I discovered a beautiful and tranquil destination in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
The majority of my time was spent walking around the town’s main road and getting acquainted with various restaurants. Shopping was out of the question, as the streets were lined with overpriced boutiques. I’m talking, $78 USD for a solid color dress made of possibly linen, but probably polyester. The prices were shocking to me! I know that beach towns are known for being pricy, but this was something I hadn’t seen before. The entire time I was there I kept wondering, where do the locals shop at? Surely, they’re not paying these prices. I’ve learned that if you’re outside of the US and see prices in dollars, RUN.
Retail prices and an overabundance of tourists didn’t stop me from enjoying Puerto Viejo. Most days, I was soaking up the sun on one of the many beaches. And because the hostel had a pool, I lounged there several afternoons. My favorite beach was Playa Chiquita. I biked just under 4 miles to reach it, and it was absolutely worth it. There weren’t too many people, so finding a private place to relax was easy. Playa Negra was one of my other favorites because of the black sand. I read that the sand takes its color from volcanic ash. Apparently its also magnetic!
Although the town is small, the people know how to have a lively party. I went to a reggae night at one of the main restaurants and had so much fun! Initially I was nervous because I would be going alone and it wasn’t guaranteed if I would meet anyone. Thankfully I did. Funnily enough she was a California girl too. The dj was spinning all night and entrance to the place was Free.99. You can’t beat that!
Making friends with locals was one of the highlights of my trip. The locals showed me some of the best areas in town and recommended where to go and how to get there. One place being, Cahuita National Park. A friend I made in the hostel went with me. My American brain didn’t realize that 18 km (11 miles) meant we had a long trek ahead of us. But just like the trip to the beach, this journey was also worthwhile. We saw huge spiders, hermit crabs, raccoons, a sloth, and devious monkeys. The beach was there as well so we got to enjoy that. The highlight was seeing a sloth high up in the trees. If I were to go again, I would pay for the tour guide. They had these large scopes, that I can only assume are another version of telescopes, that help you to spot wildlife easier.
Overall, Puerto Viejo was a beautiful destination that I am happy to have experienced. To sum up the place, it exuded relaxation with just a dash of adventure. While I cannot say that it was my favorite destination, I wouldn’t mind returning. It seemed like I had just started to make friends with the locals at the end of my trip. And if I’ve learned anything from life and travel in general, it’s that nine times out of ten, it’s the people and not the place that make for a wonderful experience. As they say in Costa Rica, pura vida.
What travel destinations have you discovered that offer the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation?
