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Vendors set up stands at night on the beach road heading out of town toward Playa Cocles, cheap jewelry being the prime fare. But the town counts a couple of honest-to-goodness souvenir shops, too.
This main street boutique specializes in beachwear and clothing handmade by designers based in Costa Rica. Using recycled, eco-friendly materials and sustainable production methods, these local brands create swimsuits, surf clothing, two-piece sets made with soft, breathable fabrics, jewelry, and accessories.
Puerto Viejo's Saturday-morning farmers' market is a good place to stock up on fresh fruits and veggies for that weekend beach picnic, jewelry and crafts made by local artisans, and speciality food items. It takes place in a building just south of the bus stop.
Puerto Viejo's nicest shop sells a wonderful selection of local indigenous carvings—balsa and chonta wood are especially popular—as well as jewelry, paintings, and ceramics by 30 artists from the region. Prices run a tad higher here than other places around town, but you're assured of good quality.
This eye-catching, open-air shop sells bold-yet-breezy beach clothing made of light fabrics in radiant colors and outrageous patterns, all sourced from Indonesia and available in a range of styles and fits for men, women, and children.
Really two stores in one, Tienda del Mar sprawls around a street corner in the center of town and specializes in bright, colorful batik clothing of all sizes, as well as more run-of-the-mill T-shirts, sandals, wood carvings, ceramics, and postcards. On the second floor is an art gallery full of vibrant, colorful canvases of tropical-themed creations by local painters.
The inventory at this shop is less trinket-focused than most souvenir shops, offering a quality selection of locally made crafts, body care products, jewelry, and colorful clothing. They carry national brands of swimwear, as well as Lycra made from recycled plastics.
