... Cahuita National Park ...
by Infocostarica Staff

No exotic Caribbean coast would be complete without a pirate and ghost story. There are two shipwrecks in the bay off the north side of Punta Cahuita that are believed to be Spanish and French pirate wrecks. According to local history, the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica was constantly visited by pirates, especially during the 1800’s. Whether these shipwrecks were pirate vessels or not, one thing is for sure- Cahuita and Limon are the stereotypical settings for pirate movies. It’s not hard to imagine pirate ships hitting the reefs, which would force its coarse passengers to swim to the beautiful white-sand beaches and to bury their treasure chests in the forests of the area. If I had been a pirate, I wouldn’t mind having to wait to be rescued in the lush coast of Limon, which would include harsh tasks such as drinking from coconuts, bathing in tidal pools, and eating delicious grilled fish.

Cahuita and the Limon province of Costa Rica, have a special flavor to them. The Caribbean area offers a natural and cultural environment that is completely different from the rest of the country. Coconut trees leaning towards the ocean, spectacular reefs, the sounds of Bob Marley and Alpha Blondie, and tourists wearing dreadlocks and Birkenstocks abound in this area. Even if you’re not the Rasta type, you shouldn’t miss out on the natural beauty of the forest and reefs of Cahuita.

The Cahuita National Park measures 1067 hectares, including 240 hectares of reef that extend outward from Cahuita Point. The tropical forest shelters various animals, among which are the following: pacas, racoons, Northern tamanduas, opposums, porcupines and capuchin monkeys. The marshes in the park contain many other animals, like the green iguanas, basilisks, gigantic blue crabs and many species of birds, like frigatebirds, green ibis, blue herons, gulls and others. Cahuita is also known for its coral reef, which unfortunately, suffered much damage with an earthquake that occurred on April 22nd, 1991. During this catastrophe, all of the park’s facilities were destroyed, several trees toppled and part of the coast rose above sea level, thus killing a lot of the coral. Even after this disaster occurred, the reef still offers 35 species of coral, including elkhorn , fan and brain coral. There are also other types of marine life, like sea urchins, moray eels, turtles, lobsters and sharks. In total, this incredibly important reef houses 128 species of algae, 44 of crustaceans, 140 of mollusks and 123 of fish. It’s essential to bring a snorkel and a mask, especially during March- April or September to October, when there is less rain in Limon.

The park is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the entrance fee is $15 or $4 if purchased in advance. There is a camping area that includes toilets, showers and even a barbecue grill! Drinking water, however, isn’t provided. This camping site, which charges $2 per day is pretty decent, but since theft is a problem, it’s better to ask the park ranger’s for advice as to where to store personal belongings. As for more “civilized” accommodations, there are numerous cabins in the village of Cahuita. Among these are the following: Cabinas Jenny (ext. 256), Hotel Cahuita (ext.201), Sol y Mar (ext. 237), Cabinas Colibri Paradise (ext. 263), and Chalet Hibiscus (758-15-43). You might be wondering why the extensions replace real phone numbers (except in the last case) and that’s because there’s only one number in Cahuita -758-15-15-, which means that you have to ask the operator to connect you with a certain extension number. In a way, this primitive communication system adds to the exotic flavor of the place.

Cahuita National Park suffered greatly from the 1991 earthquake. Its impressive reef is only beginning to heal, and this is possible in part, to national and international visitors to Costa Rica’s national parks. Even though Cahuita is another world or dimension when compared to the rest of Costa Rica, it’s easily accessible by car or by public bus transportation. There are buses from Limon to Cahuita, but there are also direct buses from San Jose to Cahuita and Sixaola. Whatever means of transportation you choose to get to Cahuita, you will definitely enjoy the village’s Caribbean ambience and the park’s natural beauty.