Cahuita is a district of the Talamanca canton, in the Limón province of Costa Rica. It is located on the Caribbean coast.

History

Cahuita was created on 19 February 1970 by Decreto Ejecutivo 13.

Geography

Cahuita has an area of 234.6 km2 and an elevation of 4 metres.

Locations

Manzanillo

Manzanillo is a village located just outside the Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge, at the end of Route 256. Manzanillo is situated south of Puerto Limon in Limón Province on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. The main attraction of this tiny town is its white sand beach lined with palm trees.

Demographics

For the 2011 census, Cahuita had a population of 8,293 inhabitants.

Culture

Due to its proximity to the Caribbean shoreline, Cahuita is renowned for Afro-Caribbean influence on dining and local culture. The city is specifically known for its beaches, dessert crepes (often including local bananas, strawberries, and chocolate), and variations of grilled chicken. The town was also home to Walter Ferguson (1919–2023), the "King of Calypso". His 100th birthday in 2019 was declared National Calypso Day by Costa Rica's vice president.

Tourism

The Playa Negra (Black Beach) and Cahuita National Park are close to town. Limón is north of Cahuita. Puerto Viejo is the next town south. The main access of Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge is located in this district, in the Manzanillo village.

Transportation

Road transportation

The district is covered by the following road routes: Cahuita is served by Route 36, which connects Puerto Limón to Sixaola. Many roads in Cahuita are composed of dirt, gravel, and stone, often making it necessary for foreign visitors to rent a 4WD vehicle to reach local beaches and hotels on the northern fringes of town.

Climate

Cahuita has a tropical climate. Temperatures remain consistent during the year. Sunrise and sunset change very little during the year (about 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, respectively). Limón International Airport is nearby and has similar average temperatures and precipitation.