Things to do beyond the gate

Medicinal & Edible Plant Class

At the house

The house’s own two-hour garden tour: tropical fruit, roots, herbs, medicinal plants, backyard chickens. Wednesdays & Saturdays at 10 AM or by appointment.

Cahuita National Park

Cahuita, ~25 km north

A coastal trail through the forest, white-sand beaches and the most developed coral reefs of Costa Rica’s Caribbean, co-managed with the local community.

The owner: “guaranteed to see lots of wildlife.”

Two entrances: Playa Blanca (by Cahuita town, voluntary contribution) and Puerto Vargas (fixed fee). SINAC recommends a local guide; the owners note snorkelling on the protected reef is done with a guide. No single-use plastics, pets or alcohol.

Jaguar Rescue Center

Between Cocles and Playa Chiquita, on the coast road

A wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre with guided public tours in English and Spanish. No touching the animals — it’s against Costa Rican law.

Heads-up from the owner: you won’t see any jaguars.

Online tickets are sold in advance on the centre’s site; the Manzanillo bus stops right outside.

Ara Manzanillo

~12 km down the coast road toward Manzanillo

A non-profit reintroducing the critically endangered great green macaw since 2010, with guided visits from an observation deck.

Guided visits by reservation only.

Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

From Manzanillo village

Forest, reef and nesting beaches for leatherback, loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles, stretching from the Cocles river to the Sixaola.

Finca La Isla

Puerto Viejo area

A botanical garden, plant nursery and permaculture farm the owner recommends for rare tropical fruit, with guided or self-guided visits.

We couldn’t confirm current opening details online — ask the hosts before you go.

Cacao Huasi (formerly Talamanca Chocolate)

Downtown Puerto Viejo, a short walk from the beach

A tree-to-bar chocolate house and Caribbean restaurant: hands-on bean-to-bar chocolate classes, farm tours and the hot chocolate the owners rave about.

The owner: “If I only had 24 hours in Puerto Viejo I would definitely make time for a visit.”

Caribeans Coffee & Chocolate

Playa Cocles, a few steps from the beach

Family-run café since 2007. Its chocolate tour is a short hike up through the cacao forest, a bean-to-bar demo and a tasting.

Moderate hike with some elevation. The operator says no reservation is needed — sign up on the day.

Rice & beans, patí, rondón

Sodas and food carts all over town

Coconut-milk rice and beans with Caribbean chicken, spicy beef patí pastries and rondón — the hearty coconut seafood stew. The owner’s rule: you can’t leave Puerto Viejo without trying all three.

Her picks include Cocomar Comida Caribeña, Soda Paradise, McCloud’s Munchies, Soda Riquisimo and Roly Caribbean Food.

Markets & groceries

Downtown Puerto Viejo

Stock the house kitchen: the Saturday-morning farmers’ market at the Multicentro, the daily “Mercadito” fruit-and-veg stand by the bridge from Playa Negra, and roadside fruit all the way to Manzanillo.

Nativo

Nativo Park, near Puerto Viejo

Canopy ziplining, a canyoning-style jungle adventure (rappels, suspension bridges, a Tarzan swing), plus nature, birding and night walks.

The Coconut Trail

Starts on the beach by Salsa Brava, downtown

The old coastal footpath towards Cocles, Playa Chiquita and beyond, with swimming holes along the way. From the house: go to the beach at the end of the road, turn right and keep hugging the coastline.

The owner: “I see sloths and monkeys almost every time I go.”

Cycle the coast road

Puerto Viejo → Cocles → Chiquita → Punta Uva → Manzanillo

Rent a bike in town and beach-hop the whole coast in a day. The road is flat apart from two easy hills; about 1.5 h each way to Manzanillo.

Plan the ride home before dark — it’s dark by 6 PM all year.

ATEC

Office in downtown Puerto Viejo

A non-profit, community-run ecotourism association with dozens of tours led by local guides, including visits to Indigenous Bribri territory and overnight trips into the Gandoca-Manzanillo refuge.

The owner’s number one recommendation for booking tours — especially to Indigenous territory.

Bribri waterfalls

Roadside on the way to Bribri

Take a bus toward Bribri, hop off at the house with the “Sparkling Waterfalls” sign, pay the small entrance there and follow an easy path down. The biggest fall, on the left, empties into a swimming lagoon.

No official website — ask the hosts for current access tips.