Puerto Viejo · Sports & events

The reef break directly in front of town, at its best on a north swell roughly December to March. It breaks in shallow water over live coral and is for experienced surfers only; watching it from the seafront wall is a legitimate way to spend an hour.

The beach break 2 km south is where almost everybody actually surfs — sand bottom, more forgiving, and where the schools take beginners. Rips are common, so the flags and the lifeguard tower are worth reading before you paddle out.

A local surf school running lessons from complete beginner upwards plus multi-day camps, teaching on the beach breaks rather than the reef. Booking is by WhatsApp and they will tell you which beach the conditions suit that morning.

Thirteen kilometres of flat paved road from town to the end of the line at Manzanillo, past Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. About an hour each way at an easy pace and the best-value active day here, with beaches to stop at the whole way.

Limón province has no side in the Primera División. The nearest are the Central Valley clubs — Deportivo Saprissa at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Tibás is around five hours away by bus. Locally it is village pitches and the league on the bar television.