We rounded off our Costa Rican trip with a week in Cahuita. Situated on the Caribbean coast, Cahuita is a laid-back, rough-around-the-edges town, which I soon fell in love with.
We stayed in a little cabin right on the beach. Owned by Walter (a local) and Patty (an American ex-pat), the lush tropical garden was stunning. There were hammocks hung between the trees, a cute waterhole, funky sculptures and colourful birds and butterflies everywhere. And a resident cat too.
Spending hours watching the waves crashing onto the shore was just what I needed and it was a perfect opportunity to chill out after traveling through Central America. The surf seemed special in Cahuita and I was mesmerised by the sight of it, often to the extent that I couldn’t pull myself away.
Our lodgings were about a half an hour walk from the tiny downtown area, along a dirt track and past wild beaches full of driftwood. The core of Cahuita consisted of a small bus station, a couple of reggae bars and one or two general stores. Rasta culture was alive and well in this ramshackle little town.
One of the things that had attracted us to the idea of visiting the town was the fact that there was a national park that you could walk into. We took the trail along the coast early one morning. Full of beautiful butterflies, we saw many monkeys and were even lucky enough to spot a sloth and baby. Admittedly, it was hidden in the leaves of a tree, but at least we were able to catch a glimpse.