Puerto Viejo Economy Vacation Package

Puerto Viejo is an awesome, laidback, Caribbean, Euro-feeling, Rasta-surfer town on the south Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
This custom package vacation includes some daily activities and accommodation in a inexpensive, great value for the price hotel right on the ocean, with relaxing vibe and air-conditioned rooms.

This trip, like all our other custom vacations are highly customized for daily activities. The tours and activities described below are our suggestion for a most memorable vacation, but you can choose any other activity. Check our Local tours page for better understanding of what we can offer. Pura Vida!

DAY 01: Arrive to San Jose, Costa Rica. Private transfer to your hotel.

Welcome to Costa Rica!

We will be waiting outside the arrivals terminal with a sign with your names on it.

After leaving the airport, we begin the journey to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, four and a half hour drive trough the beautiful Costa Rican countryside. We will make one short stop to have lunch in the local restaurant. Upon arrival to Puerto Viejo, we will take you to your hotel, Kaya’s Place, a rustic wood lodge and craft brewery.

Included: Private transport, Hotel

Sunset in Puerto Viejo

DAY 02: Jaguar Rescue Center

In the morning we will take you to the wildlife rescue center named in honor of its original resident – The Jaguar Rescue Center.

JRC is a temporary home for rescued, injured and orphaned animals. The primary goal of the JRC is to rehabilitate animals and reintroduce them back into their native habitats.

This tour will give you the opportunity to meet and play with rescued howler monkeys, pizotes, sloths, raccoons, anteaters, and more. JRC use all the profits to help the animals.

After the JRC, enjoy the beach, or stroll trough the town and visit many little shops, have a lunch in a local inexpensive soda restaurant serving Caribbean food or try one of many international restaurants (we can recommend where to go) or rent a bicycle and explore the area.

Optionally, after the JCR, take a 2-1/2 hour horseback riding tour on the beach and trough the jungle. Get to know the Caribbean on the back of a horse and with the help of our experienced guide. There will be time for photos, watching animals and cold pipa drink on the beach.

Included: Hotel, Jaguar Rescue Centre, Private transport.
Optional: 2-1/2 hrs Horseback riding tour for $65 per person

Jaguar rescue center

DAY 03: Gandoca-Manzanillo Jungle Hike

In the morning we will take you to a Gandoca-Manzanillo Jungle Hike tour.

Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge is rainforest and wetland habitat with a coral reef. At 23,348 total acres, this vast refuge begins 3 miles south of Puerto Viejo-until it runs into the Sixaola River at the Panamanian boarder. Apart from the great variety of vegetation, you will see animals like monkeys, toucans, sloths, snakes, caimans and a wide variety of birds. Our guide knows this refuge like his own backyard, since he grew up in the jungle and the breadth and depth of his knowledge and experience are simply amazing. He knows ever plant, animal, and sign of every animal that you will encounter. It will be an experience you will never forget, fun and adventurous! The tour is approximately 4 hours. If you would like to finish the tour with some white sand beach and crystal blue water experience, it will be our pleasure to take you there. 🙂

After the tour, we will take you back to your hotel.

And then in the evening, go out and check what the town has to offer!

Puerto Viejo’s dining scene reflects its widely-varied international population – Caribbean, Italian, Argentinean, Mexican, Asian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, North American, and of course, Costa Rican. There’s also a great selection of bars and discos to dance the night away or listen to live music.

Included: Hotel, Gandoca-Manzanillo tour, Private transport

Aqls tour guide

DAY 04: Free day… or try Surfing!

Today is a perfect day to try surfing! Puerto Viejo is famous for surfing and it has been home to some of Costa Rica’s most legendary surf competitions, held at famous Salsa Brava. But in Puerto Viejo there is a beach and a wave for every level, from a beginner to an experienced surfer.

So this is your opportunity to have a surfing class with one and only Puerto Viejo surfing master!

This is a 2 hour surf lesson covering the basics of surfing. You will learn Control, Safe Surfing, and how to handle various situations in the ocean. Or if you know the basics, the more advance lesson is waiting for you. And our surf master Kendrick, Puerto Viejo native, will also give you a little history lesson of the Caribbean culture.

Included: Hotel, Breakfast
Optional: 2 hr Surfing class, $40 per person

Kendrick the surf master

DAY 05: Canopy tour

If you ever wanted to fly this is as close as you can get! With over 2,500 meters of zipline cable, you will soar through the Caribbean jungle and see the world from above.

We will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the first canopy platform. This is the cable that will carry you directly to the heart of the jungle. One of the most spectacular cable on this tour is 285 meters long and 80 meters high.

This tour includes 10 aerial platforms and 12 on land for a total of 2,760 meters of zip lining adventure.

At each platform stop your guide will explain the wonders found in this lush environment. On the last platform, you will have the choice of making a descent by rappelling, by a Tarzan swing or by a zipline cable to the ground. This tour is sooo much fun. 🙂

Afterwards we will take you back to Puerto Viejo.

Included: Hotel, Canopy Tour, Private Transport

Canopy Tour

DAY 06: Indian Reserve Chocolate Process and Waterfall Tour

Today you can go with us to one of the most popular tours in the area.

This is a trip to Bribri Reserve, the biggest indigenous community in the country, where we will visit the Watsi Indian community and witness the chocolate making process.

You will get to see how Watsi live, their houses, habits and medicinal plants. You will see how they make chocolate, and taste it in different stages of the process.

Afterwards, we will go to one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area where after a refreshing swim you can sit behind the waterfall and feel it’s healing power.  And of course, you have to try Coco Loco – fresh coconut with a hole at the top and a mix of coconut water and rum!

Included: Hotel
Optional: Indian Reserve Chocolate Process and Waterfall Tour, $60 per person

Watsi house

DAY 07: Puerto Viejo Free Day

If your last day is Saturday, go and check out the Farmer’s Market in Puerto Viejo.  Here you will find a wide variety of organic vegetables, as well as organic chocolate, raw granola bars, organic juices, and fruits you have never ever seen before nor will you see after this trip.

Afterwards go and visit the Finca La Isla Botanical Gardens a kilometer or two outside of the town. They have over 150 different species of fruit, nut and spice trees, and this is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see poison dart frogs. We can provide transport to there if needed.

Included: Hotel, Breakfast

Finca La Isla

DAY 08: Drive to San José, Juan Santamaria International Airport.

The drive from Puerto Viejo to San Jose will be approximately 4 and half hours. We recommend selecting an afternoon flight back home. Alternatively, spend a rest of the day and the night in San Jose. This is your opportunity to see the capital of Costa Rica. We will provide the accommodation and the ride to the airport tomorrow morning.

Pura Vida!

We hope you had a great time and will come to visit Costa Rica again soon!

Included: Private Transport
Optional: Hotel in San Jose, Breakfast, Transport to the airport

Deposit $500US