How to Get to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica from Tortuguero by Boat
I did not originally plan to get to Puerto Viejo this way.
My first idea was the route Google gives you when it pretends life is simple: leave Parismina, take a boat to Caño Blanco, get to Siquirres, take a bus to Limón, then another bus to Puerto Viejo, and finally get an Uber or taxi to my accommodation at Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita.
During my time in Parismina, there had been two shootings in Limón. I had already passed through bus stations in Costa Rica, and honestly, standing around with all my things while waiting for another connection was not exactly my dream Caribbean moment. I was doing a Costa Rica solo female trip, not auditioning for a low-budget crime documentary.
Travelling by boat through Costa Rica’s Caribbean canals from Parismina toward Moín, on the scenic route to Puerto Viejo.
Then my host in Parismina said something that changed the whole route:
“I have a contact. A boatman called William. He does transport from Tortuguero to Moín. From Moín, you can get a shared taxi straight to Puerto Viejo.”
And just like that, the route changed.
Instead of taking multiple buses through Limón, I went by boat through Costa Rica’s Caribbean canals, got stuck twice because of weed and a fallen tree, watched a passenger cut the way open with a machete, and somehow still arrived smoothly at my accommodation in Playa Chiquita.
So if you are wondering how to get to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica from Tortuguero or Parismina, this is the route I actually took, what happened, what I would do again, and what you should know before choosing it.
My original plan: Parismina to Puerto Viejo through Caño Blanco, Siquirres and Limón.
The route I was initially going to take from Parismina to Puerto Viejo looked something like this:
Boat from Parismina to Caño Blanco
Transfer toward Siquirres
Bus from Siquirres to Limón
Bus from Limón to Puerto Viejo
Uber or taxi from Puerto Viejo to Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita
On paper, this route makes sense.
It is the kind of route that appears when you search how to get to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica and try to piece together public transport. It is probably cheaper, and if you are confident with bus changes, Spanish, timing, and waiting around, it can work.
But for me, at that exact moment, it did not feel right. I was travelling alone, had my backpack, already heard about shootings in Limón while I was in Parismina. And even though I am not saying Limón is automatically unsafe, I did not want to spend unnecessary time waiting in a bus station there. That is the thing with Costa Rica solo trips. Sometimes the official route is not the route your gut chooses. And yes, the gut is dramatic, but occasionally useful.
The route my host suggested: Parismina to Moín by boat, then shared taxi to Puerto Viejo.
My host in Parismina gave me a different option. She knew a boatman called William, who runs transport connected to the Tortuguero to Moín route. Instead of going back through Caño Blanco, Siquirres and Limón by bus, I could take the boat through the canals toward Moín, then find a shared taxi from Moín straight to Puerto Viejo or Playa Chiquita. So the actual route became:
Parismina - boat through the canals - Moín - shared taxi - Puerto Viejo / Playa Chiquita
For anyone searching Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo by boat, this is the important thing to understand: the boat does not necessarily take you directly into Puerto Viejo itself. The boat usually gets you to Moín, near Limón, and then you continue by road toward Puerto Viejo.
If you are starting in Tortuguero, you may find similar transport options going from Tortuguero to Moín, then onward to Puerto Viejo. If you are starting in Parismina like I was, ask your accommodation or host if they know a boatman or local contact. In places like this, local knowledge beats Google.
What the boat ride from Parismina to Moín was actually like.
A passenger clearing a fallen tree with a machete during the boat route from Parismina to Moín, one of the wilder moments on the journey toward Puerto Viejo.
The boat ride was beautiful. It was the kind of landscape that makes you forget your anxiety for five minutes and think, “Actually, yes, maybe disappearing into the Caribbean canals was a reasonable life choice.” The route passed through water, jungle, thick vegetation, and that strange silence you get in remote places where everything feels alive but hidden. It was scenic, slow, green, and wild.
We saw howler monkeys in the trees and crocodiles in the water, which made the whole thing feel less like transport and more like a wildlife corridor with a boat engine attached. Costa Rica does not gently remind you that nature exists. It throws animals at the scenery and expects you to cope.
Then we got stuck. Not once. Twice. It had rained the night before, and the waterway had a lot of growing weed and plants blocking parts of the route. The boat struggled through it, and at one point we were properly delayed. Then came the tree.
A fallen tree was blocking the way. Thankfully, one passenger had a machete. Because of course he did. This is the Caribbean canal route, he got out, cut through the branches, cleared enough of the way, and we continued. That moment was honestly one of the most Costa Rica things that happened to me. Not the perfect Instagram Costa Rica. The real one. The one where nature decides your schedule and some man with a machete becomes the reason you make it to the next stage of your journey.
This was the part of my Costa Rica solo trip where transport stopped feeling like transport and started feeling like a tiny jungle expedition. And yet, despite the boat getting stuck, it felt calm. William knew what he was doing. The other passengers were fine. Nobody panicked. The journey continued.
Arriving in Moín and getting the shared taxi to Puerto Viejo.
When we arrived in Moín, I found the shared taxi that my host had mentioned. This part was surprisingly smooth. The driver was kind, helpful, and took me straight toward my destination. I was not dumped somewhere confused with my backpack, which is always nice, because being abandoned near a port with luggage is not really the spiritual growth I requested. The shared taxi took me onward toward Puerto Viejo and then to Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita, where I was staying.
For me, Moín to Puerto Viejo by shared taxi was easy. But I would not want to arrive there clueless and just hope the universe becomes my receptionist.
Was the Parismina to Puerto Viejo boat route safe?
My actual journey felt safe. That is important to say clearly. William, the boatman, was reliable. The shared taxi driver was kind. The route was smooth, even with the boat getting stuck. Nobody made me feel uncomfortable. I did not feel threatened during the journey. But I also do not want to write one of those silly travel blog lines like:
“Costa Rica is completely safe, just smile and follow your heart.”
The truth is more balanced.
I chose this route because I did not feel comfortable with the idea of multiple bus changes through Limón that day, especially after hearing about shootings while I was staying in Parismina. Later, I also learned more about Limón and Moín being important port/export areas, and about the region’s connection to drug trafficking routes. That does not mean every person there is dangerous. That does not mean this route is dangerous. That does not mean you should panic.
As a solo female traveller, I felt better taking a more direct route with local contacts than waiting around in a bus station with my bags. My experience was safe, but I made choices that helped it feel safer.
So, is Costa Rica good for solo travel?
Yes, I think it can be. But not because nothing can happen. It is good for solo travel if you stay alert, ask locals, plan your transport, listen to your instincts, and do not act like being on holiday makes you immortal.
Should solo travellers book Costa Rica solo tours or do this independently?
This depends on the kind of traveller you are. Some people search for Costa Rica solo tours or Costa Rica solo travel packages because they want structure. And honestly, fair. Not everyone wants to be in a boat stuck in canal weeds while a man clears a tree with a machete. Shocking lack of ambition, but we respect nervous systems here.
If you are new to travelling alone, a solo tour or package can make sense. You get transport, accommodation, and a clearer plan. It is less flexible, but it removes some stress. If you are comfortable travelling independently, the Parismina or Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo route can work well, especially if you have local contacts.
Where I stayed after arriving: Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita.
After the boat to Moín and the shared taxi toward Puerto Viejo, I stayed at Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita. And honestly, this place deserves its own mention because it was one of the best decisions I made on the Caribbean side. Casa Moabi is family-run, welcoming, and somehow manages to feel both accessible and hidden in the jungle. That combination is rare. Usually you either get “convenient but soulless” or “magical but impossible to reach unless you arrive on the back of a prophetic donkey.” This was neither. It was practical, peaceful, and surrounded by life.
Best place in my opinion if you want jungle and calm vibe. Have a little look here: CASA MOABI
The location worked perfectly for me because it was outside the busier centre of Puerto Viejo, but still well connected to everything I wanted to see: Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva, Manzanillo, Puerto Viejo town, and the wider Caribbean coast. And the jungle is not just a marketing word here.
There were howler monkeys literally in the backyard, along with other creatures moving around the property and nearby forest. You wake up and remember, quite quickly, that humans are not the main event. The monkeys make that announcement loudly, because subtlety is apparently not their spiritual path.
Casa Moabi also had the practical things that make a stay easier, especially if you are travelling for longer or trying not to burn money every five minutes:
a kitchen where you can cook your own food
free coffee
nice, comfortable rooms
friendly service
a peaceful jungle atmosphere
bike rental for around $5 a day
easy access to beaches and nearby areas
a good balance between nature and connection
The bike rental was especially useful because Playa Chiquita is a great base if you want to move slowly along the coast without depending on taxis all the time. You can reach beaches, food spots, and nearby areas while still coming back to somewhere quiet.
For me, Casa Moabi gave the whole Puerto Viejo stay a different feeling. It was not just somewhere to sleep after the journey. It felt like part of the experience: jungle sounds, animals nearby, coffee in the morning, food you can cook yourself, and that strange calm you get when a place is simple but right. If you are deciding where to stay in Puerto Viejo, think about the kind of trip you want.
Stay in Puerto Viejo town if you want nightlife, restaurants, movement, and easy access to everything.
Stay in Playa Chiquita if you want jungle, quiet, beaches, wildlife, and a more peaceful base.
Stay nearPunta Uva if you want one of the most beautiful beach areas on the Caribbean coast.
Stay nearManzanillo if you want to be closer to the wilder southern edge of the coast.
I stayed at Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita, and for my kind of trip, it was exactly right: family-run, affordable, magical, practical, and close enough to everything without feeling trapped in the busy centre.
Final tips for getting to Puerto Viejo Costa Rica from Tortuguero or Parismina
If you are planning the Tortuguero to Puerto Viejo or Parismina to Puerto Viejo route, these are the things I would do again:
1. Ask your host for local transport contacts
This is how I found William. In remote places like Parismina or Tortuguero, hosts often know the real routes better than Google.
2. Confirm the boat route before travel day
Ask:
what time the boat leaves
where it leaves from
how long it takes
where it arrives in Moín
whether onward transport is usually available
Do not leave it vague unless you enjoy unnecessary suffering as a lifestyle choice. Please.
3. Travel during daylight
I would not choose this route at night. Daylight makes everything easier: boats, taxis, directions, safety, and your general will to continue.
4. Carry cash
Small transport routes won’t take card. Shared taxis and local boats often depend on cash.
5. Save your accommodation offline
Have your hotel name, address, phone number and map location saved. I was heading to Casa Moabi in Playa Chiquita, so I made sure I knew where I needed to end up.
6. Do not panic about Limón, but do not ignore your instincts
I avoided spending time in Limón because of what I had heard that week and because I was travelling alone. That was my decision. Other travellers may pass through without problems. The point is not to fear everywhere. The point is to stay awake.
7. Expect nature to interfere
Rain, plants, blocked canals, fallen trees: this is not a sterile transport route. It is the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Nature has opinions.
8. Know your backup route
If the boat is not available, your backup may be the more standard route through Caño Blanco, Siquirres, Limón and Puerto Viejo. It is always worth knowing both options.
