Cahuita
Caribbean cuisine, stunning snorkeling, and a jungle full of wildlife await in Cahuita.
Adventure
Unique
Sustainable
Nature & Wildlife
Beach
Why Visit Cahuita?
Cahuita is a quaint and charming beachy paradise. It’s a place where you can feel the proper relaxation and joy that beach life brings. Everything from restaurants to national parks and tours is available in Cahuita. In addition, it’s close to a party town called Puerto Viejo, where you can have a night out or get souvenirs.
Below find some of our favorite reasons to visit:
- The Caribbean Cool Vibe: You almost feel you’re on an island. There’s a stable, small-town community that makes you feel welcomed.
- The Cahuita National Park: This park is the only national park that doesn’t charge an entrance fee. There are three different trails to explore and guides help point out hard-to-see animals, including snakes, birds, and monkeys. Cahuita is wildlife heavy. You will likely see sloths, lizards, frogs, herons, and many more in this lush jungle.
Where to Stay
There are mainly quaint, family-owned lodges in Cahuita. You can find hostels and small resorts near the breathtaking ocean.
Things to Do
In Cahuita you can enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, or horseback riding. There is also the national park and cultural activities.
Discover the Caribbean Coastal Town of Cahuita
You can spend an entire vacation without leaving Cahuita. Picture spending your days' snorkeling, surfing, nature hiking, wildlife watching, eating great plate after great plate, meeting exciting people, sunbathing, and beach hopping. You can find dark and white sand beaches and 35 coral species in the reefs in this small space!
You might also take tours of the Cahuita National Park, Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, or the Bribri Indigenous Reserve. Many places to explore, from the butterfly and iguana farms to waterfalls. The chocolate tour is another popular activity in Cahuita. Many people have reasons to visit the Caribbean, for instance, the great weather, authentic culture, and beautiful beaches with stunning colors of ocean blue in the Caribbean sea.
Cahuita also boasts an international community, and with that comes authentic cuisine brought from ex-pats from around the world and Caribbean food. The locals painted the buildings beautifully, the smiles are enormous, and the smell of must-try food is unmatched in Cahuita.
Best Time to Travel to Cahuita
July is usually the wettest month and September the driest, but Cahuita is beautiful year-round. Most of the country is rainy in September and October, but not the Caribbean. You also get the benefit of calmer seas during those months.
Cahuita Weather
Cahuita is pleasantly in the mid to high 80s year-round. The area also gets rain year-round. While it will rain most days, this is just for a bit, not all day. It’s usually bright and sunny all morning, and then you see showers or thunderstorms.
Is Cahuita Safe?
Cahuita is a lovely town of about 4,000 residents, many from Europe and the U.S. People tend to be friendly and look out for one another. It’s a welcoming place that’s generally safe, but ordinary precautions should be taken anywhere, like keeping valuables out of sight.
Top Restaurants in Cahuita
Sodas or Family-Run Restaurants
There are many but one of the best is called “Miss Edith’s Restaurant.” Miss Edith’s “Rice and Beans” Plate is a dish you simply have to try.
Cocorico
It offers authentic Italian food and some Greek food too. Our experts recommend the Greek Salad and tasty pizza.
Barakka Bistro Cahuita
For the best coffee, this is the place to go.
Reggae Bar
This is the best spot to kick back and relax with a great view and live music.
How to Get to Cahuita
It’s a 120-mile journey from San Jose to Cahuita but worth it. Depending on the day's conditions, you can make the trip in as little as 3.5 hours.
You start on Route 32 and drive through the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Many stop to take pictures by the tunnel. Follow the signs to Guapiles, Siquirres, and Limon, then turn south onto Route 36, following signs to Cahuita. It is 40 minutes south of Limon and 20 minutes north of Puerto Viejo.