Travel to Costa Rica

Day 3 Puerto Viejo - Cahuita - Puerto Viejo (14 Km.)

(in 7 Km.) Cahuita N.P.: This park is located in the province of Limon on the Caribbean coast, 42 km. South of the city of Limon. It covers an area of 1,067 hectares and 22,400 hectares of marine area in which Coral reefs are. It is located in the Atlantic Tropical Region of Costa Rica and was created to protect the flora and wildlife, coral reef and many marine ecosystems. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the country because of its white sand beaches, its thousands of palm trees, turquoise color of the sea and coral reefs.

Cahuita N.P.

Cahuita National Park - Trails

We got to the park through the south entrance, where we parked the car and we made the trek (required to carry enough water, since due to the heat and humidity of the area is guaranteed dehydration) until you reach the park entrance at the north side, near the town of Cahuita. The park is located within the living area of the rainforest. The park has several important habitats such as the swamp forest, mixed forest, mangrove and coastal flora.

Cahuita N.P. - Beach

Cahuita N.P. - Beach

The reef covers an area of 600 hectares and extends from Punta Cahuita, between the Perezoso River and Puerto Vargas. It is the most developed reef in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and can find many species, including the french angelfish, the blue angelfish and the blue parrotfish. Other species living within the same habitat are the barracuda, remora, 3 types of sharks, moray eels, lobsters, sea sponges, white shrimp and the green and hawksbill turtles. In the Cahuita coral reef they have been identified 35 species of coral, 140 mollusks, 44 crustaceans, 128 algae and 123 fish. These protected marine resources are being damaged due to the large amount of sediment and pollution from agrochemicals that are carried by currents to the coral reefs.

P.N.Cahuita - Sloth bear

P.N.Cahuita - Sloth bear

They are common in terrestrial wildlife the howler monkey, the white-faced monkey, raccoon, sloth, otter and coatis, as well as several species of birds of swamp forest, as the green ibis, the kingfisher and night heron. Crabs, spiders and butterflies also could be seen. The most attractive during the trail is trying to discover the different types of monkeys.

Cahuita

Streets of Cahuita

Cahuita: Leaving the park we made a short walk through the town of Cahuita. Cahuita comes from the terms "Kawe" which means "sangrillo" (tree of the zone) and "Ta" which means "Punta"(tip in spanish), that is "Punta Sangrillo". The first settlers of Cahuita were fishermen who settled in what is now the park. In 1930 the Municipality of Limon built a pier near the Perezoso river for the people of Cahuita to allow them to get their products to Limon.

(in 7 Km.) Puerto Viejo: From here we take a taxi back to the car park from the south entrance, place where we had left the car, and not have to undo the 7 kilometers trail that crosses the park.