cahuita national park

We parked our car in the main entrance on the Southern part of the park, we walked around 8KM through the park. We saw animals like beautiful butterflies, Howler Monkeys, white face Monkeys, sloths....the walk is really peaceful and you can stop at any time by the beach, wild, really impressive. Be careful if you want to swim as there are currents, always ask at the entrance to the guards for local knowledge.You will reach Punta Cahuita where you can swim safely as is secluded.It took us around 2/3h to the walk across the park but it depends on how many stops you do.I'd recommend to take water even a snack with you if you want to have some food on the beach.Mind your bags if Monkeys are around, they are used to take things from tourists.You will get out in Cahuita town, other side of the park. There are restaurants there if you want a refreshment, food....we walked to Restaurante Sobre Las Olas...amazing place.

I have just been there and its is amazing. Great spot to see caimans, Green iguanas, Sloths, racoons, coatis, snakes, frogs, tucanos, hurrons and other birds. I recommend you enter by Cauhita check point, and contract a local guide, otherwise you might miss all the action.

We took a cab up from Puerto Viejo and asked the driver to drop us off at the Puerto Vargas entrance because we wanted to walk through the end and end up in the town of Cahuita versus the opposite. But our driver dropped us off at the town entrance. We didn't ask why. There was a very formal station there to leave a donation and sign in, as well as bathrooms. The first half of the hike, up until the beach many called "monkey point," the trail was very clear, but from there to the end there were times it became narrow, veered on and off the beach, and was a bit confusing. When we got to Puerto Vargas we saw the official park building but didn't see or hear anyone around. The walk on the access road back to the main road was long and rocky, and it was blocked off at one point due to some flooding. This made us understand better why the taxi didn't drop us off at this entrance. Not sure if this was different than usual due to recent heavy rains. If I had it to do over again I'd probably enter from the town again, go as far as monkey point, and walk back. We didn't hire a guide but were able to see lots of animals, though honestly sometimes this was because a guide spotted something in the group ahead of us.

We hired One of the guides that was standing at the entrance of the park. We arrived at 8am and during the 1hour tour we saw more wildlife then in Manuel Antonio or La Selva. Some examples: snakes - eyelash viper and another, sloths, 2 types of monkeys, turtle, different birds, green iguana, etc

Open 6 am to 5 pm. Donation (Kelly Creek entrance). 4.8 km trail (we walked to Puerto Vargas and back). We took most of the day and went for a swim as well (safe beaches have a green flag). Snorkeling only allowed with a guide. Very nice easy trail. Beautiful beaches. And lots of wildlife : capuchin monkeys (people are still feeding them and they can get aggressive, we saw one chasing a family down the trail), howler monkeys, 6 sloths (two were very close and moving, one was so close we could see the green algae on its fur !), an agouti, an oropendola, frigate birds with inflated red pouch (I was excited as I had not seen that before), several other birds, butterflies, a large brown basilisk lizard with impressive head and back crest, white and yellow eyelash pit vipers (they really do have “eyelashes”) and the very pretty blue crab.

Spider monkeys all along the way, and I hear (but did not make it to end) there are capuchin monkeys at the end begging from tourists (do not feed them). The beach is just gorgeous and safe to swim here. It is full of birds. The entrance, close to town has places to buy food and gifts.

this walk was 8.5 km and was well worth it .I am in my middle 50's and was able to do it without any problems. It took us about 31/2 hours but stopped along the way to look at crabs, monkey's plants the water and anything else we found interesting along the way.The path is mostly sand but there are some small bodies of water that need to be crossed, also expect to find some places where there are rocks and tree roots to walk on, it is a rain forest. I did wear my Kean sandals unfortunately by the end I did have a few blisters from the sand rubbing between my shoe and side of foot .Apply sun screen, at times we were in the shade but there was lots of sun, sunburned the back of my neck. Take a backpack with water and snacks towels and bathing suit if u want but there really isn't anywhere to change once u get more than 1/2 way through the park. AT the end or beginning depending on where u start which is in Cahuita there is an awesome hotel/restaurant right on the beach where u can eat/drink and swim. We started at the other end so when we came out in Cahuita the restaurant was an awesome place to sit and have lunch after walking all morning. Don't miss this park is u going to Cahuita or anywhere close.

This park is gorgeous !! Walk along the big sandy beaches or the forest pathway and switch it up throughout your walk ... mushrooms, big beautiful butterflies, monkeys, crabs, vines hanging from trees, bridges and I don't think I ran into any mosquito's !! Loved it would love to spend more time than just a day !!

We were two families with middle school aged children. The park was a full day of fun for our family. We entered from the Cahuita side, which is prettier. We carried in a lunch, set up a spot on the beach, played in the water and hiked to the end of the point. We saw monkeys and two colorful Eyelash Pit Vipers curled up on a big green leaf. That was memorable.

Free, but we felt a little pressured to give some money to get in.Nice and easy walk, we didn't see lots of animals, but still nice. You can go by the jungle and return by the beach, great.

A gentle walk through the coastal jungle, sometimes along a path alongside the beach, sometimes moving inland a way. I saw many monkeys (a couple of species), iguanas, birds, snakes sloths, a squirrel, insects,and countless others. Easy trek, but you must ford a couple of streams, so shorts are good. And having taken off m y shoes to do so, I never bothered putting them back on. Also towards the end of the path, at Playa Vargas, beautiful beach. You can spend the time swimming on an almost deserted beach. But take the guide for at least part of the hike unless you are very experienced. You see a lot more, and learn a lot.

Part of the park was closed for repairs but the part we did get to see was beautiful. They had benches with covering along the path for people to sit in and see the view and rest. We really enjoyed it.

We took a bus from Cocles to the town of Cahuita. Walked into the park (small entrance fee) and took the trail all the way around the point back to the main road, where we caught the public bus back to Puerto Viejo. The walk was beautiful, the trail flat and easy. We were comfortable in sturdy walking sandals (Keen, Teva). Wouldn't recommend flip-flops, and you don't need hiking boots for this walk. Saw capuchin, spider, and howler monkeys along the way. Capuchin were a bit aggressive and right on the trail, so don't carry food or bottles too low. Also saw caiman, parrot, crabs. We were glad to have sandwiches to go from Bread & Chocolate restaurant in Puerto Viejo, stopping to picnic at the beautiful sand beach on the tip of the park peninsula. If you choose not to walk the whole trail, but go in and out from the town, there are restaurants in Cahuita, but you might miss the howlers and the pretty part of the walk along the beach on the other side of the peninsula. We did this on a less-than-perfect beach day, and it was just right for a great walk.

We entered at the Playa Vargas gate and made the loop towards the Cahuita town main entrance -- the recommended direction as it can be hard to find transportation at the Vargas gate, and there are no stores or food places there either. It's about 8-9 km through forest and parallel to shoreline, with many points of beach access (and two knee-deep rivers). Saw many shore birds, a troupe of whiteface monkeys, the eyelash viper, morphos. A flat and mostly shaded path makes this a very enjoyable hike.

We walked through the park twice. Once all the way through from the Puerto vargo entrance. This costs $5 and is a 3 hr walk. The second time we entered from Cahuita centre and waked part way then came back. You only pay a donation if you enter from this end. The trail is well marked. You do not need a guide but at $20 a go I think it is well worth getting one. They will spot the snakes and chameleons that you will walk right past! I speak from experience. The park was beautiful. Full of animals. We saw sloths, Coates, monkeys(2 kinds) raccoons and 2 huge iguanas. There were butterflies and birds. You can swim in designated places and the beaches are wonderful. I would highly recommend a visit.