Southern Caribbean
For Turkish coffee, hummus and the best pita bread in the Caribbean, this Israeli-owned spot is the place. There's also creamy moutabal (a roasted-aubergine and tahini dip), spicy shakshuka (a Middle Eastern dish with poached eggs and tomato sauce) and fresh tabouli (tomatoes, parsley, mint, bulgur, lemon juice and onion). Find the open-air restaurant across from Tree House Lodge.
There's a good selection of liquor, beer and wines too.
12.48 MILES
At the northwestern end of Cahuita, Playa Negra is a long, black-sand beach flying the bandera azul ecológica, a flag that indicates that the beach is…
0.68 MILES
Off a dirt road marked by Punta Uva Dive Center is a quiet, idyllic cove that could double for a scene in the film The Beach. When the water is calm, it…
2.54 MILES
Playa Cocles has waves for surfers who aren't keen to break skin and bones at nearby Salsa Brava (Costa Rica's biggest break). Instead, it has steep lefts…
Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo
4.16 MILES
This little-explored refuge – called Regama for short – protects nearly 70% of the southern Caribbean coast, extending from Manzanillo all the way to the…
1.4 MILES
Named in honor of its original resident, a jaguar, this well-run wildlife-rescue center in Playa Chiquita now focuses mostly on other animals, including…
6.79 MILES
Nestled into the Cordillera de Talamanca, 15km outside Puerto Viejo, this private 135-hectare reserve is centered on a former finca (farm), on land…
Reserva Biológica Hitoy-Cerere
21.97 MILES
Only the most intrepid of nature enthusiasts will make the journey to Hitoy-Cerere, about 60km south of Puerto Limón and only accessible by 4WD along a…
11.34 MILES
This small but beautiful park – just 10 sq km – is one of the more frequently visited national parks in Costa Rica. The reasons are simple: the nearby…
0.68 MILES
Off a dirt road marked by Punta Uva Dive Center is a quiet, idyllic cove that could double for a scene in the film The Beach. When the water is calm, it…
1.4 MILES
Named in honor of its original resident, a jaguar, this well-run wildlife-rescue center in Playa Chiquita now focuses mostly on other animals, including…
2.54 MILES
Playa Cocles has waves for surfers who aren't keen to break skin and bones at nearby Salsa Brava (Costa Rica's biggest break). Instead, it has steep lefts…
4. Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo
4.16 MILES
This little-explored refuge – called Regama for short – protects nearly 70% of the southern Caribbean coast, extending from Manzanillo all the way to the…
4.19 MILES
West of town, this farm and botanical garden has long produced organic pepper and cacao, along with more than 150 tropical fruits and ornamental plants…
6.79 MILES
Nestled into the Cordillera de Talamanca, 15km outside Puerto Viejo, this private 135-hectare reserve is centered on a former finca (farm), on land…
7.26 MILES
Halfway between Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in Hone Creek, this botanical garden and chocolate museum has a couple of small exhibits devoted to…
11.34 MILES
This small but beautiful park – just 10 sq km – is one of the more frequently visited national parks in Costa Rica. The reasons are simple: the nearby…