PUERTO VIEJO – COSTA RICA CARIBBEAN EXPERIENCE

Puerto Viejo is a favourite among travelers who enjoy nature and laid back atmosphere. The lovely small village, set among both black and white sand beaches, tropical forest, palm trees and clear waters is paradise for surf lovers from December to April.

by gmlopezo

HIGHLIGHTS

The region shares little in common with the rest of the country, the Southern Caribbean is the heart and soul of Afro-Caribbean community and in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca local inhabitants blend with young surfers, European, American, Latin American expats and visitors from all over the world. Rasta culture, sounds of reggae and calypso come alive in this charming tiny village. An Afro Caribbean community, mainly Jamaicans, settled along the coast by 1800, founding the villages of Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva and Manzanillo. The Southern Caribbean remained isolated from the mainstream Costa Rica until the late seventies, when, by 1979 a road connected Puerto Viejo and Limon and in 1986 electrical network was installed. Internet became available in 2006. As a result of this isolation, the Caribbean region existed independently with a culture and lifestyle of its own. The small town of Puerto Viejo is rated among the top surfing destinations in the world. The rainy season lasts from May to September; calm weather from November through April. The area is humid, incredibly humid, (I never succeeded in totally drying my clothes) and warm. The town has only six dirt-paved streets, and fortunately lacks of the large development of the Pacific Coast, (golf courses, tennis courts, country clubs) the atmosphere is laid-back, with a strong afro-Caribbean vibe, the local residents are friendly and welcome visitors with a great smile. The funky center of the village is full of craft stands, cabinas, bars, restaurants, dogs, and friendly people.