After a hot day in the port town of Limon, cool off in the beach side town of Cahuita. Cahuita is about the most laid back village in Costa Rica and offers miles and miles of almost deserted Caribbean beaches. There, you have the choice of pretty white beaches or mystic black beaches. One of the sparkling white beaches is located inside Cahuita’s National Park which houses one of Costa Rica’s few coral reefs. Originally, the park was established to protect the coral reef that extends 500 meters out from Cahuita Point. This stretch of reef is home to some 123 species of tropical fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, sea anemones, sponges, black and red sea urchins, and sea cucumbers making it a wonderful snorkeling adventure. However, the biodiversity of these underwater life forms are greatly threatened due to the silt washed down the river from the banana plantations causing reproduction difficulties. Restrictions to halt soil erosion has been made, and hopefully these restrictions will be respected.

Besides the reef, there is a 7 kilometer nature trail which starts at the Park entrance and runs between the beach and the jungle. Tanagers, iguanas, sloths, and howler and white-faced monkeys are among some of the animals that you may see on the trail.

Only minutes from the National Park , and directly across from Playa Negra, is the exotic Atlantida Lodge. Atlantida is an exquisite place that captures the Caribbean atmosphere in a private, jungle lodge setting. This hotel is equipped with 30 rooms each with ceiling fan and terrace. Atlantida offers an international restaurant and bar including BBQ, enormous pool, jacuzzi, massage room, gym, volleyball, tropical gardens, night security, as well as various tours and excursions. Some of these excursions include hiking, horseback riding, Bri-Bri Indian Tour, orchid farm, bird watching, white water rafting, and snorkeling.