The quieter southern entrance to Cahuita National Park, with camping and a ranger station.
Blue Flag beach Turtle nesting Protected area
Cahuita National Park
Puerto Vargas is the southern entrance to Cahuita National Park, with its own beach, ranger station, and campground set apart from the main Cahuita town access. The beach here sees fewer visitors than Playa Blanca and fronts a coral reef used for guided snorkeling trips. The Bandera Azul Ecológica program awarded it 5 stars in 2025, the top rating.
From the coastal road between Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, take the signed turnoff to the Puerto Vargas ranger station, about 5 kilometers south of Cahuita town; entry fee applies at this station.
Species: Leatherback, Green turtle, Hawksbill, Loggerhead
Nesting season: Year-round, staggered by species: leatherback February-July, loggerhead February-May, green July-October, hawksbill May-November
Puerto Vargas, not Playa Blanca, is the park's designated sea-turtle nesting ground.
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.