Best of Cahuita

Cahuita Essentials

Cahuita serves as a gateway to the Caribbean coast's diverse ecosystems and Afro-Caribbean heritage. This selection features the white sands of Playa Cahuita within the national park, the volcanic shores of Playa Negra, and the wildlife rehabilitation efforts at the Jaguar Rescue Center. Cultural highlights include the Museo del Cacao, documenting the region's chocolate-making history, and local eateries like Lidia's Place that specialize in traditional rice and beans cooked with coconut milk.

Playa Cahuita

White sand beach located within Cahuita National Park. It is bordered by a coral reef and coastal hiking trails where capuchin monkeys and sloths are frequently sighted.

Punta Uva beach

Calm, turquoise waters protected by a reef, making it suitable for snorkeling. The beach is lined with palm trees and located south of Puerto Viejo.

Haakon S. Krohn / CC BY-SA 3.0

Playa Manzanillo

A remote beach within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge featuring a scenic shipwreck and trails leading into primary rainforest.

Jaguar Rescue Center

A rehabilitation center for injured and orphaned wildlife, including sloths, monkeys, and reptiles. Guided tours explain the process of reintroducing animals to the wild.

Mike Rossbach / CC-BY-SA

Restaurante Cocos Bar

An open-air establishment in Cahuita's center offering Caribbean seafood, Tex-Mex dishes, and local cocktails.

Punta Uva

A prominent headland with a trail leading to a natural rock arch and viewpoints overlooking the surrounding bays.

Lidia's Place

Family-run restaurant specializing in traditional Caribbean-style rice and beans prepared with coconut milk and ginger.

Tree of Life

A 10-acre botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary showcasing tropical plant species and native animals in rehabilitation.

Playa Negra

A long beach north of town characterized by its dark volcanic sand and consistent surf breaks.

Museo del Cacao - Cocoa Trails

An educational site detailing the history of cacao in the Talamanca region, featuring traditional Bribri processing methods and chocolate tastings.

Bribri Waterfall

A high waterfall near the Bribri indigenous territory that drops into a natural swimming pool surrounded by dense rainforest.