Chef Jimmy attributes his inspiration to his strong Latin background -- being Puerto Rican and Mexican, he familiarized himself with the flavors of both cultures at. Abelardo's The first real steakhouse in Puerto Rico! Offering 10 different cuts of meat plus Australian lobster tail and personable service. Open for lunch from. A Puerto Rican recipe without sofrito is like a day without sunshine. Luckily, Puerto Rican sofrito is SO EASY to make, that 10 minutes of your time will yield you. · In Spanish, ''No me gusta'' means ''I don't like.'' If you are Mexican or Puerto Rican, the phrase is the same. ''I don't like the Mexicans,'' said George.
It is popular with surfers and backpackers. This is an area where foreigners are buying and building. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea.
Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid- back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on the Caribbean Coast, about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers.
Formerly a small fishing village, Puerto Viejo has grown rapidly in recent years. Avid surfers, drawn to the famous Salsa Brava waves, have made Puerto Viejo a hotspot on the surfing circuit. The center of town now has many souvenir and surf shops, bars, restaurants, hotels and tour companies. True to its beach location and Caribbean ambiance, bikes and pedestrians dominate road traffic along the coastal roads. With its blend of Afro- Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures.
Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town’s vibrant roadside. Understand[edit]Before the Spanish arrival, the Bribri, Kekoldi and Cabecar indigenous peoples were the primary inhabitants of Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean. Later, Afro- Caribbean immigrants arrived, many from Jamaica, and settled in the coastal towns of Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva, Manzanillo and Monkey Point. Because of their influence, many Puerto Viejo natives today speak English as their first language. Until the late 1. Puerto Viejo was relatively isolated from the rest of Costa Rica. In 1. 97. 9, a new road connected the small village to San Jose and the Central Valley.
In 1. 98. 6, electricity arrived, supplying light and other important conveniences to the town. Private phone lines became available in 1. Today, Puerto Viejo is as modern as any beach town, though it still retains its original charm.
By bus from San Jose[edit]From San José a bus leaves 4- 5 times a day from Terminal Atlántico Norte (in Barrio México, near another bus terminal called "7- 1. The name of the bus company is Transportes Mepe. Please note: Many people in San José will tell you the bus leaves from Terminal Caribeños, but this is incorrect, this has been changed in 2. The first bus leaves at 6am and the last bus leaves at 4pm and all buses are direct with one pit stop outside of Limón. The price (2. 01.
USD1. 1,- . The ride is approximately 4½ hours, although the voyage can take much longer - especially if you leave during rush hour on a Friday, for example. Make sure you get on the bus to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, not de Sarapiquí which is a different part of the country.
By bus from Limón[edit]If the next direct bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo is sold out, or if you are travelling from Turrialba or another part of Costa Rica, you can take a bus to Limón and transfer there to a Puerto Viejo bus. The Caribeños line have hourly direct buses to Limón from their terminal on Calle Central in San Jose. Once in Limón you must walk a couple of blocks to the other side of the baseball stadium to the MEPE terminal. Pasta With Broccoli. Here you can take a bus to Puerto Viejo or Manzanillo - the Manzanillo bus passes through Puerto Viejo and may be more useful if your accommodation is a little bit south of town - you can ask the driver to stop outside your hotel, saving you on the cost of a taxi. The last bus leaving Limón that will get you directly to Puerto Viejo leaves Limón at 5: 3.
A Sixaola bus will get you to the crossroads 1. Hone Creek) from where you can take a taxi, but only take this bus if there is no bus to either Puerto Viejo or Manzanilla. Driving here is also popular, but roads can be bad as at certain times of the year, the pot holes can get obnoxious. From Bocas del Toro[edit]From Bocas del Toro take a boat to Almirante. From here you can either take a bus to Changuinola (US$1.
US$1), or take a shared taxi direct to the border town of Guabito for $7- 1. After crossing the decommissioned railroad bridge (the border) you will arrive in Sixaola. Be sure to get your exit and entry stamps, then walk down the road a bit and go right, from here you can take a local bus to Puerto Viejo.
Tickets can be paid in US$ or Costa Rican colónes. There are also organised shuttle services which will save you a bit of hassle, but cost you more money (about US$2.
Get around[edit]The bus system is very limited. Busing between the beaches can be very hard with one every 4 hours sometimes. Even a 1. 5 minute taxi ride can be $8, as expensive as most western nations.
Most lodges have bicycles for rent. Taxis hang out in the center of town and will take you anywhere you want to go up and down the coast. When taking a taxi, make sure to negotiate your price ahead of time. Most of the taxi drivers know the area extremely well and can find their way with just the name of your hotel. Downtown is a short drive (if not a brief walk) to the lodging options in Puerto Viejo, so you can find a taxi for only 4$ to get you back to your destination, depending on the distance. Tropical forest surrounds the village and palm trees line the beach, adding to Puerto Viejo’s natural beauty.
Travelers can glimpse spectacular wildlife in Cahuita National Park or the Gandoca- Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, which border the town to its north and south, respectively. Just south of Puerto Viejo, visitors will discover the sublime beaches of Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. The main road between the villages is now paved, and almost perfectly flat - perfect for cycling.
Beachfront cabins, restaurants and shops line the street almost all the way to Manzanillo. There is no shortage of accommodations in the area; numerous budget hostels cater to surfers and young backpackers, while posh resorts offer comfort and luxury along with impressive ocean views. Black and white sand beaches extend for miles; they are wide and often deserted, offering stretches ideal for walking and sunbathing.