Welcome to Cahuita, on the South Caribbean coast of Costa Rica! We recently spent a few days exploring this area, and this was out first real stop. Cahuita is located less than an hour south of Puerto Limón, the province’s capital. It’s a small, laid-back town, but everything that you need is right there, usually within walking distance. Most people come here mainly to visit the Cahuita National Park and the entrance to it is right in town! This makes it one of the most practical National Parks to explore in the country.
Cahuita Town and Playa Negra
The colorful village is very welcoming and full of little restaurants serving fresh Caribbean food, as well as international dishes. There was also a lot of Italian and French influence here, too. It makes sense, as the East coast is usually more popular with Europeans and many of them end up staying. We also greatly enjoyed the small patí/patty places – these are similar to empanadas, with a spicier (and more delicious) filling. We weren’t here for too long, but Cahuita seemed to be very family-friendly, which is not always the case in this part of the country.
The town’s main road runs along Playa Negra, which means “black beach”, and that is the perfect way to describe it. The sand is a deep brown, grey or black color depending on which part you’re on. This may turn some people off, if their idea of a beach is white sands and turquoise waters. However, it’s not every day you’ll run into this kind of beach and we thought it was strikingly gorgeous and unique.
The water is clear, but the waves can be quite strong. All of this, plus the exuberant vegetation all around truly make for an impressive display of wild, raw beauty.
Cahuita National Park
The main attraction here is, of course, the Cahuita National Park. The fantastic news about this is that if you are staying in town, you are only a short, flat walk away from the entrance! If you’ve ever visited other National Parks in Costa Rica, you’ll know that they aren’t always so easy to access on foot. (Case in point: Arenal Volcano National Park, Tenorio National Park for just a couple of examples)
There is no entrance fee to get into the park, however, they ask for a voluntary donation. This goes to maintaining this amazing place, so if you can, please be generous! Just by looking at the facilities they have at then entrance, you can tell that the funds are put to good use. There is a nice little bridge to cross the river/estuary, and then as you get into the park, there are clean toilets and showers as well as a little hatchery for sea turtles. The trails are also clearly marked and well-maintained.
Hiking trails at Cahuita National Park
There are a few trails that you can hike at this park. The good news is that it’s an easy walk, and Punta Cahuita, the main event, is only 3.5 kms away from the entrance! The trails here have different names, but it is basically the same one that continues after coming out to a beach each time.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, Punta Cahuita is only open until 2 pm, and Playa Blanca (which is really nice to hang out on) closes at 3 pm. Please also note that if you’d like to go snorkeling, you’ll need to hire a guide. Unguided snorkeling is prohibited, as they’ve had some accidents in the past. If you bring your own equipment in, it may be confiscated. We learned this the hard way and had to leave our equipment at the entrance (they took very good care of it).
The Cahuita National Park also has another entrance, Punta Vargas. To visit this sector, you’ll have to get in at Puerto Vargas, just a 5-minute drive from Cahuita town. You’ll have access to longer hiking trails there! It’s theoretically possible to hike from the entrance in Cahuita town to the Punta Vargas sector, but that trail is not open at the moment.
Because we ended up being short on time, we only walked until about the “Perezoso” (= sloth) trail, right after getting to Playa Blanca. However, most people go until Punta Cahuita.
The trail is well-maintained and goes through the jungle, alongside the beach. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some wildlife along the way! The water at the beach that is closest to the entrance is pretty rough, and there are currents, so beware. The Park employees mentioned they don’t recommend swimming in that area.
Interestingly enough, the trail goes by an old oil exploitation well. It’s still bubbly.
You’ll then get to Playa Blanca. Here, the water is calm and crystal clear. A fantastic spot to swim around and lounge at the beach for a while! Playa Blanca is completely untouched, and it makes you feel like you’re on a deserted island. A really, really beautiful one.
Then, you can continue walking to Punta Cahuita. It’s supposed to be gorgeous as well, and if what we saw until here is any indication, we definitely believe it!
Punta Vargas Sector
The Cahuita National Park also has another entrance, Punta Vargas. To visit this sector, you’ll have to get in at Puerto Vargas, just a 5-minute drive from Cahuita town. You’ll have access to longer hiking trails there! It’s theoretically possible to hike from the entrance in Cahuita town to the Punta Vargas sector, but that trail is not open at the moment.
Where to Stay in Cahuita
Where we stayed – Cabinas Smith 2
You won’t find anything overly luxurious in Cahuita, but there are many options for nice budget to mid-range accommodations. This time, we found a great deal at Cabinas Smith 2 and stayed there for a night. If you’re traveling on a tight budget, this is an absolutely fantastic option! Under $30 USD a night for a private double room, a shared kitchen and super friendly customer service thanks to Gabriela.
Everything was well-kept and clean, and the kitchen was very practical. Especially as they do not include breakfast and coffee is life. The best part, however, was the location. It’s right in the middle of town, so you can safely park your car at the cabinas and then forget about it and walk everywhere. We’d definitely stay here again!
Other great (and fancier) options
If you’re looking for something more upscale, the Coral Hill Bungalows are absolutely lovely and a short walk to Playa Negra! This is a great choice for an exclusive romantic getaway. There are only 3, beautifully decorated bungalows, and you’ll feel right at home and pampered here.
Hotel El Encanto is also a fantastic little hotel, and one of the nicest in the area. It’s close to town and National Park as well, so you can’t go wrong! Playa Negra Guesthouse is another one of the best places in Cahuita. It’s not quite as central, but is awesome for families and the grounds are incredibly well kept.
Of course, Suizo Loco Lodge is legendary and definitely worth the visit! Hotel La Diosa is a charming property as well. Both of these are about 2 kms to town and close to Playa Grande. If you have a vehicle, Passion Fruit Lodge is also a gorgeous choice. However, it’s not within walking distance to town (unless you really like walking, I guess. It’s about 5 kms).
This is just a small list, of course. Cahuita is full of small, bungalow-style hotels, vacation rentals and camping sites. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect fit for you!
Should I travel to Cahuita?
If you like laid-back little beach towns, and getting caught in the rain ♫ (haha, but seriously, this is the rainforest) Cahuita may be the place for you! It’s perfect if you want to get close to nature (this includes bugs), explore untouched, breathtaking beaches, or learn how to surf. Please stay away if you need a 5-star resort or think that A/C should be a human right.
Have you been to Cahuita? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
