Cahuita's own black sand beach, quieter than the beaches inside the national park.
Blue Flag beach
Playa Negra is a black volcanic sand beach on the northwest edge of Cahuita town, distinct from the Playa Negra near Puerto Viejo further down the coast. It is a quieter, mostly local beach with moderate surf, popular for walking rather than swimming. The Bandera Azul Ecológica program awarded a section near Atlántida Lodge 1 star in 2025.
From Cahuita town center, follow the road northwest along the coast; the black sand beach runs along this stretch past small hotels.
Cahuita
Cahuita Experience is a Cahuita-based tour operator known mainly for surf lessons that also runs an early-morning fishing trip with a local fisherman, departing around 5am to troll and bottom fish near Cahuita National Park. The 3 to 4 hour tour includes all gear and guests keep their catch, or release it on request.
Cahuita
Marco's Tours is a family-run tour operator based in Cahuita, running since 2018, offering guided snorkeling in Cahuita National Park's protected reefs plus combination snorkel-and-hike tours, waterfall trips, and boat tours to Punta Mona and Isla Uvita. Tours include bilingual local guides, transportation, and equipment, and the company also runs the Restaurante El Cangrejo Loco in Cahuita.
Cahuita
A 320-acre nature preserve and rescue center near Cahuita, operating since 1992 as the first sloth-focused facility in Costa Rica. Educational tours run hourly in the morning and can be combined with a canoe excursion through the rainforest. Advance booking is required and the sanctuary is open Tuesday through Sunday.