Yes, Puerto Viejo is safe for tourist visits. However, you have to be street-smart by not walking alone at night or displaying your valuables in public places like the beach. Because, just as with other beach towns, the common crime is petty theft and pickpocketing. So it is advisable to always be alert and not leave your valuables unattended, especially in a crowded place like a beach, market, or tourist site.
Before visiting Puerto Viejo, I read quite a few articles online. Most were not nice; however, the beautiful pictures of the beaches and tropical rainforest would not let me cancel Puerto Viejo from my Costa Rica tour itinerary.
So I took a step of faith alongside my husband, and we headed for the Caribbean coast when we arrived here, contrary to the terrible speculations of high crime rates and so on.
We found Puerto Viejo to be safe and the locals were very friendly. We did not witness any crime, theft, or harassment throughout our stay, but that does not mean we did not play our part in keeping our valuables in our hotel lock safe, made sure we had our rental car always locked and stayed out of certain areas in the dark.
In this article, I have written all you need to know about how safe Puerto Viejo is for tourists.
Key Takeaways
- Puerto Viejo is a safe place to visit in Costa Rica. However, remember to stay vigilant and alert at all times.
- The weather is okay, and there are few cases of malaria, dengue fever, or any airborne disease.
- Do not travel to Puerto Viejo at night for your safety. The distance is 5 hours from San Jose International Airport. I advise you to sleep over and travel the next day.
- Learn a little Spanish to make the communication easy, or better yet, use Google Translate.
- Consider your hygiene before eating at a restaurant or drinking any liquid at all.
Brief Overview and General Safety of Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo is a small surf town on the Caribbean Coast, Limón province, in southeastern Costa Rica. It is well known for its pristine white-sand and black-sand beaches, lush tropical rainforest, varied wildlife, laid-back Caribbean culture, and reggae atmosphere.
The closest international airport to Puerto Viejo is Juan Santamaria International Airport in the capital city, San Jose, while the nearest domestic airport is the one in Limón City.
A five-hour drive from the San Jose International Airport will get you to Puerto Viejo. However, you can take an hour of domestic flight from San Jose to the airport in Limón City and drive an hour from there to Puerto Viejo town.
Puerto Viejo is quite famous; however, it is not as touristy as other towns in Costa Rica. You can still feel the authentic Puerto Viejo vibe of this surf town, unlike other surf towns like Tamarindo, where there are too many foreigners and tourists.
Generally, Puerto Viejo is safe to walk alone in the streets during the day; however, avoid walking alone at night for your safety because most of the roads in Puerto Viejo are poorly lit, and because of this, bad people can lay an ambush and hurt you.
Transportation Safety
Puerto Viejo was once isolated due to poor road conditions, which made it difficult and risky for tourists to visit. The unpaved, narrow, and dirt-filled roads also attracted criminal activity. However, the Costa Rican government intervened and improved the major road leading to Puerto Viejo, significantly enhancing safety and accessibility. This development not only connected Puerto Viejo to the rest of Costa Rica but also brought a surge of tourists to the charming surf town.
Currently, the road to Puerto Viejo is safe to travel on, though drivers should be cautious of slight potholes when coming from the city of Limón. Within the town, the streets are poorly lit at night, so it’s advisable to avoid walking alone after dark.
When it comes to local transportation, Puerto Viejo differs from other areas in Costa Rica due to the prevalence of privately owned, unlicensed taxis. It is crucial to use reliable taxi companies, like Caribe Shuttle for safe rides. Always negotiate and agree on the fare before entering a taxi, and avoid leaving your luggage or valuables unattended.
I prefer using a bicycle to get around Puerto Viejo. The town is small, and most attractions are within short, walkable distances. Upon arrival, you’ll notice that many locals and tourists opt for bicycles as their primary mode of transportation.
Overall, public transportation to Puerto Viejo and getting around the town is safe, with a few precautions to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience.
Food and Water Safety
In Puerto Viejo, both food and water are safe for consumption. The food here is very tasty, fresh, healthy, and filled with natural flavors, like coconut milk, vegetables, and so on. You can try the casados with coconut flavors. You will love it.
Comparing the hygiene of the food here to other places I’ve visited in Costa Rica, I would say Puerto Viejo beats other areas hands down.
The water, too, as with other parts of the country, is safe to drink. However, I would advise you to come along with a reusable water bottle that has a water filter to further filter the water before drinking.
That is, if you have a very sensitive stomach like mine, you find yourself purging easily because your body reacts to everything you take into your stomach faster in case there is a tiny trace of germs anywhere. Regardless, just come with a reusable water bottle with a filter to be on the safe side.
Accommodation Safety
There are quite a number of accommodation options in Puerto Viejo, from Airbnb apartments to luxury hotels like Namu Garden hotels and Umani hotels. And they are very safe to live in.
My husband and I lodged in one of the luxury hotels in town, and all through our stay, we felt safe and comfortable.
There was no case of theft, burglary, harassment, animals like snakes crawling in, and so on. Everything was perfect and enjoyable.
However, I cannot say the same for other accommodation options, even though I did not hear of any robbery incidents from tourists who chose to stay in rental apartments.
Here is my advice for you: if you are a first-timer, I recommend lodging in a hotel room for at least the first three days of your visit, and if you want to move to other rental apartments, then you can.
At least by then, you should know the ins and outs of the town and what suits your budget and lifestyle. Also, ensure to check out the online reviews of any accommodation option you go for to be sure it is a safe place to lodge before making payments.
Health Safety
Contrary to the things you see online, Puerto Viejo poses a low health risk to tourists. All through my stay, I did not fall ill from malaria, dengue fever, diarrhea, or any airborne or waterborne diseases.
The weather here is very conducive and safe. However, I advise you to start hydrated at all times and be cautious of the hygiene of the restaurant you eat and drink at.
Apply insect repellents, especially when you are hiking in the jungle, where there are high chances of being bitten by mosquitoes and other insects.
This way, you stay sad and enjoy your entire trip in sound health.
Environmental Safety
Puerto Viejo is a safe place with minimal earthquakes or wildlife attacks. As we all know, earthquakes and volcanic activity are common in Costa Rica.
However, it is minimal in Puerto Viejo. They have only recorded smaller earthquakes and flooding, which has never killed any tourists before.
And as for wildlife encounters, I advise you to touch or pet any wildlife you see when visiting not just this town but other tourist locations around the world.
Be careful with wildlife so they don’t feel stressed and threatened. If you adhere to all of these, you will be just fine.
Common Crimes in Puerto Viejo
One thing I know for sure is that crimes like mugging and terrorism are very low in Puerto Viejo. Mugging only takes place when the tourists move to a secluded area where there are no people at all.
For instance, if you are on any of the beaches and then move to a secluded area where there are no people, you may be putting yourself at risk of being mugged.
So the best thing is to stay around people at all times. This way, you exempt yourself from mugging incidents and stay safe.
The crimes that are prevalent in Puerto Viejo are scams and pickpocketing. So keep your valuables, wallet, or purse very safe from pickpockets, especially when you are in a public place like the beach.
Do not get carried away with the fun and forget yourself. Apply common sense always and be street smart!
I personally did not take my valuables out of my hotel room after I ensured that the hotel locks were functioning.
I also made photocopies of my passport and other important documents I need to carry along daily as a tourist, then left the originals in the hotel room while I moved alone with the photocopes.
As for scams, I noticed that some vendors try to shortchange you when making purchases, and there are some fake rental companies and websites here.
So I advise you to learn a bit of Spanish or use Google Translate to fully understand what these vendors are saying so you do not get shortchanged and ensure that before you hitch a cab or pay for any services online, you have confirmed they are genuine.
I would also advise you to carry cash around rather than your credit card so it does not get stolen. Overall, be vigilant and alert at all times!
Things to Avoid to Stay Safe in Puerto Viejo
Night time Walk on Poorly Lit Roads
Most of the roads in PV are small and poorly lit or not lit at all at night. To be on the safe side, avoid walking on these roads alone after dark.
If you must, ensure you are walking in a group of friends with at least two able men and you have a torchlight to see what’s ahead of you.
Clubbing in an Unsafe Area
PV is a lively town at night, no doubt. However, put your safety first and avoid clubs or event centers that do not feel safe.
Neglecting Personal Hygiene
Take your hygiene seriously, and the only way is at clean restaurants. Most of the restaurants here serve healthy and fresh food, but still, you need to be sure of what you are putting in your stomach by taking note of how neat the restaurant environment is.
Bear in mind that you may not have access to proper medical care if you start purging in the middle of the night.
Little things like checking the restaurant online review will save you a lot.
Swimming at the Wrong Beach
Stay away from swimming at beaches like Salsa Brava, where the currents are very high and strong so you don’t drown. If you must swim, go to beaches like Playa Cocles with low currents and ensure you are swimming where a lifeguard can see you.
Also, avoid secluded beaches like Playa Negra after dark to be on the safe side.
Personal Safety Tips
- Keep your valuables at home or in your hotel room when going out to avoid the presence of muggers and pickpockets.
- One of the things I noticed in Puerto Viejo, as with other parts of the country, are pirate taxi drivers. They hang around the streets and at airports. So to be on the safe side, ask your hotel management or tour agency to call a reputable cab for you.
- Ensure that whatever accommodation option you choose, the lock is very functional to avoid burglary and wildlife invasions.
- Do not drink excessively when you are in any tourist town at all, not just Puerto Viejo. Otherwise, you will make yourself an easy target for criminals.
- Do not surf or swim alone at beaches where there are no lifeguards, regardless of how much of an expert surfer or swimmer you think you are.
- Do not easily trust strangers and follow them around, all in the name of visiting tourist attractions. You will easily get mugged, raped, or robbed. I advise you to map your locations before stepping out.
- Stay away from wildlife when you visit tourist sites. Do not pet or touch them, because if you do and they feel stressed or threatened, they may attack you.
- Show respect to the local culture by sticking to community rules and regulations.
- Learn a bit of Spanish or use Google Translate in order to flow in communication.
- Avoid walking alone at night. I advise you to get back to your apartment before dark. And if you must walk at night, ensure you are in a group of friends that are heading in the same direction.
- Stay alert and vigilant in crowded places and tourist spots to avoid being pickpocketed.
- Stay hydrated at all times and carry an insect repellent when visiting jungles and national parks.
- Ensure you have emergency numbers of your country’s embassy, local authorities, and accommodation available.
- Avoid flashing cash or valuables like your phone or jewelry. You will only attract petty thieves and muggers if you do so.
- Ask questions before moving to certain areas. It will better help you know what is ahead and if you are to make the movement or not.
While you want your safety assured, you may also want to give yourself a good treat by exploring our list of the Top 10 Restaurants in Puerto Viejo for a taste of local flavors.
Final thoughts
Puerto Viejo is relatively a safe place to visit as a tourist, regardless of the negative speculation you see and read online.
From my experience, I noticed that most of the people making these speculations have never been to Puerto Viejo before, and they spread all of that negative information based on the things they have read online and their imagination.
All through my stay, I never got harassed or mugged. So I advise you to throw out all that negative information and come enjoy some coconut milk while swimming in the gorgeous beaches of Puerto Viejo.
Also, do well to seek the counsel of your travel tour guide to get the latest information about Puerto Viejo and make your trip worthwhile.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
