Cahuita, Costa Rica is a town bordering Cahuita National Park, a terrestrial and marine national park with many nesting turtles. Although the town is right next to one of Costa Rica’s 28 national parks, Cahuita is a quiet town of 8,300 people. There are still plenty of hotel and lodge options for those wanting to travel there. The town is known for its black and white beaches (where some forests are basically in the ocean, like Playa Grande en Cahuita, Playa Blanca, and Playa Negra), dessert crepes (with bananas, chocolate, and strawberry), and variations of grilled chicken. Sunrise and sunset will change very little throughout the year, and the temperatures are the same - the average maximum temperature tends to be about 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius), and the average minimum temperature is about 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius). Precipitation amounts also remain very consistent throughout the year.
Cahuita National Park, also known as Parque Nacional Cahuita, has a land area of 2,732 acres (1,106 hectares) and a marine area of 55,200 acres (22,300 hectares). It is located on the eastern coastline of Costa Rica, only a few miles away from Panama. It is also in the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area of Costa Rica, located on the southern Caribbean coast in Limón Province. With the few miles or kilometers of coastline within its boundaries, it conserves both beaches (where hundreds or thousands of sea turtles will nest) and lowlands. Cahuita National Park is the only national park in Costa Rica not to charge for admissions; they instead rely on donations, so I would recommend giving some money to help fund local conservation efforts.
The best part of the park, in my opinion, is that you can snorkel in the coralline reefs. These unique reefs are home to many fish and aquatic species, both rare and colorful. The 600-acre (242-hectare) reef has 35 species of coral, 44 species of crustaceans, 140 species of mollusks, and more than 120 species of fish. If you are wanting to dive or snorkel, February, March, and April are the best months to go - calmer waves and currents allow for the best underwater visibility during this time of year.
The land portion of Cahuita National Park has lots of biodiversity, too. There are many mammals and birds, including sloths, northern tamanduas, pacas, green-and-rufous kingfisher, green ibis, and keel-billed toucan. Corredor Caribe and National Route 36 are on the border of the national park and allow access to Hone Creek, Cacao Trails (Museo de Cacao), Comadre, Bahía Don-bato, Mirador Cahuita Cochabamba, Punta Cahuita, Kelley Creek, Punta Vargas, Río Hone, and more of the black and white sand beaches.
There are plenty of hotels and lodges in Cahuita, Costa Rica, including many next to beaches, some surrounded by dense forests, and others in beautiful nearby towns. The options listed below are separated by luxury, moderately priced, and cheap. Fortunately, there are good choices in each of the categories. Prices can range from $25 to $400 a night during the wet season (May - November), and $30 to more than $400 a night in the dry season (December - April) if you are interested in a house with 4 bedrooms and 6 beds. Some amenities include a pool, free breakfast, a restaurant, bars and lounges, a wonderful view of the beach, a balcony, and much more!
Cahuita Hotels and Lodges - Luxury
Cahuita Hotels and Lodges – Moderately Priced
Cahuita Hotels and Lodges – Cheap
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