm homey environment for sure try this place out.

Playa 506 Beachfront Hostel

I haven’t stayed here but have only heard amazing things about this place. Its off to the side so not by the main town area (about a 25-30 minute walk) but by the really nice beaches. Super cute, amazing vibe, social but not a party vibe friendly staff etc. If you want to be spending time on the beach I would try out here.

La Tribu Hostel for Women

There are mixed reviews about this place. It is the only women’s only hostel in the area and is probably the nicest hostel in the area. Super well maintained and nice amenities but also a lot more expensive than most places. It is a great place to make friends but I’ve heard that the people can be more fake there and it is a different atmosphere than the average hostel. I think it can be the perfect place for some people but others would hate it.

What to do in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Jaguar Rescue Center

The number one must visit place in Puerto Viejo is the Jaguar Rescue. This is a rescue center for a variety of different animals and they have 2 tour times everyday. Here you can learn about the animals and what they are doing. It was the highlight of my trip and I would recommend it to everyone. This place is truly trying to rescue and release all of the animals and puts an emphasis on providing high quality care and natural environments for those that cannot be released.

It is about an hour walk away from the main area or you can take an Uber or bike over to it. Tickets here are $— and you can get them online or once you arrive. The offer tours in English, Spanish, French and German.

Playa Negra

Playa Negro is one of the pretties beaches in the area. It has black sand and clear water and its just right next to the main beach. Maps will show its about a 45 minute walk away but if you just walk to the left about 5 minutes you will get to the start of it and where the beautiful sand and water starts. There are also bigger waves here than the main area of Puerto Viejo.

Chauita National Park

If you are looking to spot some wildlife then Chauita National Park is somewhere you don’t want to miss. You will find sloths, birds, monkeys, snakes, etc. here.

Playa Cocles

If you head toward the main road you will find Playa Cocles. This beach has a fun outdoor gym, slacklines, volleyball courts and a beautiful beach. If your looking for the perfect beach day this is a beach you want to stop by. The waves here are also a bit bigger and perfect for surfing.

Chino Beach for Sunset

You can see the most beautiful sunset on Chino Beach you can swim in the water or relax in the sand while watching the sunset. There are also some restaurants and cafes right there that have seating set up to watch.

Places to Eat

The Point | Smash Burgers

Here you can find some great burgers and a very cute atmosphere. The staff here is all super kind and the food is delicious.

Pizza Place

If your wanting an inexpensive meal you can stop by this small little pizza place. You can get a slice of pizza for about $2 and the staff is super friendly. You should stop by and support this small locally owned place and grab a slice before heading before heading to the beach. It is located right in the middle of town and easy to walk to from all the surrounding areas.

Cafe Rico

Here you can find hundreds of books and some great coffee. You can turn in two books in exchange for a book or you can pay 1000 Colones (about $2 USD) for a book. They have great coffee and a super relaxing environment.

Hola Boba Bubble Tea

II Fiore Rosso

This Italian Restaurant is located a bit outside of the main area but is the perfect stop on the way back from the Jaguar Rescue. You can get sandwiches, pizza, etc. and they provide great service and great food for a reasonable price.

Tattoos at Kala Tattoo Studio

If you want to remember your trip to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca — is the best tattoo shop in town. They are hard to get ahold of via WhatsApp so its easiest to just stop by. There is one main artist there who specializes in fine line tattoos. There are also several other tattoo artists who work there and she can recommend who there would be the best for what you are looking for.

I got a hand poke tattoo here from Lari (@larihandpoke on Instagram) and would absolutely trust them to ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for and are willing to say when something is not their specialty and who would be a better fit for you.

They do only accept cash there but there is an ATM down the road if you need to get some cash.

How to Get Around

Biking

The most common way to get around Puerto Viejo is by renting a bike. You will see lots of places to rent them and it is easy to bike around. A lot of places are not far enough to drive but far enough you don’t want to walk so its a super convenient option.

Walking

In the main area of Puerto Viejo you can easily walk around. Do keep in mind that when it rains a lot of the roads flood so having shoes that you can get wet is very helpful. If you are wanting to go to some of the bigger attractions in the surrounding area they are about an hour plus walk away.

Uber

Ubers are easily to get in the area and you can get them for just a few dollars if you want to go to any of the surrounding attractions. In general they are also a very safe option to use in Costa Rica.

Rainy Season Essentials

• Rain Jacket
• Waterproof bag or backpack
• Quick dry clothing
• Shoes you can walk in but can get wet (the ground there floods a lot)

FAQs

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