Scroll down to see all pictures WHERE’S THE BEACH?
After three days and nights on the move, and having cleared into Costa Rica before our CA4 visas expired, we were ready to slow down and chill out a little. We spent our first night in Costa Rica at Puntarenas, on the Pacific Ocean. The next day we drove across the country to Cahuita (say kah-wee-ta) on the Caribbean coast just south of Limón. From one ocean to the other in about six hours- cool!
Bob and Trish, our traveling companions, had located the town of Cahuita (say kah-wee-ta) in their research for our trip. The guide book indicated this beach town had hotels all along the shoreline, and is a popular surfing spot. Well, it certainly was not what any of us expected! I don’t know, like, maybe we were thinking of, like, a southern California-type surfer dude beach scene, y’know? But Cahuita turned out to be one of those delightful surprises.
We drove slowly along the sandy road to find the hotels listed in our guide book. The “beach” is really thick vegetation right up to the rocky shoreline. The “shoreline drive” is really a sand track carved through the trees with a few scattered hostals hiding in the bushes. The center of town is a wide main road lined with restaurants, surf shops, a small park, tourist services, and “chinas” (say chee-na- the name given to the ubiquitous small grocery stores owned by immigrants from China). We stopped at several hostals, hotels, and guest houses and settled at Angela’s Apartments. What a find! An unusual octagonal building, four stories, with an apartment on each floor containing several beds, bathroom , kitchen and dining area. Al and I had the second floor, Bob and Trish the third. For $40 per night this place is a good value, particularly when compared to the other options in Cahuita, and it even has a swimming pool! The resident manager Jesus is from Colombia and is a friendly, kind man.
The jewel of Cahuita is the real beach-a perfect crescent of white sand, lined on one side with palm trees and tropical shrubs, and on the other with turquoise water swooshing up in waves. Oh yeah…this is it! This is Cahuita National Park and Marine Preserve, well-maintained by the Costa Rican government. A trail follows the shoreline, covered by welcome shade trees. Just off the outermost point of land is a coral reef open to divers and snorkelers. Birds, fish and animals abound, and are not timid. Al helped protect a young woman’s purse from a hungry racoon by throwing sand at it, and just ask Bob and Trish about the white-face monkeys! There are few things more truly relaxing than hanging out at the beach, in the cool shade, feeling the ocean breeze, surrounded by calming hues of blue sky and sea, listening to the rhythm of the surf… Okay, it sounds clichéd, but it’s still true!! (Thinking of you, Melchior!)
We spent four days in Cahuita and had a great time. We had some good meals at the local restaurants. Trish and I beach combed in front of our apartment and found some goodies. Al and I sat on the balcony and watched the neighborhood kids enjoying the playground. We sat at a table in the park and read. We felt hip hanging out where all the young backpackers and surfers hang out. (So what if we go to bed at 9 pm!)
Cahuita is a place I would visit again.
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