Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Puerto Viejo?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Puerto Viejo?
Many travelers spend two to three days in Puerto Viejo during their visit. After all, the relaxed town has plenty to explore such as the beaches, the nightlife scene, and scuba diving and snorkeling.
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a town on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. It's a beach destination with a local vibe and less tourism than the beach towns on the Pacific side of the country. Visitors enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and local restaurants around town. It's also located near Cahuita National Park, which has rainforests, wildlife, and coral reefs.
Do you have one or two days to visit Puerto Viejo? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Puerto Viejo?
With a variety of sights and attractions, Puerto Viejo is a fairly popular choice for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to relax at the beach, enjoy an evening out, go scuba diving or snorkeling, and go hiking. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the relaxed town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.
How to spend a day in Puerto Viejo
The beautiful beaches await you in Puerto Viejo, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Kayaking Tour in Gandoca Lagoon throug mangrove forest ($58)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.
Puerto Viejo is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Puerto Viejo?
A weekend is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Puerto Viejo. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the beaches, the nightlife scene, scuba diving and snorkeling, and the hiking. To genuinely appreciate the relaxed town, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for two to three days here, after all. After all, As a small town, Puerto Viejo offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
How to spend 2 days in Puerto Viejo
With a weekend (two to three days) in Puerto Viejo, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.
The surrounding waters are great for scuba diving and snorkeing, so spend some time in the water to see nature up close. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!
The public transit in Puerto Viejo is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Puerto Viejo, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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