Fall in Love With the Caribbean

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

On the surface, reggae music, bonfires and Bob Marley paraphernalia dominate the bustling beach town of Puerto Viejo. Bars, clubs and discotheques can be found on nearly every corner, boasting the best guaro or happy hour cocktails while locals lay out their handmade Rasta knick knacks for hoards of tourists ready to have a good night out.

However, the party atmosphere isn’t all you can find in Puerto Viejo. Stray a little off the main road and you’ll wander into quiet local neighborhoods filled with colorful Caribbean houses. Head towards the beaches and the music changes from resonant reggaeton to a symphony of cicadas, birds and monkeys. Your neighbors are no longer rowdy backpackers but snoozing sloths and flitting toucans.

To truly experience the beauty of this popular town known as Old Harbor, you need to peel back the unruly layers and explore beyond what’s offered on the main street. Don’t visit with a strict agenda either, the best way to…