How to Visit Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica
Visiting the Cahuita National Park was one of our favorite things to do on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It is easily accessible from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca or Limon. We think this is one of the best national parks in Costa Rica that you shouldn’t miss.
You can spend a few relaxing hours in the national park or a whole day exploring the hiking trails. We enjoyed visiting the park at our own pace, seeing lots of animals, and then relaxing on the beautiful white sand beaches.
This ultimate guide to Cahuita National Park includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect on your tour, and tips for visiting.
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- How to Visit Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica
- Where is Cahuita National Park?
- Best Time to Visit Cahuita, Costa Rica
- How to Get to Cahuita National Park
- Cahuita National Park Parking
- Cahuita National Park Opening Times
- Cahuita National Park Entrance Fee, Tickets
- Cahuita National Park Tour
- Cahuita National Park Snorkeling
- What to Pack for Visiting
- Cahuita National Park Map
- Tips for Visiting
- Where to Stay near the National Park
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Where is Cahuita National Park?
It is located on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, near Puerto Viejo, in the charming coastal village of the same name.
The Cahuita National Park is a protected area with stunning tropical rainforests, white sand beaches, incredible coral reefs, and many wildlife.
Best Time to Visit Cahuita, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has two seasons: a dry season from December to April and a rainy season from May to November. However, the weather on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is generally rainier and more humid.
The best time to visit Cahuita is from February to April and September to October. However, tropical rain can still occur during these months. The average annual temperature in Cahuita is 27°C.
To avoid crowds, visit the park as early as possible! In the morning, the temperature is pleasant for walking, and you will see many animals as the national park is still quiet.
Read our → Costa Rica Itinerary
How to Get to Cahuita National Park
The national park is easily accessible by car, taxi, minivan, or bus. It is approximately a 25-minute drive from Puerto Viejo, 2 hours from Limon, and 4 hours from San Jose. The park’s main entrance is situated in Cahuita, just a short walk from most accommodation.
Book a full-day tour from Puerto Limon via Viator or GetYourGuide.
The cheapest way to get to Cahuita is by bus. If you don’t want to rent a car or cannot drive, you can take a MEPE bus from San Jose to Cahuita. The bus journey takes about 4-5.5 hours. The park entrance is less than a 5-minute walk from Cahuita bus station.
Currently, bus tickets cost around 6000 CRC (12 USD).
Good to know
You cannot buy tickets online or reserve a seat on public buses, so you may have to travel standing or not be able to board the bus.
Tickets can be purchased in San Jose at the Terminal MEPE ticket office daily from 5:30 AM to 6 PM. But we recommend buying your bus ticket at least one day in advance.
San Jose to Cahuita Bus Schedule
The Autotransportes MEPE public buses run frequently to Cahuita:
- 06:00
- 08:00
- 10:00
- 12:00
- 14:00
- 16:00
- 18:00
But bus timetables are subject to change, and we have not found a reliable bus timetable! Alternatively, book a minivan from San Jose Airport/City to Cahuita starting from 60 USD.
Cahuita National Park Parking
Parking is available at both entrances. Always lock your car when parking and keep your belongings in the trunk or your hotel room safe. The parking fee near the park is 3000 colones (6 USD). Alternatively, you can find free parking spaces in the village.
Since we were staying in Cahuita, we parked our rental car at our accommodation. The main entrance to the national park was just a 5-minute walk from our hotel. In front of the park entrance, a few local vendors sell fresh fruit, cold coconuts, and handicrafts.
TIP
We saw plenty of sloths in the trees in Cahuita, even outside the park, so always keep your eyes open.
Recommended post → Things to Do in Puerto Viejo
Cahuita National Park Opening Times
The national park is open every day from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Important note
Punta Cahuita usually closes at 2 PM and Rio Suarez at 3 PM, so visitors should start leaving the park.
Cahuita National Park Entrance Fee, Tickets
The national park has two entrances.
- Puerto Vargas Sector: The entrance fee is 5,65 USD for foreign tourists and 1130 colones (2,25 USD) for Costa Ricans. Tickets cannot be purchased online, so you must buy them on arrival. You can pay the entrance fee by card or cash.
- Kelly Creek Station (Playa Blanca): This is the main entrance. Admission is free (only a donation is required).
Cahuita National Park Tour
Although you can visit the national park on a self-guided tour, we recommend joining a guided or private tour for the best experience.
You can save money without a guide. But if you want to be sure of seeing the animals, we recommend joining a guided tour. During the guided tour, you will learn about wildlife and plants, and the guide will show you animals you may not have noticed. Telescopes make it easy to spot hiding animals and take better photos with your phone.
The guided tour usually takes 2 hours.
Book your guided tour via GetYourGuide or Viator.
Cahuita National Park Hike & Animals
If you are coming from the main entrance (Playa Blanca) and want to walk through the whole park to the other entrance, take at least 5-6 hours. Since you will be walking in the lush jungle, we recommend you wear closed shoes or hiking sandals.
Walk along the 8.5 km long, well-maintained trail. You can see many animals in the national park, such as monkeys, sloths, raccoons, snakes, frogs, green basilisks, and coatis.
About 1.5 km from the entrance, you will cross a small river (Rio Suarez), where you can continue walking along the coast. Most people only hike to Punta Cahuita, spend a few relaxing hours there, and then turn back.
We visited the national park around noon, and the walk was very uncomfortable due to the high humidity and heat. There were also a lot of mosquitoes. So we recommend arriving in the morning or relaxing on the beach until the temperature becomes more bearable.
Once you reach the other entrance (Puerto Vargas Sector), you can take a taxi or a local bus to Cahuita or Puerto Viejo for around 1000 colones (2 USD). The buses don’t have an official schedule, but they ran about every hour during our visit.
Cahuita National Park Snorkeling
Cahuita National Park was established in 1970 to protect the coral reef system off the Caribbean coast. The 600-acre reef boasts 35 different species of coral, 120 species of tropical fish, and many sea turtles.
Snorkeling and swimming are only allowed in designated areas. Punta Cahuita and Punta Puerto Vargas are the perfect places for snorkeling.
You cannot bring your own snorkel mask into the park. As the national park protects the coral reefs, snorkeling is only allowed with a local guide. Alternatively, you can join a guided snorkeling tour.
The snorkeling tours start at around 55 USD per person. The tour price includes the round-trip boat ride to Punta Cahuita, complete snorkeling equipment, a professional local guide, insurance, and fresh fruit snacks.
Book your snorkeling tour here.
TIP
Beware of monkeys and raccoons on the beach. Always keep an eye on your valuables while swimming.
What to Pack for Visiting
- Osprey Small Backpack: A very lightweight, versatile, and durable backpack, perfect for day hikes.
- Light Raincoat: Packable, lightweight, and waterproof raincoat with hood perfect for travel and hiking.
- Sunscreen: You don’t have to worry about sun damage with this reef-friendly UVA/UVB sunscreen.
- Quick-dry towel: This microfibre quick-drying towel is ideal for traveling, hiking, swimming, bathing, and sports.
- Grayl Filtered Water Bottle: The Grayl filter removes viruses and bacteria and filters microplastics, chemicals, and heavy metals. Fill up your filtered water bottle anywhere and drink crystal-clear water wherever you go.
- Swimsuit
- Hat
- Mosquito repellent
- Camera gear
- Binoculars or Telephoto lens
- Plenty of water
- Snacks
- Local money
Good to know
Single-use plastic is not allowed in the national park!
Cahuita National Park Map
Tips for Visiting
- Arrive as early as possible.
- Don’t take unnecessary things with you.
- Wear closed hiking shoes and lightweight, quick-dry clothes, as the weather is always warm and humid.
- As unexpected rain can happen at any time, bring a light raincoat.
- Be patient, and don’t be loud when you walk the trails.
- Always be ready to take photos, as you will see lots of wildlife in the trees and on the trails.
- Both entrances have toilets, showers, changing rooms, drinking water, and picnic areas.
- Bring your refillable water bottle with you.
- Don’t feed or touch the animals.
- Don’t leave off the trail.
- You cannot buy food or drinks in the park, so pack a lunch or enough snacks.
- The best places to see sloths in Costa Rica are La Fortuna, Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, the Jaguar Rescue Center, and Manuel Antonio.
Where to Stay near the National Park
For those looking for a quiet and calm atmosphere or traveling on a low budget, we recommend staying in Cahuita. We stayed at Cabinas Cahuita, just a few minutes walk from the national park. The hotel offers a shared kitchen, private pool, free parking, and friendly staff.
For those who prefer nightlife or traveling without a car in Costa Rica, we recommend staying in the center of Puerto Viejo. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Puerto Viejo
- Luxury: Namu Garden Hotel & Spa
- Mid-Range: Terrazas del Caribe Aparthotel or Umami Hotel
- Budget: Kalunai Hostel
Recommended post → Best Hotels in Puerto Viejo for All Budgets
Photo credit: Umami Hotel
We hope you found our guide to Cahuita National Park useful and will inspire you to visit Costa Rica. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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