pura vida passENES

Playa Blanca (Cahuita)

Beach · Caribbean Coast

Cahuita National Park's main beach, a long arc of pale sand fringed by forest, just a short walk past the Kelly Creek entrance.

Cost
about $2
Time there
2.5 h
Best time
midday
Kids
8 / 10
View
8 / 10
Crowds
5 / 10
Swimming
7 / 10
Effort
1 / 10
Location
9.7353, -82.834 — Google Maps

Tip

Swim along the reef-sheltered stretch and spread out in the shade of the trees right behind the sand.

Be careful

Currents near the Kelly Creek mouth and on rough days can be strong: swim only where the water is calm.

Places nearby

  • DelRita PattyFood & CoffeeTiny family stand on Cahuita's main road selling Caribbean patís, baked pastries with beef or sweet pineapple filling, until they sell out; visitors say it is worth going early.
  • Soda KaweSodas & Local FoodBudget-friendly soda right by the Cahuita National Park entrance, good for gallo pinto and fruit plates before a hike or a casado after it.
  • Aroma Coffee Bar & BreakfastFood & CoffeeCozy coffee bar in the middle of Cahuita serving brewed coffee and breakfast, with a mix of classic plates and local twists; a good first stop before the national park.
  • Jungle Night Walk CahuitaParks & WildlifeSmall guided night walk near Cahuita led by a naturalist guide who finds frogs, snakes and tarantulas along the trail, including a river crossing in places.
  • Cahuita ToursParks & Wildlife · from $55Local operator in Cahuita running snorkeling, wildlife hikes and cultural tours with the Bribri community, built around Cahuita National Park and the Afro-Caribbean history of the town.
  • Cahuita's Taste Caribbean Soul FoodFood & CoffeeChef Doria Sequeira Sellers cooks Afro-Caribbean home food in Cahuita: coconut-braised rice and beans with seafood, marlin in her own Caribbean sauce and Caribbean meat pies.

Sources: OpenStreetMap way/33557842 · https://jameskaiser.com/costa-rica-guide/parks/cahuita/ · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/33557842