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Spend 4 days exploring the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Why the Caribbean Coast?

Costa Rica has become a popular destination for many types of travelers. Unfortunately, a large majority of them skip the east coast and only visit the Guanacaste area. Although the west coast is full of beauty and adventure, it is not the only spot worth exploring in Costa Rica. Here is a guide to exploring the Caribbean side of Costa Rica!

Before booking your trip, be sure to determine your budget and shop around for the cheapest deals. My favorite tools to always keep travel affordable and within budget can be found here. Costa Rica is a moderately affordable country. It is more expensive compared to other Central American countries, but it is doable for even those on the tightest budgets.

Fast Facts & Tips:

As an American citizen, you are able to visit Costa Rica visa-free for 180 days.

San Jose is the capital and largest airport in Costa Rica.

Be sure to pack reef-safe sunscreen.

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, bring a zoom lens to capture some of it.

In 1949, Costa Rica abolished their army and has had no military since then.

Costa Rica has one of the five Blue Zones, where most people live over 100 years old!

About 98% of Costa Rica’s electricity is produced by renewable sources.

Pura Vida is a common saying, and a good reminder to slow down and live in the moment.

Here are places to stay:

Here are restaurants to add to your itinerary:

Here are activities to add to your itinerary:

Day 1:

Arrive in San Jose, or Limon if you can find affordable flights, and pick up a rental car. Make your way to the Caribbean coast south of Limon to Punta Uva. Here will be your home base during your stay. Punta Uva has some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Located between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo, you are in the perfect spot for experiencing this side of the country.

Driving from San Jose to Punta Uva is about 3-4 hours on Google Maps but prepare for “Pura Vida”! It actually took at least 6 hours to drive there. Time moves differently in Costa Rica, so slow down and enjoy the beautiful drive.

The drive from Limon to Punta Uva is only about 1-1.5 hours, so I recommend flying into Limon if you’d like a shorter drive. Flights tend to be more expensive here since it is a smaller airport.

Since you will spend most of the day driving, plan to arrive for dinner. Drop off your luggage and freshen up once you arrive. There are many great spots to eat in the area. On day 1, we ate at Pura Gula Restaurante. The food was good and the place had a cute vibe. Since arrival was after 8 pm, choices for restaurants were limited but we enjoyed stopping here.

Places to stay:

We stayed at Ita Ita Casitas and had a fabulous time. Located steps away from the beautiful beaches of Punta Uva, this was a very authentic place to stay. If you are looking for a luxury stay with all the amenities – this may not be for you. This stay is perfect for individuals or families who love to camp or stay in cabins. It also includes cooking space on the porch, so if you prefer cooking during your stay this is the place for you!

Budget:

Ita Ita Casitas

Mid-Range:

KANIK Apart Hotel

Luxury:

awa Beachfront Hotel

Day 2:

After a good night’s rest, wake up to the howling monkeys and many birds, then take a walk along the beach. Then head back to the casita and get ready for the day! Start your morning with a visit to the Jaguar Rescue Center.

This animal sanctuary is a temporary, sometimes permanent, home for animals who are injured, ill, or orphaned. They provide care to a variety of animals found in Costa Rica including sloths, monkeys, birds, and reptiles. They also fund and serve many different projects to protect wildlife in their habitats. In 2025, they rescued 1429 animals and 41% were released back to the wild. The remaining animals are either still at the center or have succumbed to their illness or injuries.

Costa Rica makes up a small amount of Earth’s land, but accounts for about 6% of Earth’s biodiversity. Not only is the rescue important, but they also know that prevention is key in protecting the wildlife in Costa Rica. JRC has also worked to update electrical infrastructure in the country, as electrocution is a common cause of injury to wildlife. They have also installed multiple wildlife canopy bridges to help wildlife cross the roads safely.

After the tour, grab lunch at a local soda before heading back to the beach. Spend the afternoon in the ocean or lounging on the beach. Then, head to Puerto Viejo to explore, eat, and shop.

For dinner, we chose Cafe Viejo Restaurante Pizzeria. Here they have wonderful pizza and homemade pasta. I had the tortellini al salmone affumicato and it was delicious! I also tried the pizza, and it was great. Walk around town and do some shopping before grabbing ice cream at 7 Ice Cream in Puerto Viejo. Finally, head back to the hotel for the night.

Day 3:

Personally, my favorite day filled with the most adventure! I enjoyed learning about a new culture. Grab breakfast in Puerto Viejo at Port Vell Restaurante CR before heading to your tour for the day.

Culture

Today is all about a prominent indigenous culture in Costa Rica, the Bribri people. Their culture is deeply tied to nature and tradition. They believe that cacao is sacred and that cacao was the wife of God, which has led to a matriarchal structure. Lineage passes through the mother, as well as land ownership and the ability to prepare sacred cacao.

The tour we chose was with The Bush Doctah Herbalist. This tour includes a medicinal plant tour and sacred cacao ceremony with an indigenous Bribri shaman elder. The only way to book this tour is via WhatsApp and to pay with cash after the tour. Prepare to have minimal phone service where the tour is located. Because of this, it can be challenging to find the location on Google Maps with the shared location.

After parking along the road in the driveway area, protect yourself with bug spray before hiking uphill to the elder’s home. Meet abuelo and his wife, learn about all the medicinal plants they use, prepare cacao and have a sacred cacao ceremony in the ceremonial building. This 4-hour tour was an incredible experience and provided so much information about the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica and how special their culture is.

Nature

After saying goodbye, head north to spend the rest of the afternoon at Cahuita National Park. Walk along the boardwalk and spot different wildlife, including some playful capuchin monkeys. Prepare for some of the beaches to be closed due to dangerous water conditions. There are many hiking paths, if you have additional time on your trip. The park closes at 4:30 pm, so time is limited when combined with the indigenous tour.

Head back to Puerto Viejo for dinner and catch sunset on the beach in town. It is a popular spot for tourists, so the beach is full of many people swimming, sunbathing, or playing beach volleyball. They also have a gym area for those looking to workout on the beach! For dinner, we ate at Sol de Caribe and it was one of my favorites during the entire trip. If you are looking for great Caribbean food, be sure to stop here!

To end a fun-filled day, I had an astrology reading at Ita Ita Casitas with the owner. This was a fun and unique experience where she assessed many different types of astrology and put it into a spreadsheet to provide a bigger picture about myself. They offer several different experiences like this, so be sure to book something during your stay.

Day 4:

Today make the long trek back to San Jose if this is your departure city. Again, prepare for 6 hours of driving. We stopped for breakfast in Puerto Viejo at Cafe Rico. This cafe is a vibe, and there are books to read or exchange here as well!

Take time to make any stops along the way to San Jose, such as Limon if you want to stop in town. Or even plan to spend the evening exploring San Jose! Grab dinner in San Jose before going to your hotel for the night.

Summery

If you are looking for a unique part of Costa Rica, look no further than the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Plan to spend at least 4 days exploring this region. My favorite part of the trip was getting to learn about the indigenous Bribri culture and experience a sacred cacao ceremony. This community resides on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Be sure to visit the Jaguar Rescue Center and learn about the incredible work they are doing to protect the country’s wildlife. Finally, be sure to follow Wander Where Nxt on all platforms to get the latest travel tips and education!