Cahuita is a unique National Park in Costa Rica for its close relationship with the community, an example of shared management between the community and the government, for sustainable development at the community level. The participation of community park rangers and lifeguards is highlighted, through shared governance.

Get to know the best-preserved coral reef in the Costa Rican Caribbean and enjoy the scenery, culture, and gastronomy that the area offers.

White sand beaches, a turquoise sea, and diverse marine life are some of the attractions that await you in the Cahuita National Park, in the province of Limón.

In this ecosystem, nestled in the Caribbean but with a forest environment, you will find species such as raccoons, coatis, sloths, iguanas, and basilisks. You will also see snakes such as tinsel and tamagá, and birds such as the crab sparrowhawk.

Within the Park, it is possible to do recreational sports and walks along the trails, or simply enjoy the beaches by swimming or sunbathing.

The park has the support of guides and tour operators from the community, who have been trained by the National Learning Institute (INA) and are duly accredited by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) to guide and provide service to visitors.

History

Historical overview of the Cahuita National Park and its community

The first settlers of Cahuita arrived in the first half of the 18th century, attracted by the coral reef, which years ago was the feeding and refuge site for large groups of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). These were highly desired by the indigenous and black settlers, who in rowing and sailing boats, sailed from Bocas del Toro and the Nicaraguan coast.

The family of Mr. William Smith was the first to settle in 1828 at the site called “Punta Cahuita” today. For many years, these first settlers planted products such as yams, cassava, cocoa, and coconut, and raised ranches with floors and walls of Maquenque palm (Socratea durissima) and roofs with pressed leaves.

IN 1915, during the government of President Alfredo Gonzales Flores, the current town of Cahuita was founded. The president, in gratitude to the population for the help received during the shipwreck of his ship, donates a piece of land on which the new town is demarcated.

At this time, the main subsistence economic activity developed by the inhabitants of Cahuita was the planting of cocoa and artisanal fishing, but, the drop in prices of this product and diseases that attacked crops, forced its inhabitants to start new forms of subsistence such as logging and ranching.

With this panorama in 1970, the Cahuita National Monument was created to protect the coral reef and in 1978 it was declared a National Park. It was one of the first National Parks created in the country, for the conservation of nature and the benefit of all Costa Ricans and visitors.

The Cahuita community has dedicated great efforts to the conservation of this National Park since its creation. This is why in 1998 the Cahuita National Park Management Committee was created, made up of members of local organizations, as well as representatives of SINAC. This committee develops actions for the conservation and sustainable use of the diverse ecosystems of the Park, making important contributions to the development of the community.

Cultural riches

In the 18th century, with the arrival of Afro-descendants, cultural links were created between the different ethnic groups from Africa and Jamaica. Leaving customs and traditions such as the architecture that is demonstrated as the Jamaican style that consists of building houses on pillars painted with striking colors.

Caribbean gastronomy stands out for using ingredients typical of the region, such as coconut milk, to make the famous Caribbean Rice & Beans ”or the incomparable“ Rondón ”, in addition to the well-known“ Patí ”a meat pastry cake, with spices and hot pepper. Among its dishes also comes out the “Plantinta” (plantain tart), and the “Pan Bon”.

Calypso began to be heard in the Caribbean of Costa Rica in the year 1870 when black people arrived from the islands of Jamaica, Barbados, and Saint Kitts. Since then the Limón community has been in charge of making Calypso music and rhyming in those melodies. The name given to the songwriters of Calypso in Limón is Calypsonians, which has the meaning of “a person who tells gossip, recycles rumors and transmits the news while positively resisting the onslaught of colonialists in the 19th and 20th centuries. (Monestel, M. 1993).

Natural wealth

The Cahuita National Park in its 1067.9 terrestrial hectares conserves an important sample of the very humid Tropical Forest flooded. In the marine area of 600 of its 22,400 hectares, the most developed coral reef on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is protected.

The name Cahuita comes from the terms “Kawe” which means “Sangrillo” (tree of the area) and “Ta” which means “point”, that is to say, “Punta Sangrillo”. It has 23,290 ha of marine coverage and 1,102 ha of land. In this territory, there is a set of ecological systems such as coral reefs that, due to their structure and diversity, are considered the most developed in the Costa Rican Caribbean (Jiménez, et. Al. 2011).

Services and attractions:

Services

Health services

Showers and changing rooms

Drinking water

Information service

Trained local guides

Community lifeguards

Picnic areas

Parking in the Puerto Vargas sector

Attractive

White sand beaches with safe areas for bathers to enjoy and beach activities can be carried out.

Coral reef, with areas destined to snorkel, where you can see a variety of coral fish and developed coral structures, where there are brain coral, elk antlers, sea fan, French angelfish, queen angelfish, and Elizabethan fish. , sea cucumber, lobsters, and turtles. Trails along the coast where you can see: Congo monkeys, white-faced monkeys, lazy bears, toucans, trogons, night herons, tinsel snakes, crawling hawks, and basilisks.

Recommendations:

-To improve your experience it is recommended to hire a local guide.

-Stay on the trails, wear comfortable walking clothes, biodegradable sunscreen and repellent.

-Take care of your belongings

-Do not stand on the corals

-Remember that pets, alcoholic beverages, weapons of any kind, as well as substances are not allowed.