Courtney & Matt’s Caribe Sur Guidebook
Food scene
We LOVE Pura Gula! The food is fresh and prepared with care. The ambience is relaxed and the staff is very friendly. Only a 3 minute walk from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, this is a great place to grab dinner.
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Pura Gula Restaurante
Calle Playa ChiquitaWe LOVE Pura Gula! The food is fresh and prepared with care. The ambience is relaxed and the staff is very friendly. Only a 3 minute walk from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, this is a great place to grab dinner.
Such a cool place to hang! We love the fresh breakfasts and delightful beverages (both with and without alcohol). The black bean soup is very hearty, and the sandwiches and toasts are great! This is a wonderful place to grab a bite when you are headed to or from the beautiful beach - Playa Chiquita - as the entrance is across the street.
Also, next door is La Leyenda Pizzeria (Airbnb didn't provide a link to this restaurant, so we are adding it here.) GREAT wood fired pizza, charcuterie boards, drinks, and more! We highly recommend La Leyenda for dinner one night.
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GypSea Café | Playa Chiquita
Such a cool place to hang! We love the fresh breakfasts and delightful beverages (both with and without alcohol). The black bean soup is very hearty, and the sandwiches and toasts are great! This is a wonderful place to grab a bite when you are headed to or from the beautiful beach - Playa Chiquita - as the entrance is across the street.
Also, next door is La Leyenda Pizzeria (Airbnb didn't provide a link to this restaurant, so we are adding it here.) GREAT wood fired pizza, charcuterie boards, drinks, and more! We highly recommend La Leyenda for dinner one night.
Where do we even begin???? This restaurant is AMAZING! Top notch dining in the heart of Caribe Sur. You can go into the wine cellar and pick out your own bottle - such a special treat. The food is TOP-NOTCH. If you are a foodie and enjoy a fine dining experience, look no further. Italian dishes, featuring the fresh catch from the sea, are prepared with incredible skill and care.
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La Pecora Nera Ristorante
Where do we even begin???? This restaurant is AMAZING! Top notch dining in the heart of Caribe Sur. You can go into the wine cellar and pick out your own bottle - such a special treat. The food is TOP-NOTCH. If you are a foodie and enjoy a fine dining experience, look no further. Italian dishes, featuring the fresh catch from the sea, are prepared with incredible skill and care.
Yummy yummy yummy! This restaurant is one of our favorites! Argentinian dishes are prepared with authenticity and style. Fresh pastas round out the menu, as well. In the morning, BE SURE to stop by for their baked goods. Pure delight. Only a 10 minute walk from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, we frequent this local favorite quite a bit.
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El Rincon Porteño
Yummy yummy yummy! This restaurant is one of our favorites! Argentinian dishes are prepared with authenticity and style. Fresh pastas round out the menu, as well. In the morning, BE SURE to stop by for their baked goods. Pure delight. Only a 10 minute walk from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, we frequent this local favorite quite a bit.
We LOVE Koki Beach! Centrally located in Puerto Viejo, this trendy restaurant has an EXCELLENT staff. The dishes are consistently fabulous! Drinks and desserts are fantastic. We often come here to celebrate a birthday or other occasion and are never disappointed. The ambience is really cool and inviting.
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Koki Beach Restaurant Bar Lounge
We LOVE Koki Beach! Centrally located in Puerto Viejo, this trendy restaurant has an EXCELLENT staff. The dishes are consistently fabulous! Drinks and desserts are fantastic. We often come here to celebrate a birthday or other occasion and are never disappointed. The ambience is really cool and inviting.
Go here for lots of fun! They have trivia nights on Thursdays around 6pm. Truly a boat load of joy to play and drink and eat here. Such a great experience for groups, families, and couples. And if you are solo - you will surely make friends by the end of the night. The food is yummy and totally not healthy - but you can't care - you are having too much fun. Drinks are fab! Especially all their guaro concoctions.
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Tasty Waves Cantina
Go here for lots of fun! They have trivia nights on Thursdays around 6pm. Truly a boat load of joy to play and drink and eat here. Such a great experience for groups, families, and couples. And if you are solo - you will surely make friends by the end of the night. The food is yummy and totally not healthy - but you can't care - you are having too much fun. Drinks are fab! Especially all their guaro concoctions.
We highly recommend a visit to Cho.co at the beginning of your stay in Caribe Sur. They feature chocolates from our region and can pair them with the perfect rum, wine, or beer for a taste explosion! Learn more about the flavors and traditions of the area at Cho.co!
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Cho.co
Calle 217We highly recommend a visit to Cho.co at the beginning of your stay in Caribe Sur. They feature chocolates from our region and can pair them with the perfect rum, wine, or beer for a taste explosion! Learn more about the flavors and traditions of the area at Cho.co!
The FRESHEST fish! We always visit Monli for an amazing meal during our stay. Get their daily special - you won't regret it!
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La casita de Monli Bar Restaurante
256The FRESHEST fish! We always visit Monli for an amazing meal during our stay. Get their daily special - you won't regret it!
Only a few minutes by bike from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, this is one of our favorite local hangs. Phil and Mike, the owners, are worth the visit alone! BUT - their food and drinks are also SOOOO GREAT! We love the Mojitos, and alway get an order of Plantain Poppers to start. Great food. Great drinks. Great ambience. Don't miss it!
Puerto Viejo Bar de Vino
Calle Olé CaribeOnly a few minutes by bike from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, this is one of our favorite local hangs. Phil and Mike, the owners, are worth the visit alone! BUT - their food and drinks are also SOOOO GREAT! We love the Mojitos, and alway get an order of Plantain Poppers to start. Great food. Great drinks. Great ambience. Don't miss it!
Super fun hang. Great drinks and appetizers with a fantastic view. Right on the beach in Puerto Viejo, we enjoy Puerto Pirata Tiki Bar at sunset before we head to dinner in town.
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PUERTO PIRATA TIKI BAR
Calle 215Super fun hang. Great drinks and appetizers with a fantastic view. Right on the beach in Puerto Viejo, we enjoy Puerto Pirata Tiki Bar at sunset before we head to dinner in town.
Chaman Mercadito is a lovely place off the main road in Puerto Viejo to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Views of the water and a chill vibe create a relaxing atmosphere. This is a great place to grab a bite while shopping in town. We love their breakfast sandwiches!
Chaman Mercadito
Chaman Mercadito is a lovely place off the main road in Puerto Viejo to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Views of the water and a chill vibe create a relaxing atmosphere. This is a great place to grab a bite while shopping in town. We love their breakfast sandwiches!
If you want authentic Italian wood fired pizza, look no further! Just a couple minutes walk from UP! HOUSE, Pulcinella is sure to please. Don't ask for pineapple and ham. Hee hee! This pizza is 100% Italian style and worth every bite.
Pizzeria Pulcinella
If you want authentic Italian wood fired pizza, look no further! Just a couple minutes walk from UP! HOUSE, Pulcinella is sure to please. Don't ask for pineapple and ham. Hee hee! This pizza is 100% Italian style and worth every bite.
Sightseeing
This is a great National Park with excellent ocean views and abundant nature. Great for all ages, the paths are wide and flat. No real "hiking" is required. You will likely see howlers, capuchins, sloths, and more! Bring your camera. If you do not use a guide, just walk slow and take it all in. Look into the tree tops and in the brush for wildlife. On good days, you can snorkel here - but you will need a guide. This is a BEAUTIFUL place!
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Cahuita National Park
215 Av. 71This is a great National Park with excellent ocean views and abundant nature. Great for all ages, the paths are wide and flat. No real "hiking" is required. You will likely see howlers, capuchins, sloths, and more! Bring your camera. If you do not use a guide, just walk slow and take it all in. Look into the tree tops and in the brush for wildlife. On good days, you can snorkel here - but you will need a guide. This is a BEAUTIFUL place!
MAGICAL! It is such an honor to learn what these incredible people have done for the green macaws in the Caribe Sur. From 1 green macaw in 2005, to now 90 in our area - they have done GREAT WORK. We are so thankful at UP! HOUSE Costa Rica for them - as we see numerous macaws daily at the house. When we look up and see these beautiful creatures, we thank ARA for this precious gift. You can view these birds in their natural wonder daily at 3pm - be sure you make a reservation. A great highlight to any trip to Caribe Sur.
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Ara Manzanillo
MAGICAL! It is such an honor to learn what these incredible people have done for the green macaws in the Caribe Sur. From 1 green macaw in 2005, to now 90 in our area - they have done GREAT WORK. We are so thankful at UP! HOUSE Costa Rica for them - as we see numerous macaws daily at the house. When we look up and see these beautiful creatures, we thank ARA for this precious gift. You can view these birds in their natural wonder daily at 3pm - be sure you make a reservation. A great highlight to any trip to Caribe Sur.
No trip to the Caribe Sur would be complete without a visit to JRC. Located about 10 minutes (by foot) from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, Jaguar Rescue Center is a wonderful place to learn about rescue efforts in our area. Even though Air Bnb has categorized JRC as a "zoo" - it certainly is not. This is a fully accredited sanctuary for injured animals. You can see some of the work they do during your visit and learn more about conservation and wildlife responsibility. The staff is well-trained and friendly. A great way to spend a morning in our precious area.
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Jaguar Rescue Center
No trip to the Caribe Sur would be complete without a visit to JRC. Located about 10 minutes (by foot) from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, Jaguar Rescue Center is a wonderful place to learn about rescue efforts in our area. Even though Air Bnb has categorized JRC as a "zoo" - it certainly is not. This is a fully accredited sanctuary for injured animals. You can see some of the work they do during your visit and learn more about conservation and wildlife responsibility. The staff is well-trained and friendly. A great way to spend a morning in our precious area.
Such a gorgeous place with abundant nature and history. Located less than 10 minutes by car from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, this refuge is a place of many riches in Costa Rican biodiversity. We recommend visiting Gandoca-Manzanillo with our favorite guide, Abel_tour_guide. Bring your good bug repellent and your camera! You are sure to get spectacular shots during your hike. A typical hike is half-day. And on good days, you can also snorkel. A great adventure!
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Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
36Such a gorgeous place with abundant nature and history. Located less than 10 minutes by car from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, this refuge is a place of many riches in Costa Rican biodiversity. We recommend visiting Gandoca-Manzanillo with our favorite guide, Abel_tour_guide. Bring your good bug repellent and your camera! You are sure to get spectacular shots during your hike. A typical hike is half-day. And on good days, you can also snorkel. A great adventure!
We love the cultural and nature experiences to be had in Bribri. Be sure to visit the Bribri waterfalls as well as the waterfalls at Finca Dos Aguas. Stop by Talamanca Family Art to get some authentic wood carvings. And, if you would like to learn more - book a visit to a Bribri community to learn about cacao, medicinal plants, Bribri culture, and more!
Bribri
We love the cultural and nature experiences to be had in Bribri. Be sure to visit the Bribri waterfalls as well as the waterfalls at Finca Dos Aguas. Stop by Talamanca Family Art to get some authentic wood carvings. And, if you would like to learn more - book a visit to a Bribri community to learn about cacao, medicinal plants, Bribri culture, and more!
We are a little partial, since UP! HOUSE Costa Rica is only 200 meters to the ocean at Playa Chiquita - but this beach is truly a hidden treasure. A morning walk may find you in complete solitude at this pristine beach. We enjoy relaxing in one of the tide pools created by the reef - calm and clear waters. You are likely to see schools of fish swim right by you! The trees make for a perfect umbrella on hot and sunny days. And, look around - you are likely to spot monkeys and sloths!
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Playa Chiquita
Calle AzaniaWe are a little partial, since UP! HOUSE Costa Rica is only 200 meters to the ocean at Playa Chiquita - but this beach is truly a hidden treasure. A morning walk may find you in complete solitude at this pristine beach. We enjoy relaxing in one of the tide pools created by the reef - calm and clear waters. You are likely to see schools of fish swim right by you! The trees make for a perfect umbrella on hot and sunny days. And, look around - you are likely to spot monkeys and sloths!
Punta Uva is the beach community directly south of us - just a few minutes away. It has a stunning beach, beatiful lookout point, small river for kayaking and paddle boarding, and a few small restaurants. Swimming is great here. Sundays and holidays can get busy, so plan accordingly.
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Punta Uva
36Punta Uva is the beach community directly south of us - just a few minutes away. It has a stunning beach, beatiful lookout point, small river for kayaking and paddle boarding, and a few small restaurants. Swimming is great here. Sundays and holidays can get busy, so plan accordingly.
Cocles is the beach community directly north of us - just a few minutes away. This beach is great for surfing / body boarding and has lifeguards. Rentals are available, and you can also schedule private lessons through our concierge. Lots of great eateries. The weekends are lively, with jerk chicken carts, vendors selling pipa fria and other yummy treats.
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Cocles
Cocles is the beach community directly north of us - just a few minutes away. This beach is great for surfing / body boarding and has lifeguards. Rentals are available, and you can also schedule private lessons through our concierge. Lots of great eateries. The weekends are lively, with jerk chicken carts, vendors selling pipa fria and other yummy treats.
Shopping
Shopping shopping shopping! Wanderlust has great gifts and clothing items. Located in the heart of Puerto Viejo, be sure to stop by to check out their latest goodies.
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Wanderlust Puerto Viejo
Calle 213Shopping shopping shopping! Wanderlust has great gifts and clothing items. Located in the heart of Puerto Viejo, be sure to stop by to check out their latest goodies.
If you plan on buying any clothing during your stay in Caribe Sur, you have to check out LunaMay. She is a local favorite. Once you know her designs, you will see many people (tourists and locals alike) wearing them. She takes amazing photos, prints those images into her super soft and breathable fabric, and then creates amazing clothing designs using her special fabric. We cherish our LunaMay clothing because it is SOOOOOO comfortable, very beautifully made, and is 100% from Caribe Sur.
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Luna May
If you plan on buying any clothing during your stay in Caribe Sur, you have to check out LunaMay. She is a local favorite. Once you know her designs, you will see many people (tourists and locals alike) wearing them. She takes amazing photos, prints those images into her super soft and breathable fabric, and then creates amazing clothing designs using her special fabric. We cherish our LunaMay clothing because it is SOOOOOO comfortable, very beautifully made, and is 100% from Caribe Sur.
Breezy clothing for all genders at Samoa make this place is fun place to shop during your stay. Located in the heart of Puerto Viejo, be sure to stop in and check it out!
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Samoa Boutique
Breezy clothing for all genders at Samoa make this place is fun place to shop during your stay. Located in the heart of Puerto Viejo, be sure to stop in and check it out!
Located only 2 minutes away (by foot) from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, El Duende Gourmet is a perfect place to stop by for any essentials - including wine, beers, spirits, and great cheeses and locally baked breads.
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El Duende Gourmet
Located only 2 minutes away (by foot) from UP! HOUSE Costa Rica, El Duende Gourmet is a perfect place to stop by for any essentials - including wine, beers, spirits, and great cheeses and locally baked breads.
You gotta get a Sloth Toes shirt during your stay! They are my favorite tee-shirts - as the fabric and cuts are PERFECT. Plus, the amazing sloth artwork is what it's all about! They now sell some of their products through Cafe Britt (at the airport, for that last minute gift). But truly, you gotta go to the source in Puerto Viejo to check out their full line of gear.
Sloth Toes
215 Av. 71You gotta get a Sloth Toes shirt during your stay! They are my favorite tee-shirts - as the fabric and cuts are PERFECT. Plus, the amazing sloth artwork is what it's all about! They now sell some of their products through Cafe Britt (at the airport, for that last minute gift). But truly, you gotta go to the source in Puerto Viejo to check out their full line of gear.
Eugenia Barrionuevo has a beautiful gallery in Puerto Viejo featuring her colorful artwork. Be sure to stop by! Her work depicts the people of the Caribe Sur area, and one of her pieces would make a nice souvenir from your trip.
Galería Eubarrionuevo
256 Avenida 71Eugenia Barrionuevo has a beautiful gallery in Puerto Viejo featuring her colorful artwork. Be sure to stop by! Her work depicts the people of the Caribe Sur area, and one of her pieces would make a nice souvenir from your trip.
This pharmacy is located in COCLES, next to the Super Negro Green Market. Just 3 minutes by car, and 8 minutes by bike, it is very convenient for UP! HOUSE guests. They are open daily from 8am-8pm, and are very hospitable to helping you with your needs. English and Spanish is spoken.
Farmacia Don Manuel
This pharmacy is located in COCLES, next to the Super Negro Green Market. Just 3 minutes by car, and 8 minutes by bike, it is very convenient for UP! HOUSE guests. They are open daily from 8am-8pm, and are very hospitable to helping you with your needs. English and Spanish is spoken.
Mind and Body
You had me at "ULTIMATE TOTAL BODY CHOCOLATE DECADENCE." Take some time to relax during your stay. You feel very special and nurtured at Pure Jungle Spa. It is a beautiful setting and the treatments are very luxurious. Great staff! We highly recommend!
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Pure Jungle Spa
You had me at "ULTIMATE TOTAL BODY CHOCOLATE DECADENCE." Take some time to relax during your stay. You feel very special and nurtured at Pure Jungle Spa. It is a beautiful setting and the treatments are very luxurious. Great staff! We highly recommend!
Tipps für Reisende
Verkehrsmittel
Tuk tuks and Taxis
Please refer to our QR code at UP! HOUSE for trusted tuk tuk and taxi contact information. You will use WhatsApp to communicate with these drivers, so be sure you download this app to your phone. If you would like our concierge to arrange a driver for you, please contact her.
Nützliche Sätze
Pura Vida
There is a particular phrase you will hear often while traveling throughout Costa Rica. “Pura vida,” which translates to “pure life,” is an expression of joy and optimism. It evokes a feeling of present-mindedness and living life to the fullest. The phrase “pura vida” can be used in a variety of situations.
You might be asked, “Pura vida?” (As in, “How are you?”)
Your response could be “Pura vida.” (As in, “I’m great.” Or even, “I’m not that great in general, but I am happy to see you right now, and this brings me joy.”)
You can even use it to say “goodbye,” “you’re welcome,” and “yes.”
Was einpacken?
PACK + PREP for your trip!
Once you book your trip, our concierge will send you a PACK + PREP list. This is a very helpful guide as you plan your adventure.
So kannst du sparen
Try a Caribbean Patí! - cheap and delicious!
You will find many patí vendors throughout the province of Limón, Costa Rica. Around 2:30 (ish) most days, you will hear the sing-song "patí-patí-patí" from a street vendor that rolls his cart down
the main road near UP! HOUSE. Every patí maker has their own added touch, but most have a turmeric yellow pastry and are filled with meat and/or vegetables, fruit, and seasoned with spices. They are cheap, easy to eat - as they are hand held, and delicious! Try the hot sauce that often accompanies these delights. So good!