A palm-fringed beach on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast

Jutting out into the turquoise Caribbean Sea, Cahuita has come to epitomise Costa Rica's laid-back east coast.

A Rasta culture prevails in this sheltered village, with the local Afro-Caribbean immigrant community reggae-ing it down with a steady stream of backpackers.

Just north of the village is the lovely black-sand Playa Negra, while to the south lies Cahuita National Park, the area's main attraction. Here, you'll find white-sand beaches, a coastal jungle trail and enough coconut palms and mango trees to fulfill all your tropical fantasies. Raccoons, coatis and mantled howler monkey abound, while the coral reef which the park protects is home to over a hundred species of tropical fish. The snorkeling here is stunning, and many people take boats out to the reef from Cahuita village. 

Sportfishing and horse riding are other popular pastimes here, and while the surfing is occasionally good, you'll find more reliable waves further south around Puerto Viejode Talamanca . 

Bicycle is the most popular way of getting around Cahuita's gravel streets. 

Cahuita receives a significant dumping of tropical rain and is known for being damp almost year round. The dryer seasons are March and April and September and October.