We arrived in San Jose and picked up the rental car near the airport. This was the first of things to go wrong on this vacation and yet I still had a great time. I booked my rental with expedia, and I have my own travel car insurance to which they told me could be used there. When I got there the rental place told me that it was not valid and I had to put $5000 USD down. So after no sleep and not eating this sent me into a big anxiety attack. To learn more about how I deal with that click here. After a hour of dealing with that we were on the road to Puerto Viejo. A big thank you to the girls as they were quick to be by my side to see something was wrong, you ladies are the best.
Where I Stayed
So I was planning on dropping the girls off and we would get together a couple of times and I would go do my own thing. This trip was about relaxing and just being with myself. After the anxiety attack and the first night stay I realized I didn’t want to be alone. I was scheduled to stay at Se Ua in Manzanillo about 20 minute drive to Puerto Viejo, but after the first night I wasn’t happy with the place. They told me it was a bed and breakfast and then didn’t offer any food, not even a coffee. I was also told there was hot water, the shower was freezing. Now in the past I have stayed in place without hot water but I plan for that. So I met up with the girls and told them I would join them for the rest of the week. They were super happy as I had a car.
Now this was much better. I loved this place and would stay here again in a heart beat. A small bungalow with 2 bedrooms and a bath, hot water. What I loved the most was the outdoor kitchen and lounge area. It was a short walk from town and safe to walk to at night.
Jaguar Rescue Center
Jaguar Rescue Center is a great place to visit. They opened in 2008 just outside of town and have rescued hundreds of animals. What I loved the most was that the founder. She would have sloths, monkeys and other animals sleep in her room at night so they wouldn’t feel alone. It is very scary for sloths. All the new roads and with Costa Rica getting busier they move very slow and are hit by cars. They also rescue reptiles and you can volunteer here. Very cheap to get in and its worth the tour. If you have more time, maybe think about spending some of your free time here and helping out.
The Secret Spot.
Punta Uva is a great beach, about 15 minutes from Puerto Viejo. They have kayaks and paddle boarding rentals there. But the best kept secret is the cave. If you google it, it doesn’t look like much. But trust me it is beautiful. If you get there on a day that is a little rough, the waves come crashing it. If you hike down the beach to the right of the parking lot to the end you will find a trail. I will have to go back there as I lost my camera on the last day of the trip and the photos of here with it. Take the hike, also remember to look up, you will probably see monkeys in the trees.
Beaches
The beaches in this area are really nice. White sand, fallen palms and swings. There are about 4 really nice ones. Playa Cocles is a great walking beach. Playa Grande is a great place to take pictures. It is about an 8 min driver from Puerto Viejo or about a 45 minute walk. The beaches north of the town are worth walking and with palms lining the beach it is nice to get out of the sun.
Coffee and Food
Two things that I love. Food and Coffee. Hot Rocks Bar & Restaurant was a cute place on the water. Great breakfast and amazing coffee. At night the entertainment was fantastic. Dancing lessons, great music and swings!!
A Blast from the Past
This is such a great place to visit. It is so relaxed. I can see why it is such a hot spot for young and old travelers. It has a Caribbean vibe with Island time service. The other great thing is that they are not in any rush to pump new age things in. Such as the phone, yes they only had one phone in town up till about 2010. I thought this was amazing. They do have wifi, but turn it off, sit back and enjoy everything it has to offer.
