How to Visit Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park

The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is dominated by two popular destinations: the Amazon-like jungle of Tortuguero in the north and the party/beach paradise of Puerto Viejo in the south.

But traveling the Caribbean coast, there was another place I actually liked best: Cahuita.

Located an hour north of Puerto Viejo on the southern Caribbean coast, it’s a popular stop for many travelers but it is nowhere near as crowded as other spots along the coast. Most travelers stop here to visit the national park with the same name (which is what I did).

The town itself is very small (it’s home to under 9,000 people) and it’s predominantly made up of small restaurants and guesthouses — not tour shops and bars like you’d find in Puerto Viejo. The region is known for its Afro-Caribbean influences, which you might notice in the food and local culture as you chill out with some dessert crepes or grilled chicken.

But the national park is the real highlight here. And it was amazing.

Covering over 2,600 acres on land and with a marine area of 55,000 acres, it’s not surprising that the park is home to an incredible amount of nature and wildlife. Blue crabs, monkeys, lizards, possums, and more all call the region home. There are over 35 types of coral in the reefs within the park and there are around 135 different types of fish — which you can see if you go snorkeling in the area. The beaches are also a nesting ground for sea turtles.

It’s a literal paradise.

The park itself opened in 1970 and obtained national park status by 1978. It’s the only national park in the country that does not charge admission (though donations are welcome). If you ask me, it’s a must-visit spot for anyone traveling around the country.

Here’s everything you need to know to visit Cahuita National Park.

 

My Experience at Cahuita National Park

To give you a sense of what the park is like, here’s a short video from my first visit back in 2011:

Unfortunately, the first day I visited, many of the trails were closed due to heavy rains and flooding. (I spent my first two days here indoors because of 24-hour rain!)

The trail from Cahuita town to the other end of the park is 8 kilometers (5 miles). When I went, only the first 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) were open. That was still enough to hang out on a beautiful beach, see howler monkeys, iguanas, white-faced monkeys, tremendous numbers of birds, and beautiful butterflies. If I saw that in an area close to town, I can only imagine what it would be like further inland, away from most people.

While you can definitely hike and explore on your own, you can also hire a guide if you really want to learn about the flora and fauna here. It will give you a much deeper, authentic experience and boost your chances of spotting wildlife. (More on guides below).

 

Tips for Visiting Cahuita National Park

To help you make the most of your visit, here are some helpful tips and things to consider before you visit:

1. Wear decent shoes – The main trail is a 5 kilometer (3 mile) loop, so you’ll want to wear good footwear if you plan on walking the full trail. It’s flat so you can do it in sandals if you want, but shoes are best.

2. Bring your bathing suit – Chances are you’ll want to swim or snorkel while you’re here so don’t forget your towel and bathing suit.

3. Don’t forget water – It can get quite warm if you hike the trail or lounge out on the beach, so bring plenty of water (at least 2 liters). A hat and sunscreen are a good idea as well.

4. Stick to the path – Avoid damaging the ecosystem by staying on the trail. Don’t try to touch or feed any of the wildlife either.

5. Bring bug spray – The mosquitos can quite pretty bad, so make sure you bring bug spray!

6. Bring your own toilet paper – The toilets in the park often won’t have toilet paper, so bring your own just to be safe. Some hand sanitizer won’t hurt either.

7. Stay dry – The rainiest months to visit are June and November, so try to avoid those if you’re looking to avoid the daily downpours.
 

Practical Information for Visting

Hours of Operation
The park is open daily from 8am to 4pm. Parts of the park closer earlier (around 2pm) so make sure to give yourself plenty of time, If you’re planning to snorkel or dive in the region, underwater visibility is best between February and April.

Admission
The park is free but they do ask for donations (your donations help keep the park open so please give generously!). I suggest $5–10 USD.

Guides can be hired in advance or at the gate. Expect to pay around $25 USD for an hour guided tour. Guides have binoculars so you can see all the animals up close. Most guides don’t arrive until around 8am so if you need a guide, don’t arrive too early.

Additionally, you must have a guide if you want to snorkel as the ecosystem is very fragile and visitors must be monitored. They’ll have all the gear you need though.

Getting There
You can take a bus from San José or Puerto Viejo. Buses from San José are about $9 USD each way and take around 4-5 hours. The bus from Puerto Viejo takes around 30 minutes and costs $2 USD. A taxi from Puerto Viejo is around $25 USD.

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If you ask me, Cahuita National Park is one of the most underrated places to visit on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It really is a paradise.

If you are coming down the coast toward Puerto Viejo, stop in Cahuita for a few days. While the beach may not be as nice as other places, the hiking and wildlife are much better. I’d go back in a heartbeat because I loved it so much. I’m sure you’ll love it too.