Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is Costa Rica's Caribbean fever dream - a reggae-tinged beach town where the infamous Salsa Brava reef breaks over shallow coral with shocking power. This is not the mellow pura vida of the Pacific coast; Salsa Brava is one of Central America's heaviest waves, delivering thick, dredging right-and-left barrels that have humbled many experienced surfers. The surrounding area offers gentler alternatives, but the main event is this brutal reef that awakens when E-NE Caribbean swells pour in. The town's multicultural Afro-Caribbean vibe, combined with world-class slab surfing, creates an experience unlike anywhere else in Costa Rica.