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January 11
Costa Rica Travel Adventures Exploring Cahuita National Park
Just a bike ride away from the colorful beach town of Puerto Viejo, the center of Afro-Caribbean culture in Costa Rica, is one of the most beautiful parks in the country, Cahuita National Park. This park was established in 1970 to protect a coral reef and the coastal habitats of Costa Rica's Caribbean side.
The best way to explore this park is to take a boat tour that will take you to the best snorkeling spots. From here, you can jump into the clear water and spot some of the 500 species of tropical fish that live in these reefs, as well as the vibrant-colored coral and marine invertebrates like sea urchins, lobsters and sea cucumbers. Be respectful of this fragile habitat which is still struggling to survive because of heavy logging in the forests inland from the park.
Hikers can find a four-mile trail that leads them from the Kelly Creek station in Cahuita to Puerto Vargas, meandering along the beach and through forest. The entire hike takes about two hours, but you will definitely want to stop for a swim or a picnic along the way. If you go with a guide or an experienced wildlife observer, you should be able to spot howler monkeys, iguanas, raccoons and many different types of birds.
This park, now unanimously loved by locals, was a concept that was met with initial reluctance. When the park was first conceived about 200 residents gathered at a community meeting to speak against the park. There was one lone speaker in favor of the idea, Alvaro Ugalde. Luckily, he managed to convince everyone that if they didn't protect the land it would be developed by foreign companies into an unattractive sprawl of hotels and golf courses.
Alvaro's attitude has become widely accepted and as a result the development in this area has been kept in check and most development has been by small, locally owned operators. The lush natural beauty of this area, combined with the laid-back and friendly Afro-Caribbean culture has made Puerto Viejo a favorite among beach and nature lovers who enjoy flavorful Caribbean cuisine served up with a mix of reggae and calypso beats.
About the Author:
This article about Puerto Viejo and Cahuita National Park was written by a Costa Rica travel expert at Costa Rica America, available to help you custom design your relaxing vacation .
Author: Horhe Jimenez
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