Cahuita's 14 km of beaches are shaded by palm trees, lush forests, marshlands, and mangroves. Created in 1970, it protects 240 hectares of amazing offshore coral reef.
Quicks Facts and Data
History
Cahuita National Park is smaller than most others in the Costa Rican national park system, but is just as diverse and special as all of the rest. The park consists of two primary parts: an amazing protected reef of over 600 acres and an equally breathtaking land portion.
With over ten miles of palm tree shaded beaches and lush mangrove forests, Cahuita offers many opportunities to explore what is best about Costa Rica. The beautiful white sandy beaches are a draw year round.
Established in the 1970s as a way to protect Costa Rica’s longest coral reef.
The coral reef was damaged during the 1991 earthquake, but is well on its way to making a full recovery. Another popular attraction is the wreckage of an eighteenth century slave ship anchored at the bottom of the mouth of the Perezoso River. It is now home for myriad of marine life. Snorkeling opportunities abound inside of the marine sanctuary.
Flora and fauna
Playa Vargas, at the southern tip of Cahuita National Park, is an important nesting site for leatherback sea turtles.
Leatherback turtles return to their place of birth for nesting, so each egg-laying female at the park was born on Playa Vargas.
Nesting season lasts from March-July. Three other species of marine turtle lay their eggs on the beaches here: the green nest July through October, and the hawksbill and loggerhead turtles from February through May.
Monkeys, sloths, iguanas and other tree-dwelling animals are common sightings at the park, augmented by rummaging armadillos and coatimundi, vibrantly-colored venomous snakes, several species of bat and many other animals.
The reef has at least 35 species of coral, 140 species of molluscs, 44 species of crustaceans, and 123 species of fish.
Getting There
From San José: It is approximately a 3 and a half hour ride. Take Calle 3 out of town to where it becomes the Guápiles Highway (32) headed northeast. Continue to Limon where you turn South on 36 for Cahuita.
Bus Services
Several buses depart San José to Cahuita every day from Terminal Caribe. Auto-Transportes Mepe has daily express departures at 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
You also have the option to travel by air. Both regional airlines offer daily services to Limon where you will have to catch the bus or rent a car to continue to Cahuita.
Services
A footbridge leads into the park from the Kelly Creek Ranger Station (run by a local committee) at the southern end of Cahuita village.
A 7km nature trail leads from the Kelly Creek Ranger Station to the Puerto Vargas Ranger Station, 3 km south of Cahuita mid-way along the park.
The nature trail walk takes about two hours.Recreational Activities
Bird and Wildlife Watching
Hikers in Cahuita National Park are guaranteed excellent wildlife watching.
Turtle Tours
The park’s southern tip is considered an important nesting site for three turtle species including the leatherback, the largest sea turtle in the world. Be sure to check with park rangers before walking through turtle nesting areas.
Hiking
Cahuita National park is an excellent option for light hikes. Near mangrove swamps and in muddy areas, the park has trails built with recycled plastic decking.
Scuba Diving
When the waters are calm and the visibility is good, divers can enjoy more than twenty dive sites between Cahuita and Manzanillo, which together are home to Costa Rica’s only two living coral reefs.
Snorkeling
Snorkelers can enjoy the area’s two living coral reefs, which host more than 35 species of coral and 400 species of fish.
Swimming
The park’s two beaches, Playa Blanca and Playa Vargas, stretch for almost nine miles down the Caribbean coast. Both are excellent for sunbathing.
Interesting facts
The main attraction of the park is its underwater world, which is home to a fantastic marine life and the largest coral reef in Costa Rica.Its name is derived from the word ‘kawe’ which means mahogany and ‘ta’ which means point.
The Cahuita coral reef was badly damaged during an earthquake in 1991.
It's the only National Park that is administered jointly by the community and the national government.
It's a paradise that still has more nature than concrete, thanks to the efforts of the community to preserve all it's natural attractions.
Contact Information
Phone number
Kelly Creek Ranger Station: 2755-0461
Puerto Vargas Ranger Station: 2755-0302
Website
http://www.sinac.go.cr
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