In a nutshell
- Cahuita is one of the oldest and smallest national parks in Costa Rica — and home to the country’s largest remaining coral reef.
- This article covers everything you need to know before visiting Cahuita National Park: admission, trails, snorkeling, and how to get there.
- Don’t miss the snorkeling tour to the coral reef — you can’t reach it without a boat, and it’s seriously worth it.
- The best way to do it is as a day trip from Puerto Viejo. Our top pick there is the Cabinas Montesol — that’s where we stayed.
- Want to sleep closer to the park? Hotel El Encanto is just a ten-minute walk from the main entrance.
Facts About Cahuita National Park
Cahuita National Park is one of the oldest and smallest national parks in Costa Rica.
What makes it special is the largest remaining coral reef in the country, home to 30 species of coral. A truly stunning attraction in Costa Rica.
On land, you’ll find a mix of rainforest and long, white sandy beaches that rank among the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica in our book.
The hiking trails range from 2 to 8 kilometers long, and part of the trail is paved well enough that you can navigate it with a travel stroller or wheelchair.
The best time to visit the national parks in Costa Rica is between May and November, when everything is lush and green. That said, you’ll get the best weather from December to April, which is also generally the best time to visit Costa Rica.
Where Is Cahuita National Park?
For a quick overview, we’ve marked Cahuita National Park on a map for you.
Cahuita is located in the south on the Caribbean coast, near the popular beach town of Puerto Viejo.
What You Can Do in Cahuita National Park
When visiting Cahuita National Park, there are mainly three things to do: hiking, swimming, and snorkeling.
You can explore the park easily on your own — the trails are very well marked.
With a guide, you’ll have a much better chance of spotting wildlife. You can book a tour online through GetYourGuide, for example.
Guided Hike Through Cahuita National Park
You can also take a short snorkeling tour out to the country’s largest remaining coral reef. We actually missed the last boat ourselves, so we didn’t get to do it — but by all accounts, it’s really worth it.
You can book the tour on-site, right at the entrance or, if you’re lucky, spontaneously on the beach. The trip takes about one to two hours. Without the tour, you can’t reach the coral reef.
GetYourGuide also has a great combo tour that combines the hike with the snorkeling trip.
Combo Tour with Hiking and Snorkeling in Cahuita
How to Buy Your Ticket for Cahuita National Park
You can get your ticket for Cahuita National Park right at the entrance. At the main entrance in Cahuita, admission is officially free — though a donation is encouraged.
This section is run by a community organization, and the money goes directly toward maintaining the national park.
At the Entrada Puerto Vargas entrance, the entry fee is around $6. This section is managed by the National Conservation Areas System (SINAC), which oversees nature and wildlife conservation across Costa Rica.
At Entrada Puerto Vargas, you can pay by credit card; at the main entrance, you cannot.
Read our national park guide with info & tips
Accommodations and Hotels in Cahuita
You can’t sleep inside Cahuita National Park. If you want to be close to the main entrance, you can stay right in the town of Cahuita.
Our recommendation, though, is to use Puerto Viejo as your base on the southern Caribbean coast. The little town is simply much nicer and only ten minutes by car or bus from Cahuita.
Passion Fruit Lodge: Simply and stylishly decorated lodges, ten minutes by car to the national park.
Hotel El Encanto: Beautiful bungalows right by the pool and just a ten-minute walk to Cahuita National Park.
Cabinas Montesol: This is where we stayed in Puerto Viejo! One of the most beautiful places to stay in Costa Rica — wholeheartedly recommended!
Villas Piña: Individually decorated villas in the middle of the jungle, yet still close to the beach in Puerto Viejo.
Getting There: How to Reach Cahuita National Park by Car or Bus
Cahuita National Park is easy to reach. Just know that there are two entrances. The first is the Playa Blanco Sector (open in Google Maps), located right in the town of Cahuita.
The second is the Puerto Vargas Sector (open in Google Maps), near the main road between Cahuita and Puerto Viejo.
Getting There by Car
If you’re driving, just enter either Parque Nacional – Entrada Cahuita or Parque Nacional Cahuita – Entrada Puerto Vargas into your GPS.
There are parking lots at both entrances. We’re not sure whether they charge a fee, so we’d recommend bringing some cash — ideally in colones.
There is no loop trail in Cahuita, so you have two options: hike through the park and turn back the way you came.
Or hike from one entrance to the other and take a bus, taxi, or Uber back. If you go this route, we recommend parking at Entrada Puerto Vargas — at the main entrance in Cahuita, you’ll have a better chance of finding a taxi at the end of your hike.
Getting There by Bus
If you’re coming directly from San José, you can take the bus directly to Cahuita. Head to the Terminal MEPE bus station in San José.
From there, take the bus toward Sixaola. Departures run between 6 AM and 6 PM. We recommend checking the timetable on the bus company’s website before you go.
The ride to Cahuita costs around $11.50. You can only buy tickets on-site at the terminal. The trip took us about six hours.
Our tip: Get to the bus terminal early. Even during the off-season, our bus was completely packed.
Getting There by Minivan
A great alternative to the public bus is a shared minivan. They’re more comfortable and usually a bit faster.
You also have the option of departing directly from the international airport Juan Santamaría in San José.
Bonus: You can buy your minivan ticket online in advance. We like to do this through the ticketing platform 12Go.
Getting from Puerto Viejo to Cahuita
From Puerto Viejo, you can also hop on the bus. It picks you up at the bus stop in Puerto Viejo (open in Google Maps). We recommend getting off at the Entrada Puerto Vargas entrance — just ask the bus driver if they can stop there.
Then stroll through the park to the main entrance and catch the bus back to Puerto Viejo from the bus stop in Cahuita (open in Google Maps).
If the bus driver only stops at the main entrance, you can also hike through the park to Entrada Puerto Vargas.
When you walk out the exit toward the main road, you’ll spot the bus stop right away (open in Google Maps).
With the buses, you’ll need some patience — we rarely found a fixed schedule, but a bus always showed up eventually.
Alternatively, you can call an Uber to get from Puerto Viejo to Cahuita. Depending on the time of day, a ride costs between 11 and 18 euros.
Checklist for Your Visit to Cahuita National Park
- Check the opening hours before your visit. You’ll find the current times on the park administration’s website. Currently, the park is open from 8 AM to 4 PM.
- Bring water in a reusable bottle — glass or hard plastic. We had supermarket plastic bottles with us and they were confiscated at the entrance.
- Pack a rain jacket, swimwear, a hat, and sunscreen. Especially on the trails along the beach, you’ll be walking in direct sunlight.
- Pets are not allowed.
- Book a tour online in advance if you want a guided hike (with or without snorkeling).
Guided Hike Through Cahuita National Park
Combo Tour with Hiking and Snorkeling in Cahuita
Our Personal Tips for Visiting Cahuita National Park
Don’t forget your reusable water bottle — plastic bottles get confiscated at the gate.
Go early so you have plenty of time to swim and snorkel.
Playa Blanca (open in Google Maps) is especially beautiful for a swim.
Keep a close eye on your belongings — monkeys love to steal things.
Read more tips for your Costa Rica trip here
