Parque Nacional Cahuita

Cahuita National Park, established in 1970, protects flourishing coastal and marine area on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast. Renowned for its coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows and sandy beaches, Cahuita boasts incredible species richness and diversity. Cahuita’s coral reefs are considered the most well-developed and healthiest coral reef on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The reefs host 31 known species of corals and 90 recorded species of fish, as well as several species of sea turtles and many invertebrate species. Cahuita National Park is the 6th most visited tourist destination in Costa Rica, primarily popular for diving and snorkeling.

Both mangroves and seagrass meadows provide critical habitats and nursing grounds for a variety of fish and invertebrate species. Cahuita's seagrass meadows are an important grazing area for manatees. Cahuita's open ocean habitats are home to a variety of fauna including yellowfin tuna, marlin, sea turtles, and marine mammals.

Co-managed by the local community of Cahuita and Costa Rica’s National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), Cahuita National Park balances biodiversity protection, sustainable tourism, and food security. It is the only national park in Costa Rica that employs such a shared-governance model, where representatives of the the Cahuita Integral Development Association, the Group of Elders, the Community Businessmen’s Chamber, the fishing cooperative, and the tourism industry are included on the Local Council of Cahuita National Park.