General Information

Cahuita National Park was set aside in 1970 as a National Monument by Decree No 1.236-A. On April 27th 1978 it became National Park by Executive Decree No 8.986-A
The park involves 1067,9 hectares of continental area, 600 hectares of coral reefs area and 22.400 hectares of marine area. It protects one of the most developed reefs of the Caribbean coast. Within the Park, there are also important sections of wetlands and swamps, mostly dominated by the "yolillo" palm and the "sangrillo" tree.
The golden sand beaches that border the coastal area of the Park are extraordinary beautiful.
The word Cahuita come from the two words "kawe" that means "sangrillo" and "ta" witch means "point": "sangrillo" "point".
Cahuita's first settlers were fishermen from the Caribbean Islands. They owned the land of what today is the National Park.
The Puerto Vargas sector used to have a pier which was built in 1921 in order to transport people and merchandise (mainly timber) to Limon.
En 1930 the Municipality of Limon built another pier close to the Perezoso River for transporting agricultural products to Limon.  The Cahuita National Park won the award “Bandera Azul (1996)”, In Puerto Vargas and Playa Blanca sector.

What can you do at Cahuita National Park?

There are many activities you can enjoy at the Park such as:
-More than 50 Camping areas
-Swimming
-Snorkeling
-Tanning
-Surfing
-Beach sports
-Jogging
-Fishing

What can you see at the coral reef?

You can find 35 species of coral being the most common ones:  Agaricia agaricites, Siderastrea radians and Porites porites.  More than 300 species of mollusks, lobsters, three species of turtles and thousands of colorful fish such as: the French Angel, Isabelita and Queen Angel fish.
According to the Environmental Organic Law, where it stipulates that civil society must be incorporated in the planning and development of Cahuita National Park, the Cahuita Nacional Park Management Committee was created as a body by executive decree, to share the decision-making process with the State and civil society, and have a se4ries of functions besides regulating the services and activities development within this protected wildlife area.