Puerto Viejo

The town is at the confluence of the Rió Puerto Viejo and Rió Sarapiquí. About 5500 people live in the Puerto Viejo district, which, despite its ramshackle appearance, has an interesting history. It used to be an important port on the trade route to the Caribbean before the days of roads and railways. Today, the region is known for its nearby undisturbed premontane tropical wet forest which extends out from the northern arm of Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo. A biological research station and several forest lodges nearby have made this undisturbed habitat accessible to scientists and travelers.