Location: 9.7
Park, beach, supermarket, restaurants and live calypso bars are all one or two blocks away.
Cahuita · Limón · Costa Rica
Cabinas Cahuita
★★★
A small, quiet guesthouse in the middle of Cahuita, a short walk from the national park and the white sand of Playa Blanca. Outdoor pool, shared kitchen, free parking and air-conditioned rooms.
- 9.2on Booking.com · 750 reviews
- 4.5on Google · 269 reviews
- 250 mfrom Cahuita National Park
Secure booking on Booking.com · Rates change by date
A friendly, affordable base in the heart of Cahuita
Cabinas Cahuita is 100 meters past the Cahuita bus station, in the center of the village. Within about 500 meters you have a supermarket, a bank, a pharmacy, a clinic, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops, so you can leave the car in the hotel's gated lot and do almost everything on foot.
It is a small place with few rooms, which is why guests describe it as quiet, private and homey. Booking.com guests rate the location 9.7 and the staff 9.7, and the small pool, the shared kitchen and the garden are what people mention most after that. The entrance to Cahuita National Park and Playa Blanca are about 250 meters away.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, all taken from the listing and from guest reviews.
Staff: 9.7
Reviews keep praising the hosts: always available, with good restaurant and tour tips.
Pool and garden
"Small but enough" to cool off after a day of hiking or the beach, in a courtyard with flowers and palms.
Shared kitchen
Guests say it is tidy and has what you need to cook for a couple of days.
Free private parking
A gated outdoor lot, in a village where you rarely need the car.
Value for money: 9.4
A simple, clean and affordable place, as many guests put it.
Hotel photos
The rooms
Four types for two or three guests. All have air conditioning, bed linen and a wardrobe; some also have a patio and a flat-screen TV with cable. Everything is on the ground floor.
Double room
The simplest choice for two, with air conditioning. Guests mention the very comfortable mattress.
See price →Triple room
For three guests, or for a couple with a child.
See price →Double room adapted for reduced mobility
A ground-floor room designed for guests with reduced mobility.
See price →Basic triple room with shared bathroom
The most economical option: the bathroom is shared with the neighboring room. Some guests suggest avoiding the rooms next to the kitchen if you want more quiet.
See price →Hotel amenities
A simple guesthouse with no restaurant or breakfast service: its strengths are the location, the pool and the kitchen.
- Outdoor poolSmall, open all year, with loungers; free for guests.
- Free wifiThroughout the property; Booking.com guests rate it 9.8.
- Air conditioningIn every room; "quiet," according to one guest.
- Shared kitchenFridge, stove and dishes for everyone, next to the pool.
- Free parkingA private outdoor lot behind a gate. It is small, and there is a late-evening limit on taking the car out.
- Bike rentalsBanana bikes, the classic Caribbean way to get around Cahuita.
- Luggage storageUseful if your bus leaves late on the last day.
- Daily housekeepingIncluded in the stay.
- Tour helpReception shares tips and works with local tour agencies.
- Lounge and gamesA shared area with TV, board games and a place to sit and relax.
- English, Spanish and FrenchThese are the languages the hosts speak.
- Smoke-freeSmoking is not allowed on the property.
Where to eat
The guesthouse has no restaurant and does not serve breakfast, but everything is within a few minutes' walk.
Morning coffee
Guests mention free coffee and tea at the property; ask on arrival what is available.
Cook for yourself
The shared kitchen and the supermarket 100 meters away make it easy to prepare your own meals.
Café Cahuita · 150 m
A café just down the street, one of the closest places for coffee.
Coco's Bar and Restaurant · 200 m
A bar and restaurant two blocks away, one of the places guests mention for dinner.
Restaurants around the corner
Reviewers name the Caribbean and seafood places in the center and note that prices are reasonable.
Supermarket · about 100 m
For groceries, water and snacks before a day at the park.
An Afro-Caribbean village between the rainforest and the reef
Cahuita is a small village on Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast, right at the gate of Cahuita National Park. About 15 km south is Puerto Viejo, with its surf beaches, Cocles, Punta Uva and Manzanillo. Distances are in a straight line from the hotel.
Cahuita National Park · 250 m
A flat trail between the rainforest and the sea follows the park's coastline from the village to Puerto Vargas. Along the way there are white-sand beaches with calm water, and it's easy to spot monkeys, sloths, raccoons and birds. The Kelly Creek entrance, in the village, works on a voluntary donation.
Cahuita Point and the reef · 3.1 km
Off the point lies the largest coral reef on the country's Caribbean coast, with colorful fish, corals and turtles. Snorkeling inside the park is only allowed with an authorized guide, by boat and when the sea is in good shape.
Monkeys, sloths and wildlife
White-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths and toucans can be seen in the park and even in the village trees. Near Puerto Viejo, the Jaguar Rescue Center (16.6 km) cares for and rehabilitates wild animals.
Puerto Viejo · 12.8 km
A lively town with Caribbean culture, restaurants, bakeries, music and nightlife. Right in front of town breaks Salsa Brava, one of the country's best-known waves for experienced surfers.
Cocles and Punta Uva · 19.5 km
South of Puerto Viejo, the road runs past long palm-lined beaches: Cocles (15.4 km) is the surf beach and has lifeguards; Punta Uva has a small cove with calmer water, good for swimming and kayaking.
Manzanillo and Gandoca-Manzanillo · 23.5 km
Where the road ends you'll find the village of Manzanillo and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, with a coastal trail through the rainforest, lookouts and empty beaches, almost all the way to the Panama border.
When to go to Cahuita
Average high temperature and rainfall in Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, month by month (approximate values).
29°Jan
29°Feb
30°Mar
30°Apr
31°May
31°Jun
30°Jul
30°Aug
31°Sep
31°Oct
30°Nov
29°Dec
Driest (Feb–Mar, Sep–Oct) Variable (Apr–Jun, Aug) Wettest (Jul, Nov–Jan) · mm
- 🌴 On the southern Caribbean coast it rains all year round and there's no clear dry season like on the Pacific side: rain usually comes in showers that alternate with sunshine.
- ☀️ September and October are usually the driest months with the calmest sea, ideal for the beach and snorkeling, just when the rest of the country is in its rainy season. February and March are good too.
- 🌧️ July and November to January are the wettest months; sometimes it rains for several days in a row and the sea gets rougher.
- 🏄 From December to March the biggest waves reach Puerto Viejo (Salsa Brava and Cocles); Christmas, New Year's and Easter are busier, so book early.
- 🐢 From March to July leatherback and hawksbill turtles nest on the beaches of Gandoca; visits are only allowed with authorized local guides.
- 🦟 It's hot and humid all year (29–31 °C): bring insect repellent, light clothes and biodegradable sunscreen. Some beaches have strong currents: swim where locals do or where there are lifeguards.
How to get here
From San José Airport (SJO)
Juan Santamaría Airport, in Alajuela, has the most international flights. From there it's about 4 to 5 hours by car to Cahuita on Route 32, which crosses Braulio Carrillo National Park, and Route 36 from Limón (152.8 km in a straight line).
From Liberia (LIR)
Guanacaste's airport is at the other end of the country: about 7 to 8 hours by road. It only makes sense if you're combining your trip with Pacific beaches.
Limón Airport (LIO)
A small airport about 36 km away, with a few domestic flights from San José. From there it's around 45 minutes by road to Cahuita.
Bus and shuttle
The Cahuita bus station is 100 meters from the guesthouse. Frequent direct buses run from San José to Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo (about 4 hours), and others from Puerto Limón (34.9 km in a straight line). Shared tourist shuttles can also drop you in town.
By car
The guesthouse has free private parking behind a gate. In the village itself you hardly need the car.
Getting around
Cahuita is easy to walk and bikes are the most common way to get around the whole coast. A local bus links Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Punta Uva and Manzanillo, and there are taxis too. The currency is the Costa Rican colón; US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and there are ATMs in Cahuita and Puerto Viejo.
What's nearby
100 meters past the Cahuita bus station, in the center of the village.
- Cahuita bus station100 m
- Supermarket, bank and pharmacywithin 500 m
- Cahuita National Park (entrance)250 m
- Playa Blanca250 m
- Playa Negra1.1 km
- Puerto Vargas sector (park)5 km
- Bribrí12 km
- Puerto Viejo13 km
- Cocles beach15 km
- Jaguar Rescue Center17 km
- Limón Airport (LIO)36 km
- San José Airport (SJO)153 km
What guests say
9.2 out of 10 on Booking.com from 750 reviews, and 4.5 out of 5 on Google from 269 reviews.
9.7Location
9.7Staff
9.4Value for money
9.3Cleanliness
«Excellent location and value for money. A comfortable room and a kitchen with everything you need to spend a couple of days without a problem.»
«The location, the parking, the pool is small but enough.»
«The mattress is super comfortable, the air conditioning is quiet and the kitchen is very well organized, with everything you need to cook.»
«The room was spacious and clean, with cable TV and good air conditioning. There are common areas, a pool, a shared kitchen and a reading room.»
«A beautiful place with a lovely garden, very quiet. The cleanliness and order stand out, both in the common areas and in the room.»
«It really feels more intimate, familiar and calm. The pool is perfect for a good while in the water, and it is very close to the bus terminal and the park.»
What to know before you book
Check-in 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Check-out from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Some guests were allowed into their room early; ask in advance.
Photo ID and a card at check-in
Required by Booking.com. Children of any age are welcome.
Payment: cash
Booking.com lists cash as the accepted payment method, and few places in Cahuita take cards. Carry some colones or dollars.
Quiet hours: 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM
It is a calm place: no parties or events, and no pets.
Some bathrooms are shared
The basic rooms share a bathroom with the neighboring room. Check which type you book.
A small pool
It is for cooling off and relaxing, not for swimming laps or for large groups.
Small lot with a gate
Spaces are limited, and guests report that the gate has a late-evening limit for taking the car out.
A dog lives on the property
A few older reviews mention barking at night, while most describe the place as very quiet. Bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Insect repellent
With the garden and the climate, it is worth bringing some, as everywhere on the Caribbean coast.
Things to do from Cahuita
Highly rated tours on Viator: a guided hike in Cahuita National Park, chocolate and a waterfall in Bribri territory, sloths and kayaking at Punta Uva, a night walk in Manzanillo, Caribbean cooking in Puerto Viejo and rafting on the Pacuare River. Check each tour's meeting point or whether it includes hotel pickup; cancellation terms vary by tour.
Cahuita National Park Guided Hike by Native Naturalistic Guide
See the tour →
Bribri Magic Chocolate and Waterfall Experience
See the tour →
The Sloth and Kayak Tour - Ethical wildlife encounters
See the tour →
Explore the Dark Side of Nature: Manzanillo Refuge Night Walk
See the tour →
Private Native Caribbean Cooking in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
See the tour →
White Water Rafting Pacuare River with Lunch From Puerto Viejo
See the tour →Tour texts and photos: Viator.
Where it is
100 meters past the Cahuita bus station, 70403 Cahuita, Limón, Costa Rica
Book your stay at Cabinas Cahuita
See today's rates and availability on Booking.com. Many rates can be cancelled for free; check the conditions of each one before you book.
See availability →Frequently asked questions
Where is Cabinas Cahuita?
In the center of Cahuita, 100 meters past the bus station and about 250 meters from the entrance of Cahuita National Park and Playa Blanca.
Is breakfast included?
No. The guesthouse has no restaurant or breakfast service. There is a shared kitchen, a supermarket about 100 meters away and several cafés and restaurants within 150 to 200 meters.
Does it have a pool?
Yes, a small outdoor pool open all year, with loungers. It is free for guests and works well for cooling off after the beach or the park.
Is there parking?
Yes, free private parking in an outdoor lot behind a gate. It is small and cannot be reserved.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM and check-out from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
How far is the beach?
Playa Blanca, inside the national park, is about 250 meters away, a 3-minute walk. Playa Negra is about 1.1 km.
Are there rooms with a private bathroom?
Yes, some rooms have a private bathroom and others share one with the neighboring room. Check the room type when you book.
Are pets allowed?
No. Pets are not accepted, and parties and events are not allowed.
How do I get here from San José?
By direct bus (about 4 hours) to the Cahuita station, 100 meters from the guesthouse, or by car along Routes 32 and 36 in 4 to 5 hours.