Cahuita National Park

Parque Nacional Cahuita

A coastal park combining white-sand beaches, coral reef and rainforest along an easy walking trail. Snorkeling over the reef and spotting sloths, monkeys and raccoons make it a highlight of the coast.

Things to do

• Walk the coastal trail — Follow the easy 8-km path from Kelly Creek in Cahuita town along the shoreline to Puerto Vargas, watching for wildlife in the trees overhead.
• Snorkel the coral reef — Take a guided boat tour over Costa Rica's largest living coral reef off Punta Cahuita to spot parrotfish, angelfish and sea fans.
• Spot sloths and monkeys — Scan the canopy along the trail for three-toed sloths, howler and capuchin monkeys, and northern raccoons that patrol the beach.
• Relax on Playa Blanca — Cool off at the white-sand beach near the Kelly Creek entrance, where calm shallows are good for a swim after the walk.
• Enter via Puerto Vargas — Use the southern ranger station for a quieter start, longer beaches and a lookout point over Punta Cahuita.
• Birdwatch at dawn — Arrive early to see toucans, herons and the green ibis feeding along the trail's freshwater lagoons and mangrove edges.

Food to try

• Rice and beans — The Caribbean version cooked in coconut milk with thyme and Scotch bonnet, served with stewed chicken and fried plantain.
• Rondón — A slow-simmered Afro-Caribbean seafood stew of fish, coconut milk, yuca, plantain and breadfruit, a Limón specialty.
• Patí — A spicy hand-held pastry turnover filled with seasoned ground beef, sold as a local snack around Cahuita town.
• Pan bon — A dense, dark sweet bread flavored with molasses, dried fruit and spices, part of the region's Jamaican heritage.
• Agua de sapo — A refreshing local drink made with ginger, lime and tapa dulce (raw cane sugar), perfect after a hot trail walk.

Local customs & good to know

• Pay by donation at Kelly Creek — The town entrance operates on a voluntary contribution, while the Puerto Vargas gate charges a fixed fee.
• Guard your food from wildlife — Raccoons, coatis and monkeys are bold and will raid open bags, so keep snacks sealed and never feed the animals.
• Embrace the Afro-Caribbean vibe — Cahuita has a relaxed, English-Creole-speaking culture rooted in Jamaican immigrant heritage, with calypso music and reggae.
• Bring reef-safe essentials — Use biodegradable sunscreen for snorkeling and carry water, as the reef and mangroves are fragile protected ecosystems.

Nearby

• Cahuita — 4 km
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca — 11 km
• Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica — 13 km
• Playa Cocles — 13 km