Beaches of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Looking for a perfect getaway for you and your children? Costa Rica’s Puerto Viejo is the perfect place. For those living in areas where the winter drags itself, a trip to Costa Rica is a perfect family holiday destination. It’s characterized by clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and fresh fruits and fish. The Caribbean coasts are less crowded as compared to Pacific ones. However, they are less developed. The tiny beach of Puerto Viejo is rich in Costa Rican experience and has luxurious golf courses that you are trying to get a grip of back at home.

How to get there

To get there, you will fly to San Jose. San Jose is a town right in the middle of the country. This means that you will have to hitch a ride to Puerto Viejo. You can take a bus or book a spot in one of the shuttle companies that ferry people to the location. It all narrows down to your preference. The buses are cheaper but crowded. You can book your spot in the shuttles online, which is quite easier.

Accommodation

Once you are there, the best accommodations for you and your children are spacious hostels that are available in every corner of the beach. Although there are rooms in the beachside bars and private rooms in the rainforests, hostels are cheaper. Not only are you going to save, but you are also going to interact with other like-minded travelers. You can also use the money to stretch your vacation. Once again you can book your rooms online and they can be reserved for you and your children.

The activities

There are plenty of activities that you can engage in during your vacation in Puerto Viejo. Surfing is among the most common activities that attracts surfers from all over the world. Puerto Viejo is regarded as the home to Salsa Brava. This is a common sport for experienced surfers. If you are not experienced, you can surf on the other beaches around. You can also tour and see the wildlife around the beach. You can see crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, sloth, and deer. There are trained tour guides that will take you around and show you the animals. You only need to pay an entry fee of $20.

Other than surfing, you can also take a hike. For those who do not like spending much time in the water, you can take a hike to the meandering paths of Puerto Viejo. Early morning is the appropriate time to take the walks. The afternoons can be muggy especially with the midday sun. If you oversleep and don’t get a chance to take the hike, you can enjoy the nightlife of the city. There are small bars that are opened at night. You can also listen to the sweet Caribbean reggae music. There are also cinema halls where children can enjoy the cool Frieza figure in dragon balls.

The cuisines

One of the best parts of the vacation is enjoying the foreign cuisines. If you come from the city, nothing beats like enjoying the Caribbean cuisine around the beaches. The dishes in Puerto Viejo are simple and are referred to as Casado. The Casado is typically a plate of rice, salad, and proteins. The meal is prepared using simple ingredients such as spices and vegetables. One of the best places to grab your Casado is La Parada, especially after a six-hour ride from San Jose. For only $4 you can get yourself a plate of rice, beans, salad, and Caribbean chicken.

This cafe is also well known for tasty breakfast and is more like what is in the United States. It’s known for its freshly baked desserts and chocolates. French toasts, sandwiches, and waffles make chocolate and bread the best meal to kick off your morning. The breakfast is served with coffee that is made from local beans. For those who love seafood, Mopri is the place to go. It serves shrimps, mussel, and octopus. If you are out early enough, you can see fishermen selling out their catches to the restaurant.

Damien Justus writes in the business, home improvement and real estate spaces, and is very passionate about health, cooking, diet plans and anything that has to do with staying fit.