Puerto Viejo Beach Costa Rica

Location: between Cocles and Punta Uva beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Puerto Viejo Beach (Salsa Brava) GPS Coordinates: 9.658912, -82.751339 (9°39’32.08″N, 82°45’04.82″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Puerto Viejo Beach Costa Rica, Talamanca, Limon  Google Maps location Puerto Viejo Beach Costa Rica, Talamanca, Limon

Getting to Puerto Viejo Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, you can choose to visit any of it beaches like El Chino, El Parquecito or Salsa Brava.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

BY BUS

You can take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space.

BY PLANE

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Puerto Viejo beach, which takes about 40 minutes.

Puerto Viejo Beach nearby Restaurants: Bread and Chocolate, Creperie Sel et Sucre, Le Numu, Stashus con Fusion

Puerto Viejo beach nearby Hotels: La Isla Inn, Le Cameleon

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Puerto Viejo Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Cocles Beach Costa Rica

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Playa Cocles Costa Rica

Location: between Cocles and Punta Uva beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Cocles Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.652517,-82.738985 (9°39’09.06″N, 82°44’20.34″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

Getting to Cocles Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 3 km (2 miles) until you reach Cocles Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572), making the stop at Cocles Beach entrance, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Cocles Beach.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Cocles beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Cocles Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Chiquita Beach Costa Rica

Location: between Cocles and Punta Uva beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Chiquita Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.637873, -82.709077 (9°38’16.34″N, 82°42’32.67″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Playa Chiquita Costa Rica

Chiquita Beach is a beautiful beach about 2 km long, with gold sands and crystal blue waters, surrounded by lush vegetation along its coastline, located just southeast of Puerto Viejo in Limon, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Chiquita Beach is an open-type beach, so heavy swells can be presented, but in the southern sector is protected by a promontory, where there are small colonies of coral, making it an ideal beach to practice some diving and snorkeling, or well just relax and enjoy the sea and sun, always taking precautions when bathing by strong currents.

Chiquita Beach is home to a small, quiet but colorful and naturally beautiful town, located along the coast and quite isolated, making it a perfect destination for those who want to get lost in the beauty of Costa Rica, where can find some hotels, resorts, supermarkets, restaurants and shops, among other things. However, for those looking for a little nightlife and fun, should remember that Puerto Viejo is just 15 minutes.

Chiquita Beach is ideal for a bit of hiking around and exploring the beauty of the region and culture. In addition, you can take some dolphin tours, practice a little surfing, horseback riding, canopy and ATV tours in the jungle. Also, from Chiquita beach, visitors can hike the stunning Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, a true paradise for nature lovers, thanks to the wide variety of tropical fishes and marine life that can be observed near the reef coral, and are also common dolphins and manatees, which are almost extinct in Costa Rica.

Getting to Chiquita Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 7 km (4 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Chiquita until you reach Chiquita Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572), making the stop at Chiquita Beach entrance, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Chiquita Beach.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Chiquita beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Chiquita Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Punta Uva Beach Costa Rica

Location: between Chiquita and Grande beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Punta Uva Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.636132, -82.699740 (9°38’10.07″N, 82°41’59.06″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Punta Uva Beach Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa RicaGoogle maps location Punta Uva Beach Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica

Punta Uva beaches are considered among the most beautiful in the world, and is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, characterized by its golden sands and crystal blue water with gentle waves, an amazing presence of coral reefs along its coast and surrounded by lush tropical forest, located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, just 7.2 kilometers from Puerto Viejo and 4.7 kilometers from Manzanillo in the province of Limón.

Punta Uva beach is a semi-bay type, which coast has two beaches separated by a headland called “Punta Uva”, hence its name, making it ideal for swimming in its calm waters, or to practice some diving, snorkeling, fishing from the edge of the reef and some beach games. There are tours to see wildlife in this nature reserve as monkeys, toucans, sloths and iguanas, as well as some marine tours, ideal for watching dolphins and manatees, which are almost extinct in Costa Rica, which will make your visit to Punta Uva unforgettable.

The town of Punta Uva is a small community with a few hotels and restaurants, known for the friendliness of its people. Importantly, part of Punta Uva beach is within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, dedicated to protect the coral reef and the lowlands of the southern Caribbean coastal region of Costa Rica, which has allowed preserve the natural beauty and flora and fauna. The shelter itself is a paradise for nature lovers, thanks to the great variety of marine life with lots of tropical fish that can be seen near the coral reef.

Getting to Punta Uva Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 8.5 km (5 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles and Chiquita until you reach Punta Uva Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

BY BUS

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572), making the stop at Punta Uva Beach entrance, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Punta Uva Beach.

BY PLANE

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Punta Uva beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Punta Uva Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Grande Beach in Limon, Costa Rica

Location: between Punta Uva and Manzanillo beaches in Limon, Costa Rica.
Grande Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.634660, -82.684444 (9°38’04.77″N, 82°41’03.99″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Playa Grande Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa RicaGoogle Maps location Playa Grande Cahuita, Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica

Getting to Grande Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 10 km (6 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva, until you reach Grande Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572), making the stop at Grande Beach, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Grande Beach.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon airport, either with Sansa or Aerobell Airlines every day. From here you can take a taxi or rent a car and drive or to Grande beach, which takes about 50 minutes.

Grande Beach Nearby Hotels:

Congo Bongo Hotel

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Grande Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

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Manzanillo Beach Costa Rica

Manzanillo Beach Limon Costa Rica

Location: between Grande Beach and Punta Manzanillo in Limon, Costa Rica.
Manzanillo Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.6328645, -82.6582748 (9°37’58.31″N, 82°39’29.79″W)
District: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon.
Zone postal code: 70403.

WAZE location Manzanillo Beach Costa Rica in Cahuita, Talamanca, Limon  Google Maps location Manzanillo Beach Costa Rica in Cahuita, Talamanca, Limon

Manzanillo Beach is one of the most beautiful and picturesque beach of Costa Rica, approximately 4 km long with whitish sandy, few waves and gentle slopes, bordered by countless coconut palms and coral reefs that extend 200 m offshore, located south of Puerto Viejo between Punta Uva to the north and Punta Manzanillo to the south, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the canton of Talamanca in the province of Limon.

Manzanillo Beach is all a tropical paradise, very conducive areas for bathing as well as being the perfect spot for diving and snorkeling thanks to the presence of corals, as it boasts an amazing coral reef a short distance from the coast, which makes it one of the most scenic areas of the country. Also, if you want you can take a dolphins tour off the coast and take a look at three species of dolphins that live in the waters around, or if you want to walk, you can climb Punta Mona and observe some of the monkey species native of Costa Rica in their natural habitat.

Manzanillo Beach takes its name from an ancient Manzanillo tree that was planted in the center of town in the early 1940s. Today, Manzanillo is a quiet little fishing village with a relaxed, cultural and unique atmosphere with friendly people and delicious cuisine. The whole place is very influenced by the Afro-Caribbean traditions and customs, perfect for a romantic getaway or with friends. However, tourism has developed in the area and is now a major source of income for residents, so now it has very colorful markets and many restaurants and cafes that serve one of the best seafood from around the country, with a variety of fish, crabs, prawns and lobsters making it known for its good food. Also, you will find different hotels and accommodation for all tastes and budgets, but do not look for night life here. Tourists looking for some Caribbean style nightlife should opt for Puerto Viejo as your destination, located about 10 km north, where you will find lots of live music and party!

Importantly, Manzanillo Beach is located within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, dedicated to protect the coral reef and the lowlands of the southern Caribbean coastal region of Costa Rica. The refuge itself is a paradise for nature lovers and underwater enthusiasts, thanks to the wide variety of tropical fish that can be seen near the coral reef, and are also common dolphins and manatees, which are almost extinct in Costa Rica.

Getting to Manzanillo Beach in Talamanca, Limon:

From San José

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km towards to San Jose, on your right you should see the Hospital Mexico, take the exit to your right, to La Uruca (on the roundabout, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and continue to San José (keep on the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to a gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit to Guapiles-Limon and follow the road #32 to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter the city, at a gas station you should take the exit on your right, following the road signs to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, and continue along the coast road to Puerto Viejo for about 60 km (37 miles). Once in Puerto Viejo, follow the road for about 14 km (8.5 miles), you will pass through the communities of Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Chiquita and Punta Uva, until you reach Manzanillo Beach.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, rain can be bad, lighting is poor and there are potholes and there could be people walking/cycling, which may be unseen.

By bus

You can take a bus from the route San José – Manzanillo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572), making the stop at Manzanillo Beach, which takes about 5.5 hours. We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to secure your space. This bus runs only once a day and is at noon.

You can also take a bus from the route San José – Puerto Viejo (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572) which takes about 4.5 hours which has several departures, and then take a taxi to Manzanillo Beach.

Manzanillo Beach Hotels:

Address map: Click here to view address map from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Manzanillo Beach in Talamanca, Limon, Costa Rica.

Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica

Haga click en el siguiente enlace para leer está página en Español: Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo en Costa Rica

Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge Costa Rica is located at the Costa Rica Caribbean coast in Talamanca, canton from Limón. This recent addition to the Costa Rican national wildlife refuge system is located from the Manzanillo town to the Sixaola River, which forms the border with Panamá. The refuge was established to protect the flora and fauna of the area, especially those in danger of extinction, such as the spectacular manatee. It consists of 65% rainforest habitat, with the remainder being marine habitat, making it one of the most beautiful areas in Costa Rica.

Its coral reef is in better shape than the one in Cahuita, although the corals have not yet developed formations so large. There are more than 10 endemic species of sponge recorded. Naturally, there are excellent snorkeling possibilities. The terrestrial part of the reserve includes a number of habitats, such as the marine and including the best preserved coral reef of the entire Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, so naturally, there are excellent opportunities for diving and snorkeling. Similarly includes the beach habitat boasting four types of nesting turtle such as the Green, Leatherback, Loggerhead and Hawksbill. This peaceful Gandoca estuary backed by red mangroves with the country’s only population of oysters and 400ha (752 acres) of swamp forest in which the most common tree is the raphia palm, which claims to be plant with the largest leaves in the world – its fronds can reach 12m (39ft) or more. The rainforest section has recovered over 350 species of birds, while the estuary is a good spot to see endangered manatee. The refuge also has over 500 species of marine and freshwater fish have been recorded, as also has three resident species of dolphin like the Bottlenose, the Atlantic spotted and the extremely rare Tucuxi. Clearly Gandoca-Manzanillo is an absolute natural gem for Costa Rica, which makes it very attractive for both tourists and scientists.

The refuge has an information station, restrooms, drinking water and picnic area. Other nearby parks include Cahuita National Park, Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve and Aviarios del Caribe National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge:

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km in direction to San Jose. On your right hand the Hospital Mexico will appear.After the Hospital Mexico, you must take the exit to La Uruca (on the rotonda, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and follow to San José (keep the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to Shell gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit Guapiles-Limon and follow the road (nr. 32) to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter to the city you will see a sign (at the Texaco Station) where you turn right and go to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo and just follow the coast all the way down. To reach the northern Manzanillo sector, drive through Puerto Viejo, and take the road through Punta Cocles and Punta Uva. To reach the Gandoca sector, take the highway south of Cahuita through Hone Creek, then BriBri. Shortly before you reach the town of Sixaola (at the Panama border), you will turn coastward to Gandoca. This route requires a total of five hours from San Jose.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, and rain can be bad and there are potholes and people walking/cycling that you can not see very well.

By bus

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Manzanillo, which takes 5.5 hours (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., 2257-8129 / 2758-1572). We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

By plane:

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon, either with Sansa, TravelAir or Aerobell Airlines, both with daily flights. From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, which is about 50 minutes.

Location: Between Manzanillo town and the Panamá border, district: Cahuita and Sixaola, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 70402 and 70403.
Manzanillo Sector GPS Coordinates: 9.631571,-82.661211 (9°37’53.655″N, 82°39’40.359″W)
Gandoca Sector GPS Coordinates: 9.5973621, -82.6054206 (9°35’50.50″N, 82°36’19.51″W)
Size: 5013 ha (12,387 acres)
Altitude: above sea level
Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area (ACLA-C) Telephone: +(506) 2795-1446
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge in Limon, Costa Rica.

Cahuita National Park Costa Rica

Location: South Caribbean coast, district: Cahuita, canton: Talamanca, province: Limon, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 70403.
GPS Coordinates: 9.736603,-82.839292 (9°44’11.77″N, 82°50’21.45″W)
Size: 1067 ha (2636 acres)
Altitude: above sea level
Schedule: from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cahuita National Park Telephone: +506 2755 0302
Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area (ACLA-C) Telephone: +506 2795-1446
INFOTUR Tourist Information: 1192

WAZE location Cahuita National Park Costa Rica, Talamanca, Limon  Google Maps location Cahuita National Park Costa Rica, Talamanca, Limon

Address map: Click here to view directions from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Alajuela, Costa Rica TO Cahuita National Park in Limon, Costa Rica.

Cahuita National Park Costa Rica: the small village of Cahuita is located on the Caribbean coast some 42km (26 miles) south of Puerto Limón. The Park, established in 1970, is one of the most beautiful parks in Costa Rica consisting of a platform of coral reef and a beach surrounded by rainforests and mangroves. Its attractiveness is due to its white sandy beaches with lush coral reefs and palm trees surrounded by a magnificent forest vegetation and extensive mangrove swamps. Cahuita National Park was established to protect not only the terrestrial flora and fauna, but also coral reefs against sedimentation which deteriorates gradually and various marine ecosystems, which no doubt are true natural Costa Rican jewels.

Its sand and gravel streets hold up a population of mainly English-speaking, descendants of the Afro-Caribbean fishermen who settled here in the 50’s. Tourism has developed significantly with new hotels and restaurants located and gradually spreading along at Playa Negra, a black sand beach north of town, while the south is more of a white sand beach surrounded by the rainforest. This makes that the town become very popular with young backpackers. Between the two is a “peninsula”, with coral reef offshore, making up the Cahuita National Park, which covers a mere 1067 ha (2636 acres). However the park contains a wide variety of species, both on the land and in the sea. The coral reef is just offshore and it is possible to wade out to it, although local boatman can take you out. Snorkeling is excellent thanks to the extraordinary spectacle that offer a variety of multicolored fish and corals, especially during the drier parts of the year that are between February and April and between September and October, as in other times of the year heavy rains that fall in the Talamanca mountains rise sediments of the local rivers, causing the water visibility very poor.

Inside the coral reef are a variety of attractive corals, such as the massive brain corals, the sea fans, the blue staghorn, the elkhorn, the tubipora and frondlike gorgonias. Although, more than 500 species of fish have been identified around the reef, which also congregate around two old wrecks, which guns can be easily viewed, including the famous angel fish, the amazing rock beauty and the blue parrotfish. Equally Cahuita National Park has over 40 species of crustaceans, 120 species of algae and around 140 species of molluscs. Both swimmers and snorkelers should be aware of the local black sea urchins, which are characterized for having large and vicious black spines.

Although Cahuita is basically a marine park, just under half comprises beach and coastal strip of rainforest and mangroves. The park covers an area of approximately 1106ha of land, and the part of the reef consists of about 600ha, of which 240 acres belong to the only coral reef in Costa Rica well developed around Punta Cahuita. The beach is inhabited by red landcrabs and bright blue fiddler crabs with their huge claws. A trail runs in and out of the forest behind the beach, joining the two ranger stations. Animal life abounds, with the possibility of seeing Raccoons, Sloths, Coatis, Armadillos, Agoutis and both Howler and White-faced Monkeys. The bird-watching is excellent, with Rufous, Green Ibis, Kingfisher, parrots and spectacular toucans amongst many others. The small rivers running into the reserve are home to a variety of herons. The vegetation is also interesting and includes the Breadfruit tree or Artocarpus altilis, believed to have been introduced to the area in 1793 by Captain Bligh. It can reach 20m (60ft) in height and its glossy leaves are often over a meter in length. The tree gets its name from its fruit, which can be cooked to give a bread-like substance that is rich in carbohydrate. All parts of the tree yield latex, which is used for boat caulking. Another tree found in the area is the cawi or sangregao. The Miskito word gave its name to Cahuita, which translates as “the headland of cawi trees”.

A few kilometers north of Cahuita is the Estrella River estuary, where a small wildlife sanctuary named “Aviarios del Caribe” is based on an island in the estuary. There are   numerous birds and animals at the sanctuary and popular guided kayak tours of the estuary will turn up a wide range of wildlife, including caimans, river otters and many types of heron.

Just 13km (8 miles) south Cahuita is the laid-back town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, which has become very popular in recent years with surfing and backpacking crowd. The main attraction without doubt is the surf, which is the best between December and March. A local organization called ATEC (Asociacion Talamanqueña de Ecoturismo y Conservación), which is devoted to ecologically sustainable development, runs tours including guided walks through the rainforest, snorkeling trips to the reef and fishing trips dugout canoes. The road from Puerto Viejo has recently been paved, making it easier to reach the villages of Punta Uva and Manzanillo, with superb beaches backed by coconut palms.

There is a scenic trail from the Kelly Creek Station along the coast to the beach camping area, then to the Puerto Vargas Station. Both ranger stations are open for visitor attention and have potable water and restrooms. Also, the beach camping area has restrooms, showers and picnic tables. Swimming is allowed only in this area, as other beaches of the park have strong currents or are protected turtle nesting areas. Other nearby parks include Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve, Aviarios del Caribe National Wildlife Refuge and Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge.

Getting to Cahuita National Park:

From the Juan Santamaria International Airport drive for about 8 km in direction to San Jose. On your right hand the Hospital Mexico will appear.After the Hospital Mexico, you must take the exit to La Uruca (on the rotonda, the third exit). Turn right at the traffic lights and follow to San José (keep the middle lane as much as possible) until you get to Shell gas station at a Y-junction, keep left. Take the exit Guapiles-Limon and follow the road (nr. 32) to Limón, passing through the Zurqui bridge and the Braulio Carrillo mountains. It is likely that you will encounter fog and rain. Please drive with your lights on. After the mountains the road to Limon is practically straight with no hills.

When you reach Puerto Limon, just before you enter to the city you will see a sign (at the Texaco Station) where you turn right and go to Cahuita and Puerto Viejo and just follow the coast all the way down. The Kelly Creek Station is found on the south side of town by walking across a foot bridge. To get to the Puerto Vargas Station, drive 4 miles past Cahuita and the station will be on your left. This route requires a total of five hours from San Jose.

Please note that if you have not left San Jose by 2 pm you will be driving part of the way at night. We do not recommend this for first time travelers driving in Costa Rica. Roads do not have lines, and rain can be bad and there are potholes and people walking/cycling that you can not see very well.

BY BUS

Take a bus from the route San Jose – Cahuita National Park – Puerto Viejo, which takes 4 hours (Autotransportes MEPE S.A., +506 2257-8129 / +506 2758-1572). We recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure your seat is saved.

BY PLANE

You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Limon, either with Sansa, TravelAir or Aerobell Airlines, both with daily flights. From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Cahuita National Park, which is about 40 minutes.