 With a selection of supermarkets, pharmacies, shops, banks, a post office and restaurants, Puerto Viejo has many of the amenities of a larger city.
English is not widely spoken in the village, with the exception of hotel personnel and tour operators. A couple of pharmacies have bilingual staff that can dispense medications such as antibiotics and birth control pills without a doctor’s prescription.
Services:
Cell Phones 
Cell phone reception is hit or miss around Puerto Viejo. Some of the more remote lodges do not get reliable signals. Travelers can rent a cell phone in Costa Rica for use on their trip. Several car rental companies rent cell phones for around $10 per day.
Public Phones
Pay phones are scattered along the main road next to the taxi stand. Pre-paid phone cards can be purchased in local pharmacies or supermarkets for both local and international calls.
Faxes
Faxes can be sent and received at many hotels and internet cafes.
Internet
There are two internet cafes, both with high-speed (ADSL) connections that charge less than $1 per hour. Some mid-range hotels have free internet in their lobbies, and wireless is offered in a couple of the more upscale hotels and restaurants in town.
Facilities:
Banks
Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Popular and Banco Nacional all have branches in Puerto Viejo. Each has a 24-hour ATM machine that dispenses both dollars and Costa Rican colones.
Gas Stations 
A full-service gas station is located on the outskirts of Puerto Viejo. Several others can be found near Horquetes and on the road toward La Virgen, Vara Blanca and Alajuela.
Post Office
Located on Puerto Viejo’s main street. Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Red Cross
The clinic provides 24-hour care and ambulance service for minor injuries only. Tel: (506) 2 766-6212. For all major emergencies in Costa Rica, dial 911. The nearest major hospitals are in Alajuela and San Jose, which are an hour or more by car.
Tourist Info Center
While there is no official tourist information center, Souvenirs Rio Sarapiqui (Tel: 506 2 766-6727) on the east side of town offers information on local attractions and tours. The staff can arrange transfers to other towns, book tours and make hotel reservations. Travelers can also pick up maps and info at any of the tour operators located on the outskirts of Puerto Viejo.
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