National Park and Beaches in Cahuita

National Park and Beaches in Cahuita

Cahuita, Costa Rica

Cahuita’s National Park is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, 20 minutes by car from Puerto Viejo. You will enjoy white sand beaches, turquoise water, and a Caribbean atmosphere with those trees and palm trees on the path. It has 55.000 hectares of protected land and 600 hectares of coral reefs.

There are two different entrances to the park. One next to Cahuita (the village) where the price is a donation, and the other one is at Sector Puerto Vargas, where you would have to pay 5$. 

The roads are quite good, you can make it even with a Fiat Punto. You will find many parking spots around the area, some of them are free, others will be guarded by someone who will ask you 1$ or 2$ for looking out your car.

You can get in by one of the entrances and get out by the other one. The whole path is about 10 km on easy transitable dirt paths. However, if you go during the rainy season, you might not be able to cross to the other sector due to the rivers.

It’s a good snorkeling spot, however, you can’t do it on your own, you have to book a snorkel tour. At the entrance they will check your bags to be sure you are not entering with snorkeling equipment. They won’t let you go in with plastics either.

Due to the storms and the waves, natural pools are created on the sand. Pay attention because you might find some round stingrays there.

You can spot racoons, pizotes, sloths, iguanas, snakes, monkeys (howler and cappuccino), butterflies, toucans, herons or crabs among others. In addition to this, it’s a turtle nesting spot, mainly the leatherback sea turtle (between March and May).

Furthermore, there is a coral reef, where you can observe a wide range of fishes and coral structures, such as the cerebriform coral, the elk antler coral or the gorgonian one. As I have mentioned before, snorkeling is only allowed by a private tour, which is a bit disappointing.

Beaches are astonishing, típicas caribeñas de arena blanca, agua turquesa y  la jungla en el otro lado.

You could do a private guided tour, in which you will be explained about the habitat, the fauna and flora. You can also do scuba diving, swimming or canoeing.

It’s a very touristic park, far more than Gandoca Manzanillo. I recommend you to arrive early in the morning in order to avoid crowds.

If you are around the area you cannot miss this park, it’s incredible! It’s a pity you can “only” go snorkeling through a tour.