Cahuita National Park

Cahuita National Park

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 that is best abut Costa Rica. Since Cahuita National Park is close to the villages of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, there are well developed facilities and the roads are in relatively good shape.  The beautiful white sand beaches are a draw year round and the coral reef is attractive to those that snorkel the world over.

Established in the 1970s as a way to protect Costa Rica’s longest coral reef, Cahuita has become a firm favorite with many looking to explore underwater, as well as on land.  The reef is the home of over 35 species of coral as well as many marine species, such as octopi, sea urchins and barracudas, as well as the over 500 species of fish and many varieties of shark can be viewed regularly. The beach at Cahuita is also a nesting ground for several types of turtles that come ashore annually to lay their eggs.  The coral reef took sustained some damage 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 Pereoso River.  Though the ship never made its destination, it is now home for myriad of marine life.  This and another sunken ship can be viewed from above or below sea- the ballasts and cannons can be seen clearly from the shore.  Snorkeling opportunities abound inside of the marine sanctuary.