Surrounded by tropical forests, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a sleepy beach town on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. If you're a backpacker looking for a nice place to surf and relax on the beach, you've come to the right place. The laid-back atmosphere makes it a popular place among tourists. With beachfront cabins and palm trees lining the beach, Puerto Viejo is the perfect paradise location.
What did we do?
We took advantage of our one full day there and rented bikes for $6 a day. We rode 26 kilometre roundtrip to the town of Manzanillo while stopping at every beach along the way. The road is paved and fairly level, except for a few hills, which makes the bike ride bearable. When you get close to Manzanillo, you can hear howler monkeys along the way.
Once we got there, we spent our afternoon lazing on the beach. You can also buy coconuts on the beach. Look out for the guy with the wheelbarrow of coconuts carrying a machete. He's actually really nice!
WHERE DID WE STAY?
We stayed at Rocking J's Hostel in their Tent City for $8/night each. The hostel is quite large with different areas you can explore. If you're looking a quiet atmosphere, this definitely isn't it. Otherwise, it's great if you're looking to party, meet people or looking for budget accommodation.
