Day 15. Tortuguero to Cahuita

Submitted by maria on Sat, 24/09/2022 - 11:53

We got up at 5.30 a.m. and despite being very close to the beach we didn't get there in time to see any turtles, no wonder it was so hot for so early in the morning.

Tortuguero beach

A fisherman shows us one he just filmed a quarter of an hour ago. We walk along the beach, we see a manta ray in the sand.

Ray

We go to Dorling Bakery for breakfast again. A gallo pinto for each of us and coffee and fruit.

Gallo pinto

Today we are leaving this wonderful place for Cahuita. To get there you can take a public boat to La Pavona (3.000 colones) and then a bus to Guápiles, another to Limón and from there to Cahuita or Puerto Viejo; or take a boat (35$/pax) from Tortuguero to the port of Moín (very close to Limón) and then a bus to Cahuita (10$/pax).

Tortuguero beach

We chose the second option, although it is more expensive, it does not have so many transfers and the number of hours is considerably reduced. Besides, travelling through the Tortuguero canals is one of the best experiences you can have. In fact, on the boat trip we saw snakes, turtles, caimans, crocodiles and countless birds.

We booked the boat directly with our hotel. We are warned that as it is low season we may not have a direct bus from Moín to Cahuita and we will have to pay for a taxi to get to the bus station in Limón to catch a bus to Cahuita.

Tortuguero beach

Once on the boat, the captain tells us that if we want to go to Cahuita there is a transport waiting for 10$/pax and we say yes. According to what we were told at the hotel, a taxi from Moín to Limón costs almost the same amount.

Boat to Moín

If you want to travel from Moín to Tortuguero the boat leaves at 10.00 a.m. and also takes about 3 hours.

Our boat leaves at 9.30 a.m. Three hours later we arrive at the port of Moín. Normally there is a bus to Cahuita waiting for us which costs 10$. As there are only eight of us we are taken in two taxis. We met a very nice British couple who were going to Puerto Viejo and then to Bocas del Toro in Panama.

Turtle and caiman

In an hour we arrive at our accommodation in Cahuita. The taxi driver is very nice and tells us stories about the area.

We stay at Cabinas Cahuita, a beautiful complex with a swimming pool, common areas and a shared kitchen. It also has private parking. You can pay by credit card. Kim and her partner tell us about places to visit in the surrounding area and give us advice on restaurants.

The hotel is very well located, close to the bus station, the ATM and the Cahuita National Park.

Caiman

Cocodrile

After a refreshing swim in the pool (it is very hot) we change and go to the supermarket, to the ATM and to dinner.

Cahuita is a quiet Caribbean town with all services. The ATM is next to the bus station, in the plaza of a shopping mall. It has two areas, the town itself and the leisure area of Negra beach, a 5 minute walk away.

Cabinas Cahuita

We walk around and buy a coconut pipe. After watching the sunset we go for dinner at a soda recommended by Kim, Soda Kawe. We order a rice and beans with chicken and another with fish with a cold tea and juice (included in the menu). On the Caribbean coast they give the casado a twist by adding coconut milk and call it rice and beans and it is delicious. You can pay by credit card.