The public bus takes about four hours from San Jose to Cahuita and another half-hour to Puerto Viejo. Cost works out to about $5 one way.

Two companies operate scheduled minivan shuttles to both places:

Interbus

www.interbusonline.com

and Gray Line

www.graylinecostarica.com

The cost is $29 one way. It takes about the same amount of time.

What kind of budget are you looking at for lodging? The nice thing about the Caribbean is that there's something for every budget, and even the high-end places are a lot cheaper than they are on the Pacific coast.

wel PV is a better `base´as most hotels, restaurants are there.
i´d stay a few days there and then head down the coast to my fave beach on the caribbean, cahuita:

http://costa.rica.typepad.com/cahuita/home/index.html

further south playa cocles is beautiful, as is manzanillo- which has good snorkelling!

We like the area in between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. Lots of great hotels and restaurants. Check out:

Azania Bungalows (beautiful grounds)
Shawandha Lodge
La Costa de Papito
Almonds & Corals Tent Lodging
Cariblue
Beach Suite/Treehouse/Bungalow
Aguas Claras Beach Cottages (loved these--right on a nice beach)
Totem Hotel and Restaurant

Totem Restaurant is excellent, haven't stayed at the hotel.

La Pecora Nera Restaurant Italiano--don't miss it!

Bar/Restaurante Maxi--Manzanillo--be sure to visit!

Soda Tamara in Puerto Viejo has good food. . .

Great area! Have a wonderful time!

An excellent guide is Abel Bustamante out of Manzanillo. Very friendly, kind fellow with good English who can show you around for a day very reasonably. Lots to choose from--from birding to dolphin experiences and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.

localcrguide@hotmail.com

My husband and I just got back from our honeymoon...and we stayed at Costa Rica Tree House's Beach Suite in Punta Uva...a bit south of Puerto Viejo...but we spent every evening in PV. I just posted a trip report and a link to some pics...just click on my name or on this link to check it out:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=6&tid=34894766

Punta Uva beach at the Tree House's Beach Suite is private and amazing...and I mentioned a few good restaurants in PV as well in my trip report.

Check out www.costaricatreehouse.com to read more about their place and to see their rates.

We paid $155 for a private driver to take us from San Jose airport to PV that Costa Rica Tree House set up for us...it took about 4-5 hours...it all depends on your budget. But I would recommend a great driver that we met later in our trip...his info is in my trip report.

Good luck and let me know if you want to know anything else more specific. We loved the Carribean side and can't wait to go back with friends!

Thanks everybody for the wonderful advice! I just stumbled across this forum and am sure I will find it a very valuable tool in planning this and future trips!

La Pecora Nera Restaurant Italiano is the best italian restaurant i've eaten in CR.
another 'don't miss' is Miss Edith's in PV.

Miss Edith's is good, but don't stop there if you have a shortage of time. Miss Edith ain't in no hurry!

Miss Ediths is a great place to eat, but isn't it about 5 miles north of PV? Sorry, but can't remember the name of the town, but it is on the north end of a national park, possibly in Cahuita?