Caribbean Costa Rica #3: Cahuita

We had an amazing 3-1/2 hour boat ride south from Tortuguero to Puerto Moin, then taxi on to Cahuita.  This is a small, as yet unspoiled village with a healthy Caribbean influence (think reggae/rasta).  There are all the services you need here, including a bank/ATM, several mercados, bus terminal, produce & meat shops, hardware store, etc.  There are good restaurants to fit every budget & appetite, and there are tour operators who will be happy to take you to various surrounding attractions. There's also a lovely beach-side Parque, which is free!  Lodging is plentiful: we were thrilled with the guest house where we stayed for a full week, Playa Negra Guest House.  It was just outside the main town and across the road from Playa Negra beach; there was a nice little mercado and a couple good restaurants just down the street.  We had a 2-bedroom guest house, which was secluded in the gardens and absolutely lovely.  My son Greg, who is doing his doctoral research with a nearby indigenous tribe, met us there and we all had a great time.

While we were in the area we visited the Sloth Sanctuary, where we got to see 2- and 3-toed sloths, as well as babies, up close & personal.  We learned a lot about these interesting animals.  We also managed to have a nice day of snorkeling.