Things to Do in Puerto Viejo While Looking at Property
Quick Answer: Before you buy property in Puerto Viejo, spend a few days exploring the South Caribbean itself. This guide covers the wildlife tours, beaches, snorkeling, surfing, national parks, wellness options, food, and markets that reveal what daily life is really like in Puerto Viejo, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, and Cahuita — so you can judge the lifestyle and the community, not just the listing.
You're here to look at property. But you're also surrounded by all of the amazing experiences that come with this location, and that's a real opportunity. This is your chance to experience what this place has to offer.
We'll break down the experiences that you can’t miss: conservation tours and wildlife encounters, beautiful beaches for swimming and people watching, world-class snorkeling, national parks for hiking and exploration, yoga and wellness options, incredible food across Puerto Viejo and Playa Chiquita, and where to shop locally.
Why Exploring the Area Matters Before Buying Property
Many people visit Puerto Viejo with the goal of viewing homes, land, or investment opportunities. While the properties themselves are important, understanding the surrounding communities is equally valuable.
The South Caribbean is not a single destination. Puerto Viejo, Playa Negra, Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, Cahuita, and Hone Creek each offer a different lifestyle, atmosphere, and pace of life. A property that looks perfect on paper may feel very different once you've spent time in the neighborhood, visited local businesses, explored the beaches, and experienced daily life firsthand.
Taking time to explore the area can help you better understand what matters most to you. Some buyers are drawn to walkability and restaurants. Others prioritize privacy, wildlife, beach access, surfing, wellness, or proximity to services. These factors often become just as important as the property itself.
The experiences below are some of the best ways to get to know the communities, culture, and lifestyle that make Costa Rica's South Caribbean such a unique place to live and invest.
All information provided in this blog post is subject to change. However, at the point of publishing, all information is proven correct.
Table of Contents
- Experiences & Tours
- Surfing
- Snorkeling
- Beaches You Can't Miss
- National Parks Near Puerto Viejo
- Wellness & Yoga
- Food In and Around Puerto Viejo
- Shopping & Markets
- Nightlife & Entertainment
- Community Snapshot
- Frequently Asked Questions
Experiences & Tours
Jaguar Rescue Center
About 2 kilometers from Puerto Viejo, in Playa Chiquita, sits the Jaguar Rescue Center. It's one of the best conservation efforts on the Caribbean coast.
The center rescues approximately 500 to 700 animals every year, focusing on monkeys, sloths, other mammals, birds, and reptiles. They rehabilitate them and release them back into the wild. Your $25 entrance fee directly funds this work. A ticket is required, and they can sell out, so the earlier you go, the better. No government support. Just visitors, volunteers, and people who believe these animals deserve a second chance.
Tours run at 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM daily, each about 90 minutes. You'll walk through jungle trails and see three-toed sloths up close (the highlight for most visitors), monkeys, toucans, and dozens of reptiles. The guides know each animal's story. If you're buying property here, this is where you get to meet the wildlife that shares your neighborhood.
Ara Project (Ara Manzanillo)
The Ara Project focuses on the critically endangered Great Green Macaw. The global population had dwindled to less than 1,000, but through their breeding and release efforts, they've increased the global population by almost 10% and Costa Rica's by almost 30%. They've successfully released 45 Great Green Macaws raised in captivity into natural habitat.
The facility sits just south of Puerto Viejo in Manzanillo, nestled in a tropical rainforest more than 100 meters above sea level. Tours run in the afternoon (3-4 pm) and cost $20 per person. A local guide gives a brief presentation on the project, then takes you to an observation platform where you can watch the macaws come to supplemental feeders. You'll also see three species of toucan, monkeys, sloths, frogs, reptiles, and other bird life.
Online reservations are required.
Chocolate Tours
Cacao cultivation has deep roots on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, dating back to ancient times when indigenous communities revered it as a sacred plant. Today, Puerto Viejo is a hub for sustainable and organic cacao farming, making it one of the best places in the world to learn how chocolate is made.
Choosing the right chocolate tour:
Cacao Huasi (formerly Talamanca Chocolate)
Cacao Huasi is a hands-on bean-to-bar class in downtown Puerto Viejo, just minutes from their 48-acre organic cacao farm. Over 2.5–3 hours, you'll roast, crack, and grind cacao on a traditional metate, then mold your own chocolate bar to take home. Perfect for people who want a true hands-on experience and a souvenir to show for it.
Utopía Caribe (Chocolate Forest Experience)
Utopia Caribe offers two-hour tours. Hike through their sustainable cacao forest, taste the raw cacao fruit, and watch the bean-to-bar process at their chocolate workshop before a guided tasting. At $35 USD per person (plus tax), it's a solid mid-range option and great for people with limited time.
Caribeans Coffee and Chocolate
Caribeans Coffee and Chocolate is a family-owned farm in Puerto Viejo, running tours since 2007. The hike takes you through their cacao forest where you'll learn the harvesting and farming process, see the bean-to-bar process firsthand, and finish with a chocolate tasting flight. Best for people who want the full tree-to-bar story and a relaxed, community-focused stop.
Surfing
Once the road was built to Puerto Viejo, word spread about the waves. Surfers started arriving, and the culture took root. Today, surfing is woven into the fabric of daily life here. Playa Cocles is where most people learn. When you go, you'll easily spot surf lesson options on the beach. This is where you'll see beginners paddling out alongside locals who've been surfing here for decades.
For advanced surfers ONLY, Salsa Brava is one of the heaviest waves in Costa Rica. But for visitors evaluating whether to buy property here, Playa Cocles is the beginner experience. It's where the surf community gathers, where competitions happen, and where you feel the laid-back Caribbean surf culture.
Playa Grande also has great waves and can be a good beginner spot depending on where the break is. Punta Uva is another option worth exploring. Check with the local surf shops; they'll guide you on where to go based on your experience level and current conditions.
Snorkeling
Cahuita National Park (about 30 minutes north of Puerto Viejo) is the best snorkeling spot. The park's marine zone shelters one of the best-preserved coral reef systems on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast; sea fans, parrotfish, angelfish, damselfish, green moray eels, and green sea turtles. You'll need a guide and boat. Guided boat-based snorkeling tours run $35-$55 per person. Tours are easily arranged in town.
At Punta Uva Arrecife (Grape Point Reef), you can snorkel right off the beach. When the sea is flat and glassy, it's one of the easiest snorkeling spots on this coast. When there's any swell running or the water looks brown near shore, visibility drops sharply. This is independent snorkeling, no guides or fees. Rent equipment in town first.
Manzanillo, at the southern end of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, is also a great snorkeling spot. Manzanillo is one of the best places in Costa Rica to snorkel if you’re looking for healthy coral reefs, clear water, and a peaceful local vibe that feels a world away from crowded beaches. While you can snorkel along the beach on your own, going with a local guide makes a big difference.
Best Time to Snorkel: You can snorkel all year long, but the conditions vary by season. The best months for visibility are September and October, when the sea is calm and the water is crystal clear. Visibility during these months can reach up to 20 meters, creating ideal conditions for seeing coral and marine life.
Beaches You Can’t Miss
Punta Uva Beach & Arricife Beach ( see above)
Punta Uva is the rocky point that divides the bay into two main beaches. Playa Punta Uva Arrecife (meaning Punta Uva Reef Beach) is where you'll find the swaying palm trees, powdery sand, clear waters (season-depending) and coral reefs. Playa Punta Uva is the other beach to the north of the point. It's rougher, with deeper, darker-toned water.
Chino Beach
Chino Beach is in central Puerto Viejo. It's where families swim and vendors sell fresh coconut water. It’s many of the locals’ favorite places to visit at the end of the day. The local spot for watching the sunset. When you visit, bring cash. Buy a cold pipa fría, coconut water straight from the nut. This is the vibe you're considering living in!
Beach Break (A Section of Playa Cocles)
Beach Break is what we call the area of Playa Cocles where all the action is. It is a great example of beach culture here. Food vendors are cooking up fresh Caribbean food right on the beach. There's beach volleyball set up, slack lines, and you can rent surfboards and boogie boards. Sit here, people watch, soak up the energy, and absorb the feeling of what daily life feels like here. Playa Cocles has beautiful natural tide pools. This creates an amazing place to soak in the water, or let younger kids splash around with the waves. Another fun experience here during low tide is the ability to walk the beach and jungle all the way to Punta Uva.
Playa Cocles Tide Pools
Some of our natural tide pools are located at Playa De Corales in the Cocles area, on the beach side across from the Jaguar Rescue Center, not at the Beach Break area itself. This creates an amazing place to soak in the water, or let younger kids splash around with the waves. During low tide, you can walk the beach, or take the jungle paths, all the way to Punta Uva.
Playa Chiquita
Playa Chiquita is located in the area between Playa Cocles and Punta Uva. It’s a wonderful location to go if you want to skip out on the crowds while still soaking up water and natural bays. Visualize Pirates of the Caribbean. You can’t drive onto these beaches, which makes them quieter (no car noise). If you are driving there, you will need to park out on the road and walk in.
*The water can appear clear here, especially September through October when seas are calm and consistently clear, but this isn’t always the case. December through April is the roughest time for getting into the water due to rip currents. Always use caution when swimming. Look for red or yellow flags, which warrant caution and pay attention to riptides. Lifeguards are not always on duty even if you see a lifeguard stand.*
National Parks Near Puerto Viejo
Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park sits about 30 minutes north of Puerto Viejo and protects lowland forest, beach, and one of Costa Rica's largest coral reefs. Access via the Playa Blanca entrance in Cahuita town is donation-based, $5 suggested, or Puerto Vargas entrance with a government-enforced $5.65 fee.
An 8.3 km trail connects both entrances, but you can do shorter sections. Many visitors hike just to Rio Suarez (1.5 km) or Punta Cahuita (2 km). The trail is flat and popular for wildlife: howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, sloths, and tropical birds. Guided boat-based snorkeling tours run $35 to $55 per person and take you to the healthiest reef spots. No snorkeling without a guide.
The park has a strict no-plastics policy. Bring sturdy shoes, water, and sunscreen. The best conditions for snorkeling are September-October. Both entrances open 8 am-4 pm daily.
Read more about Cahuita National Park on our blog here: https://mypuertoviejorealtor.com/blog/cahuita-national-park-guide-2025
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Gandoca-Manzanillo sits south of Puerto Viejo at the end of the paved road. It's one of the most remote spots on the Caribbean coast. The refuge covers thousands of acres of rainforest, rivers, and 15 kilometers of coastline with beautiful sandy beaches.
The main viewpoint, Mirador Gandoca Manzanillo. Guided hikes (3-4 hours) take you through the jungle to see monkeys, sloths, toucans, lizards, and birds. You will always want a guide when exploring the trails and jungle. The refuge is open 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Entrance is by voluntary donation (cash or card), proceeds go toward trail maintenance. If you want solitude and less-crowded nature than Cahuita, this is the place.
Wellness & Yoga
Puerto Viejo offers an impressive range of wellness practices and modalities. The community has built a culture around healing and intentional living. You'll find practitioners and healers from around the world who've settled here, creating a rich ecosystem of wellness options.
Yoga Studio Recommendations:
Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda Cafe: Combines yoga classes with an ayurvedic vegetarian restaurant in one space. You can find the schedule here.
Tierra de Suenos: Offers yoga instruction alongside jungle accommodations and runs wellness retreats. You can find the schedule here
Hotel Le Cameleon: Has private yoga classes on the beach or in the garden. Reach out to them directly to schedule a private yoga class.
Dragonfly Yoga: Regular classes available. The schedule is linked on their Facebook.
Kona: Regular classes available. You can find the most recent schedule here.
Beyond Yoga:
The wellness community here extends far beyond yoga. You'll find massage therapy (deep tissue, trigger point, lymphatic), sound healing, breathwork, meditation, reiki, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture, and traditional plant ceremonies. Places like The Sacred Technician and Pure Jungle Spa offer massage and bodywork in jungle settings. Many practitioners offer private sessions or can be found through retreat centers and wellness networks.
Healing Practices Beyond What is Advertised:
Many of the people who live here are partaking in wellness practices that aren't advertised to the public, things you can only learn about by spending time here or by asking someone who lives here. If you can think of a healing modality, it likely exists somewhere in Puerto Viejo. The depth of the wellness culture here goes as far as you're willing to explore.
*Check local billboards at the bus station for fliers for the most up-to-date offerings or ask Meg and Raina for some contact information*
Food In and Around Puerto Viejo
The food scene in Puerto Viejo is extensive. From casual local sodas to fine dining, fresh seafood to vegan options, the choices are endless. Below are some of our favorites and recommendations, but the reality is there's always something new to discover. Walk around town and you'll find vendors, cafes, and restaurants on nearly every corner.
Puerto Viejo
Bread & Chocolate: Serves breakfast and coffee with homemade chocolate options
Cafe Rico: Cozy breakfast and brunch spot with avocado toast and good coffee
Sodas: Local casual dining spots throughout town serving traditional Costa Rican food
Grow: Vegan menu options
Puerto Pirata: Caribbean bar and restaurant with local favorites
Stashu’s: Fusion food restaurant great for dinner. Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asian flavors along with fresh seafood and great vegetarian and vegan options.
Mopri: Best fresh local seafood in town. Casual dining, gravel floors, plastic chairs.
Cafe Viejo: Upscale Italian restaurant with open-air dining.
Cocles
Spicy Coconut: Delicious menu, cocktail terrace, and a store with local handmade goods. Right on the water where you can walk directly to the beach.
Sushi Wave: Sushi restaurant
El Rincon Porteño: Argentinian grill with fresh pastries for breakfast.
La Nena: Caribbean food, a local favorite.
Chile Rojo: Asian-themed cuisine and sushi bar
Cafe Rio Ceviche, fresh seafood, hamburgers, pizza, desserts, batidos. Lots of vegan options.
Playa Chiquita
Gypsea: Excellent for breakfast and lunch
La Leyenda: Local favorite with great food
Pura Gula: Spanish-influenced cuisine
Pulcinella: Authentic Neapolitan pizza from wood fire oven
Soda Taylor Spoon: Local casual dining
Que Quilombo: Argentinian food, steakhouse
Punta Uva:
El Refugio Grill: Small Argentinian restaurant, changing daily menu.
La Serena: South American cuisine, laid-back ceviche.
Awa Beach Bar: Gourmet international and Caribbean cuisine, beachfront.
Manzanillo:
Maxis: Traditional Caribbean food.
Colores Restaurant and Beach Lounge: On the beach, fresh seafood and often has live music.
Cool and Calm Reggae Bar: One of the oldest Caribbean restaurants in Manzanillo, known for grilled dishes, tropical cocktails, and live music.
Mocha Beach Restaurant: Gorgeous restaurant in the heart of the jungle with a finely crafted menu using local ingredients and inspired by international cuisine.
Shopping & Markets
There are a lot of shops in Puerto Viejo. Colorful stores line the streets, street vendors line the beaches, and art and handmade goods are everywhere. Every street reveals more options of clothes, jewelry, local crafts, and food. It's easy to spend time just wandering and discovering your favorite finds. Although there are so many places to shop, a lot of it is geared toward tourists. For clothing shopping that feels local and curated, Luna May and Wanderlust are the standouts where you'll find pieces you actually want to wear.
Saturday Farmers & Artisan Market
There are several farmers and artisan markets throughout the region, each with their own specialties. Come early for the best selection, and bring cash as most vendors don't accept cards.
Puerto Viejo Saturday Market
Every Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm in Puerto Viejo Centro. Fresh local produce and handmade crafts supporting local growers and artisans. This is the main market with the largest selection and highest energy. Come early to get the best picks before crowds arrive.
Playa Chiquita Market
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday on the main road opposite the beach side (past Tierra de Suenos). A smaller, quieter market with a nice selection of fresh produce.
Cahuita Market
Sunday morning in Cahuita town. A community-focused market. Worth the 30-minute drive if you want a different vibe and access to Cahuita's produce and artisans.
Limón Market
Fridays and Saturdays at Limón city center. Showcasing the flavors and culture of the Caribbean, this market offers tropical produce, Afro-Caribbean spices, and local dishes. Top picks: coconut oil, cassava, and plantain chips. The largest market in the region if you want a full morning of exploring.
Arts & Crafts Market
Thursday through Sunday from 3 pm to 8 pm in Puerto Viejo Centro. Local artisans sell jewelry, textiles, art, and handmade crafts. A great way to support local makers and find unique pieces.
Nightlife & Entertainment
In the high season, you can find spontaneous entertainment, featuring fire shows in Puerto Viejo and Beach Break. Staying out late is a normal thing here, and the town really can come alive after dark. While not unsafe, when going out late at night, use normal safety precautions. The two hottest nightlife spots:
Hot Rocks
Located in the center of town with a stage for live music and karaoke, as well as pool and foosball tables. The venue hosts themed nights like karaoke, salsa, and ladies nights. They are always posting on their Facebook about the fun events they are having each night.
Tasty Waves
A casual spot with regular events. Thursday nights feature trivia at 7:30 pm. Saturday karaoke runs from 12 pm-1 am. Tuesday is Taco Tuesday with live music. Sunday is happy hour all day. It's the kind of place where locals and visitors mix naturally.
South Caribbean Community Snapshot
| Community | Known For | Appeals To |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Viejo | Restaurants, nightlife, shopping, walkability | Buyers wanting activity and convenience |
| Playa Negra | Quieter beaches and residential feel | Buyers seeking more privacy close to town |
| Playa Cocles | Surf culture and beach lifestyle | Active buyers and surfers |
| Playa Chiquita | Jungle setting and secluded beaches | Nature-focused buyers |
| Punta Uva | Swimming beaches and natural beauty | Buyers prioritizing beach access |
| Manzanillo | Wildlife refuge and relaxed atmosphere | Buyers wanting a quieter lifestyle |
| Cahuita | National park and established community | Buyers seeking a slower pace and amenities |
FAQ
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Puerto Viejo attracts buyers looking for beach access, nature, walkability, and a strong sense of community. The area offers a wide range of property types, from residential homes and vacation rentals to development land and commercial opportunities. Spending time in the area before purchasing can help you determine whether the lifestyle aligns with your goals.
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We generally recommend spending at least several days exploring Puerto Viejo and the surrounding communities. Many buyers discover that areas such as Playa Negra, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, and Cahuita each offer a very different living experience despite being located within a short drive of one another.
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Beyond Puerto Viejo itself, buyers often explore Playa Negra, Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, Cahuita, and Hone Creek. Each community offers different levels of development, accessibility, privacy, beach access, and amenities.
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Exploring restaurants, beaches, local markets, parks, and community events provides insight that cannot be gained from property photos alone. Buyers often gain a much better understanding of traffic patterns, noise levels, local culture, and daily life by spending time in an area before making a purchase decision.
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Many residents live in Puerto Viejo and the surrounding communities year-round. The region offers access to healthcare, grocery stores, restaurants, wellness services, schools, and a growing community of both local residents and international property owners.
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Yes. Families often enjoy the Jaguar Rescue Center, Cahuita National Park, chocolate tours, calm swimming beaches, snorkeling excursions, wildlife viewing, and local farmers markets. The region offers a wide range of outdoor activities suitable for children and adults.
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Buyers should perform proper due diligence before purchasing any property. This includes reviewing title information, surveys, zoning regulations, access rights, utility availability, environmental considerations, and any restrictions that may affect future use of the property.
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A knowledgeable local real estate professional can help buyers understand community differences, identify suitable properties, coordinate due diligence, and navigate the Costa Rican purchase process. Local market knowledge is often one of the most valuable resources available to buyers unfamiliar with the region.
Ready to see these communities for yourself? Browse our current listings across Puerto Viejo, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, and Cahuita, or reach out to schedule a property tour paired with a guided walk through the neighborhoods above.
IN CLOSING
Every one of these experiences tells you something about the property you’re considering. A home near Beach Break puts you in the middle of the surf and food scene; a lot in Playa Chiquita or Manzanillo trades that energy for jungle quiet and closer contact with wildlife. Neither is “better” — but the right choice depends on which lifestyle you actually want to live, not just which listing photographs well.
I’m Meg Williams, a licensed realtor and a resident of Puerto Viejo since 2015. I’ve watched buyers fall in love with a property on paper and then discover, once they’d spent real time here, that a different community fit them far better — and I’ve seen the opposite happen too. My best advice: treat your property search as a chance to live like a local for a few days. Walk the beaches, eat at the sodas, talk to your future neighbors. If you have kids, take a look at the local schools too. Then let’s talk about which properties actually match the life you’re picturing.
