Cahuita National Park is a coastal park on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, 20 to 30 minutes’ drive north of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, that protects the most developed coral reef on the country’s Caribbean coast along with beach-fringed rainforest. You can walk in on your own from either entrance, Playa Blanca (Kelly Creek) in Cahuita town or Puerto Vargas, between 8 am and 4 pm; to snorkel the reef, go with certified local guides.
It is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Puerto Viejo. Here’s what to know before you go.
What is Cahuita National Park?
A marine and forest park in Limón province, managed by SINAC, Costa Rica’s national system of conservation areas. It became a National Monument in 1970 and a National Park in 1978, and since 1998 it has been co-managed with the Cahuita community through a management committee.
The park protects about 600 hectares of coral reef within its marine area and just over 1,000 hectares of land. According to SINAC, the name comes from kawe, the sangrillo tree, and ta, point: “Sangrillo Point”.
People were here long before the park. SINAC’s history describes the reef as a feeding ground for green and hawksbill turtles, fished by Black and Indigenous turtle fishers who sailed from Bocas del Toro and the Nicaraguan coast; the family of William Smith had settled at Punta Cahuita by 1828. That heritage is why the town entrance still runs on community contributions. For the wider story, see our Afro-Caribbean Puerto Viejo page.
How do you get there from Puerto Viejo?
- By car: about 20 minutes to the Puerto Vargas entrance (14 km) and 26 minutes to Playa Blanca in Cahuita town (17.7 km), in free-flowing traffic.
- By bus: MEPE buses run between Puerto Viejo and Cahuita several times a day. Timetables change, so check the day before at reception or with MEPE.
- By bike: possible for strong riders, at about an hour each way on the main road.
- On a tour: the Cahuita snorkeling tour includes transport and entrance fees.
More options are in our getting-around guide.
Which entrance: Kelly Creek or Puerto Vargas?
Choose Playa Blanca (Kelly Creek) for the beach, the town and a pay-what-you-can entry; choose Puerto Vargas if you’re driving and want to start closer to Puerto Viejo.
| Playa Blanca (Kelly Creek) | Puerto Vargas | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Cahuita town | Puerto Vargas sector, south of town |
| From Conga | 17.7 km, about 26 min by car | 14 km, about 20 min by car |
| Hours | Daily, 8 am to 4 pm | Daily, 8 am to 4 pm |
| Entry | Voluntary cash contribution | US$5.65 incl. VAT (non-resident visitors); ₡1,130 residents, ₡565 resident children; cards accepted |
| Good for | Swimming, a first walk, combining with Cahuita town | Drivers coming from Puerto Viejo |
Hours and fees are from SINAC’s official page in September 2026. Some travel sites still quote longer hours for Playa Blanca, or a first-Monday closure at Puerto Vargas; those appear to be out of date.
What wildlife can you see?
SINAC’s list for the park includes mantled howler monkeys (locally mono congo), white-faced capuchins, sloths, coatis, toucans, trogons, night herons, basilisk lizards, raccoons and the crab hawk. You may also meet the eyelash viper, called oropel here: admire it from a distance and never touch it.
Howler monkeys call loudest at dawn and dusk, and their voices carry for kilometers. On the reef, SINAC lists brain and elkhorn corals, sea fans, French and queen angelfish, lobsters and turtles. For sloth-spotting tips, read where to see sloths.
Can you snorkel the reef?
Yes, with a guide. SINAC mentions designated snorkeling zones, and in practice snorkeling here is done on tours with certified local guides, many of them community guides trained by INA and accredited by ICT. Whoever you go with, never stand on the coral, and use biodegradable sunscreen.
Our Cahuita snorkeling tour picks you up at 7 am and drops you off at noon (US$75, as listed September 2026). It includes transport, entrance fees, an instructor, fruit and snacks, a boat ride, a beach break at Punta Cahuita and a one-hour guided hike through the coastal forest. You’ll snorkel among tropical fish, and reef sharks or stingrays are sometimes seen.
Conga tip: Visibility is usually best in September and October, when the sea is calmest. From December to March, bigger swells can cloud the water.
How much time should you plan?
With the park open from 8 am to 4 pm, a morning is enough for a relaxed walk and a swim from Playa Blanca; a full day lets you walk further and linger on the beaches. The snorkeling tour takes the morning. Trail conditions change with the weather, so ask the rangers at the entrance how far you can comfortably go that day.
Can you swim?
Yes, at Playa Blanca. SINAC lists white-sand beaches with safe zones for swimmers, community lifeguards, showers, toilets and drinking water. Swim only in the marked areas and follow the lifeguards’ flags: as everywhere on this coast, rip currents can form. Our beach guide covers rip-current safety.
Should you go with a guide or on your own?
For walking, either works: you don’t need a guide to enter. SINAC does recommend hiring a local guide, and it’s worth it if wildlife is your goal. A good guide finds the sloth, the viper and the basilisk you would walk straight past, and your fee supports the community that co-manages the park. For snorkeling, go with a guided tour.
What are the park rules?
- No pets, alcohol, weapons or drugs.
- Stay on the trails.
- Never stand on coral.
- Use biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Don’t touch or feed wildlife; it’s against Costa Rican law.
- Take your rubbish with you.
Questions for the park itself can go to aclac.pncahuita@sinac.go.cr.