Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca brings a distinct Afro-Caribbean soul to Costa Rica’s southern coast, trade-marking a lifestyle built around bicycles rather than rental cars. Tucked between dense rainforest and the sea, this laid-back beach town moves to a reggae rhythm, serving up coconut-infused Caribbean cuisine alongside a bohemian nightlife. The coastline caters to every pace: advanced surfers tackle the legendary Salsa Brava reef break and the waves at Playa Cocles, while those seeking calmer waters head to Punta Uva or the coastal trails of Cahuita National Park. Beyond the sand, the region’s identity is shaped by nearby Bribri indigenous communities offering cacao-making workshops, wildlife-rich kayak routes, and a resident population of sloths and monkeys right in the canopy.