Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Encyclopedia
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a coastal town in the Talamanca Canton in Limón Province
. The town is located in southeastern Costa Rica
. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is known simply as Puerto Viejo to locals. A town in northeastern Costa Rica is also commonly known as Puerto Viejo; this fact can confuse visitors. Buses leaving the same San José
terminal for either Puerto Viejo will simply display the destination "Puerto Viejo".
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a popular destination for all types of tourists. It is known worldwide in the surfing community for the biggest and most powerful wave in Costa Rica, known as: "Salsa Brava". It is also home to beautiful beaches, such as Playa Chiquita, Playa Negra, and Punta Uva, which are a few of Costa Rica's most spectacular beaches which can be found between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. Manzanillo is a popular location for kayaking and is 13 km (8 mi) south along the beach. Nearby is the popular Jaguar Rescue Centre
.
Many tourists stop in Puerto Viejo en route to the Panama
nian border at Sixaola
. This border crossing is popular with people going to/from Bocas del Toro
. Puerto Viejo offers the closest accommodations, restaurants, and services to the border. The small border towns of Sixaola
and Guabito, Panama
are 49 km (30 mi) south of Puerto Viejo. The border towns have no accommodations or restaurants. Tourists need only stop at Costa Rican and Panamanian customs. Changuinola, Panama
offers accommodations, restaurants, and services about 10 km (6 mi) away from the border.
The townspeople are made up of Ticos and Ticas (native Costa Ricans), a substantial Jamaican population, as well as a number of Europeans who have emigrated to the area.
The outskirts of town and the mountains are home to the Bribri
Indians. The famous Howler monkey
is native to the region.
Limón Province
Limón is one of seven provinces in Costa Rica. The majority of its territory is situated in the country's Caribbean lowlands, though the southwestern portion houses part of an extensive mountain range known as the Cordillera de Talamanca...
. The town is located in southeastern Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is known simply as Puerto Viejo to locals. A town in northeastern Costa Rica is also commonly known as Puerto Viejo; this fact can confuse visitors. Buses leaving the same San José
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
terminal for either Puerto Viejo will simply display the destination "Puerto Viejo".
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a popular destination for all types of tourists. It is known worldwide in the surfing community for the biggest and most powerful wave in Costa Rica, known as: "Salsa Brava". It is also home to beautiful beaches, such as Playa Chiquita, Playa Negra, and Punta Uva, which are a few of Costa Rica's most spectacular beaches which can be found between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. Manzanillo is a popular location for kayaking and is 13 km (8 mi) south along the beach. Nearby is the popular Jaguar Rescue Centre
Jaguar Rescue Centre
The Jaguar Rescue Centre is an animal rescue centre located near Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in the Limón Province of Costa Rica. The centre is dedicated to the rehabilitation of mistreated, injured, orphaned, and/or confiscated animals. Once the animals are fully rehabilitated, they are...
.
Many tourists stop in Puerto Viejo en route to the Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
nian border at Sixaola
Sixaola
This article is about the town of Sixaola. For the river, see Rio Sixaola.Sixaola is a small town in the Talamanca Canton of Limón Province, Costa Rica. The town is located on the Rio Sixaola , which forms the Costa Rica-Panama border. Highway 36 ends in Sixaola. Sixaola is right across the river...
. This border crossing is popular with people going to/from Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro Province
Bocas del Toro is a province of Panama. Its extension is 4,643.9 square kilometers comprising the mainland and nine main islands. The province consists of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Bahía Almirante , Laguna de Chiriquí , and adjacent mainland. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro on Isla...
. Puerto Viejo offers the closest accommodations, restaurants, and services to the border. The small border towns of Sixaola
Sixaola
This article is about the town of Sixaola. For the river, see Rio Sixaola.Sixaola is a small town in the Talamanca Canton of Limón Province, Costa Rica. The town is located on the Rio Sixaola , which forms the Costa Rica-Panama border. Highway 36 ends in Sixaola. Sixaola is right across the river...
and Guabito, Panama
Guabito
Guabito is a town in the Changuinola District of the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama. Guabito is a small town located directly across the Rio Sixaola from Sixaola, Costa Rica. An elevated former railroad grade and bridge connect Guabito to Sixaola. This border crossing is popular with tourists...
are 49 km (30 mi) south of Puerto Viejo. The border towns have no accommodations or restaurants. Tourists need only stop at Costa Rican and Panamanian customs. Changuinola, Panama
Changuinola
-Transportation:Changuinola is accessible by air, land, or sea. Visitors can fly into Captain Manuel Nino International Airport from Panama City and Bocas del Toro. Direct flights from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are not available. Airlines may include , Aeroplas, Air Panama, and Nature Air...
offers accommodations, restaurants, and services about 10 km (6 mi) away from the border.
The townspeople are made up of Ticos and Ticas (native Costa Ricans), a substantial Jamaican population, as well as a number of Europeans who have emigrated to the area.
The outskirts of town and the mountains are home to the Bribri
Bribri
The Bribri are an indigenous tribe from Costa Rica. They live in the Talamanca Canton in Limón Province of Costa Rica. They speak the Bribri language and Spanish. There are varying estimates of the population of the tribe. According to a census by the Ministerio de Salud, there are 11,500 Bribri...
Indians. The famous Howler monkey
Howler monkey
Howler monkeys are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Fifteen species are currently recognised. Previously classified in the family Cebidae, they are now placed in the family Atelidae. These monkeys are native to South and Central American forests...
is native to the region.