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Population: 8,293 inhabitants (2011 Census)

Cultural Significance:

Main Attractions:

Things to Do:

Population & Heritage: Cahuita is a charming seaside village with a rich Afro-Caribbean legacy. It’s actually the namesake capital of the Cahuita District, which spans several communities (Cahuita, Hone Creek, Puerto Viejo, etc.) totaling 8,293 people as of the 2011 census. The village of Cahuita itself is small – roughly 2,000 residents live in town– giving it a tight-knit, everybody-knows-everybody feel. Life moves slowly here, set to a soundtrack of reggae and calypso. Cahuita was founded by Afro-Caribbean fishermen and farmers; interestingly, it was known as “Bluff” in English until the government changed local names to Spanish (Bluff became Cahuita, after a local tree). Today, Cahuita’s populace is primarily of Jamaican descent, and you’ll hear Creole English (Mekatelyu) spoken as commonly as Spanish in the streets. Wooden houses painted in pastel colors, breadfruit and almond trees shading the yards, and the scent of coconut milk simmering in rice and beans – Cahuita feels like a step back in time to old Caribbean Costa Rica. It’s a welcoming, relaxed village where tourism and tradition coexist.

Interesting Facts: Cahuita is most famous for its National Park, one of Costa Rica’s natural jewels. Cahuita National Park was established in 1978 to protect the largest coral reef system in the country and the surrounding rainforest. Remarkably, it’s one of the only national parks with no mandatory entrance fee – it runs on donations, thanks to a unique co-management by the local community and park service. This means visitors can enter through the village’s Playa Blanca entrance for a voluntary contribution (suggested ~$5), which has fostered goodwill and high visitation. In 2019, Cahuita became the first national park in Costa Rica with a wheelchair-accessible beach – the community and donors teamed up to install an extensive roll-out boardwalk and amphibious chair, making Playa Blanca accessible to disabled visitors. It’s an inspiring example of inclusivity and local initiative.

Culturally, Cahuita is the birthplace of Walter “Gavitt” Ferguson, Costa Rica’s legendary calypsonian known as the King of Calypso. Ferguson (1919–2023) lived here all his life, singing smooth calypso tunes in Creole about island life. In honor of his legacy, the country declared his 100th birthday National Calypso Day. You can feel this musical heritage during the annual Cahuita Calypso Festival (held in July or August) and the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Parade every August, when the village comes alive with steel drums, colorful costumes, and dancing in the streets. Cahuita also holds a fascinating secret offshore: the wrecks of two 18th-century slave ships lie in the shallow waters of the park. In May 2025 it was confirmed by Danish researchers that these wrecks (long thought to be pirate ships) are the remains of the Danish slave ships Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, which sank in 1710. This discovery sheds light on a tragic but important part of the region’s colonial history, and plans are underway for interpretive displays about these shipwrecks.

Things to Do: Despite its small size, Cahuita offers a great mix of nature, relaxation, and culture:

Local Leadership & Updates: Cahuita benefits from a unique model of community involvement. A local Community Development Association works hand-in-hand with the National Park officials to manage the park and use donation funds for both conservation and town projects. This partnership has yielded positive results – improved trails, clean beaches, and the aforementioned accessibility project (a joint effort of the community, University of Costa Rica volunteers, and NGOs) that made Playa Blanca accessible with a 180-meter beach boardwalk and amphibious wheelchair The pride the community takes in “their” park is evident. In recent news, the park infrastructure got upgrades: a new visitor center and an elevated walkway were completed (with a $1.8 million investment) to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion on the trails. The President of Costa Rica even came to Cahuita in 2018 to inaugurate some of these improvements, highlighting Cahuita’s importance as a model for sustainable, inclusive tourism.

Cahuita’s government representation comes via the Talamanca municipal authorities and a local district council. The community leaders are often longtime residents like Don Óscar (the honorary park guardian) or Miss June (who organizes the annual Independence Day parade). These folks aren’t elected politicians, but they are pillars of the town. Crime is low and community solidarity is high – when the main bridge into town was damaged by heavy rains in 2022, everyone came together to fundraise and pressure the government for swift repairs. By early 2024, a beautiful new entrance boulevard to Cahuita National Park was unveiled, complete with decorative sculptures of turtles and coral, providing a welcoming gateway for visitors.

Places to Visit: Aside from the park and beaches, be sure to stroll down Cahuita’s Main Street (aptly named Kelly Street after a local family) – it’s a short strip with reggae-painted storefronts, souvenir stalls selling hand-carved wooden figurines, and the quaint white-and-blue Cahuita Catholic Church at the end. Pop into Reggae Bar (the town’s oldest bar) to see photos of Cahuita from decades past adorning the walls. If you walk north a bit out of town, you’ll find the Cementerio de Cahuita, a tiny seaside cemetery where crosses peek out from the vegetation – a peaceful spot that tells silent tales of those who’ve called Cahuita home for generations. And for a little adventure, consider a boat trip to Isla Uvita (a small island offshore to the north, where Columbus allegedly landed) or a night tour to see nesting turtles at Kelly Creek beach in season (April–July for leatherbacks, July–October for green and hawksbill turtles). Whether you come for wildlife or music or just hammock time, Cahuita’s soulful mix of nature and culture makes it unforgettable.