On Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, reggae beats mingle with jungle dawn choruses. The region’s story runs from Afro‑Caribbean heritage and cacao plantations to protected reefs and sea-turtle strongholds. In a week, you can taste homemade Caribbean curries, paddle glassy canals at sunrise, and swim above coral gardens where angelfish flash neon.

Base yourself in two places for the best rhythm: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for beaches and cuisine, then Tortuguero for wildlife and waterways. Puerto Viejo is a colorful seaside town near Cahuita National Park and the palm‑fringed coves of Cocles, Playa Chiquita, and Punta Uva. Tortuguero is boat‑only—no cars, just canals, forest, and the Caribbean Sea.

Practical notes: the Caribbean side is warm and humid year‑round, with frequent short showers. Turtle nesting in Tortuguero peaks roughly July–October; hatchlings emerge August–November (tours are strictly regulated). Bring reef‑safe sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash (ATMs are scarce in Tortuguero). Driving is possible, but shuttles and boats keep things easy.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Puerto Viejo is the coast’s cultural hub—rustic beach shacks serving coconut‑milk rice and beans, bikes rolling along jungle lanes, and surf breaks curling over coral. Mornings mean strong coffee and cacao pastries, afternoons bring lazy beach-hopping, and nights sparkle with live music and Caribbean spices.

• Top sights: Cocles, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Cahuita National Park, Gandoca‑Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
• Food scene: Afro‑Caribbean classics (try rondon stew), fresh Caribbean seafood, inventive veggie spots, and Italian kitchens powered by expats.
• Fun fact: Cacao shaped the region—older folks still talk varietals the way sommeliers talk wine.

Stay: Browse stays near Cocles/Playa Chiquita for quiet nights and easy beach access: VRBO – Puerto Viejo | Hotels.com – Puerto Viejo

Getting there: Fly into San José (SJO) then take a 4.5–5.5 hr shared shuttle ($60–75 pp) or rental car via Route 32 + 36. Search flights: Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights.

Featured activities around Puerto Viejo:

- Punta Uva’s glass‑clear waters by transparent kayak (great visibility, gentle currents).

Clear Kayak Tour at Punta Uva (2–2.5 hrs; ~$55–65)

- Snorkel Cahuita’s reef with a coastal rainforest hike—two ecosystems in one outing.

Snorkeling! & Cahuita National Park Private Sightseeing Tours (half‑day; ~$80–110)

- Meet Bribri hosts to learn cacao’s story from bean to ceremonial drink.

Chocolate Experience by Bribri Indigenous Culture (half‑day; ~$65–90)

Day 1: Arrive in Costa Rica, Settle into Puerto Viejo

Morning: Fly into San José (SJO). For best routing and fares, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Afternoon: Shared shuttle to Puerto Viejo (4.5–5.5 hrs, $60–75 pp). Check in near Cocles or Playa Chiquita for quieter nights. Stretch your legs on Playa Cocles; lifeguards monitor the main flagged area.

Evening: Dinner at KOKi Beach for Caribbean lobster or ginger‑lime whole fish and a house ginger ale. For a locals’ classic, try Soda Lidia’s Place—order rondon (seafood stew in coconut broth) and patacones with pico de gallo. Nightcap with a passion‑fruit mojito at Tasty Waves Cantina (Taco Tuesday is a scene).

Day 2: Beaches & Clear Kayak at Punta Uva

Morning: Breakfast at Bread & Chocolate—cacao French toast or the Caribbean omelet, plus potent coffee. Cycle south to Playa Chiquita’s pocket coves, then to Punta Uva’s calm bay.

Afternoon: Paddle the Clear Kayak Tour at Punta Uva; the transparent hull makes it easy to spot rays and schools of sergeant majors. If seas are choppy, guides often switch to a calm river mouth for wildlife spotting.

Evening: Dinner at La Pecora Nera (hand‑rolled pasta and slow‑braised ragù; reservations recommended). Prefer seaside grills? Head to Selvin’s in Punta Uva for whole snapper, grilled plantains, and a cold Imperial under the palms.

Day 3: Cahuita National Park—Reef & Rainforest

Morning: Light breakfast at Pan Pay Bakery (guava pastries, ham‑and‑cheese croissants), then 30–40 min north to Cahuita. Join the Cahuita Snorkeling & Park Tour to swim above brain coral and fan gardens; reef conditions depend on swell—guides choose the clearest coves.

Afternoon: After snorkeling, walk the flat coastal trail (howler monkeys, sloths, basilisk lizards). Cahuita’s Kelly Creek entrance operates on a suggested donation (carry small bills). Lunch at Restaurante Sobre las Olas—prawns in coconut curry with sea views.

Evening: Back in Puerto Viejo, catch live music at Lazy Mon while digging into spicy jerk chicken or veggie burritos. For dessert, grab a slice of coconut pie from Bread & Chocolate to go.

Day 4: Bribri Culture & Waterfalls

Morning: Fuel up at Puerto&Co (smoothie bowls, cold‑brew) or a simple gallo pinto at Soda Johanna in Cocles. Set out for the Chocolate Experience by Bribri Indigenous Culture—learn to roast, grind, and temper cacao the traditional way and hear stories of forest medicine.

Afternoon: Cool off at Volio Waterfall near Bribri (if included with your tour or with a local guide; roads can be rough after rain). Return via Playa Negra for a late swim.

Evening: Dinner crawl: start with ceviche and patacones at Tamara, then Caribbean curry at Soda Lidia’s Place. Finish with gelato at De Gustibus and a quiet stroll along the beach road.

Tortuguero

Tortuguero is Costa Rica’s “small Amazon”—a village between ocean and canals, where boats replace cars and wildlife rules the day. Dawn brings herons and kingfishers; dusk belongs to caimans and the rustle of night monkeys.

• Top sights: Tortuguero National Park canals, Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum, long empty beach (no swimming—strong currents).
• Special seasons: Green turtle nesting (approx. Jul–Oct) with hatching Aug–Nov; leatherbacks nest south of here in Gandoca (Mar–Jul).
• Good to know: ATMs are limited; bring cash for park fees (~$16 pp) and small eateries.

Stay: Choose a canal‑front lodge with a dock for sunrise tours: VRBO – Tortuguero | Hotels.com – Tortuguero

Getting there from Puerto Viejo: Shared shuttle (2–3 hrs) to La Pavona dock, then public boat to Tortuguero (1–1.5 hrs; ~$4–10, small fee for luggage). Total 4–5 hrs depending on connections. Alternatively, a long boat from Moín near Limón (3.5–4.5 hrs; ~$35–50) cruises the full canal system.

Featured activity in Tortuguero:

- Quiet paddling at first light maximizes wildlife sightings—monkeys, caimans, toucans, and more.

Canoe Tour in Tortuguero National Park (2–3 hrs; ~$30–45)

Day 5: Puerto Viejo to Tortuguero, Village Stroll

Morning: Light breakfast (pan de coco at Pan Pay), then shuttle to La Pavona for the jungle boat to Tortuguero. Keep cameras handy—riverbanks teem with iguanas and kingfishers.

Afternoon: Check in and explore the village on foot: Sea Turtle Conservancy’s small museum gives superb context for the park’s conservation milestones. Browse artisan stalls for cacao nibs and handmade soaps.

Evening: Dinner at Ms Junie’s—order the Caribbean fish in coconut milk with yuca. If in nesting season, join a regulated night turtle‑watching tour (book through your lodge; no photos, red lights only).

Day 6: Sunrise Canoe & Rainforest Trails

Morning: Slip out at first light for the Tortuguero Canoe Tour; paddling (or a quiet electric motor) lets you hear howler monkeys before you see them. Binoculars help with herons, jacanas, and toucans.

Afternoon: After breakfast, hike a flat jungle trail inside the park (rubber boots if muddy). Watch for Jesus Christ lizards sprinting across puddles. Lunch on the canal at Budda Café—brick‑oven pizza or fresh mahi‑mahi with basil and lime.

Evening: Sunset on the beach (no swimming) and dinner at Soda Doña María for hearty casados and fried plantains. Early to bed—the jungle’s night symphony is your lullaby.

Day 7: Boat Out & Fly Home

Morning: Early boat back to La Pavona; shuttle transfer to SJO. Plan return flights 5:00 pm or later for comfort. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Afternoon: Airport‑area lunch if time allows; pack any remaining cacao and hot sauce (double‑bag for leaks). Check in early—tropical downpours can slow road traffic.

Evening: Fly home with sand in your bag and the sound of howlers in your head.

Budget & tips: Meals: $8–12 for sodas (local diners); $18–35 at midrange restaurants. Park fees: Tortuguero ~$16; Cahuita suggests a donation at Kelly Creek entrance. Taxis between Puerto Viejo beaches are $6–12; bike rentals ~$8–12/day. Carry cash in Tortuguero; card acceptance varies.

This one‑week Caribbean Costa Rica itinerary balances movement and ease: beach‑coasting in Puerto Viejo, canal mornings in Tortuguero, and a generous helping of cacao and coconut. You’ll return with brighter photos, keener wildlife eyes, and a fondness for the region’s slow, sun‑salty rhythm.