San Jose to Cahuita - Carribean Coast

Well, my body clock is wildly out of whack today, mostly being awake since 3.30am. Rach and I were showered, cafinated and repacked by 7.30am and ready to explore! Dom was soon ready and we went for a delicious breakfast at “Delicias” (rice and beans, skillet veg, eggs, pancakes) - even practicing our Spanish.

We left the apartment and started the drive to Cahuita, just under 4hrs away in the Limon region. A bit of traffic especially coming out of San Jose. Nice chats, including Dom’s anecdotes from his cycling adventure. He tells us Costa Rica is more developed than the other central
Americas… likely due to its relatively stable government.

Passed through Braulio Carrillo National park (roads in great nick) winding up and down the lush green valleys. Then across the country to the Eastern coast. Loved taking in the sights en route, seeing the array of different houses… some on stilts with hammocks below, the builders on the rods, electricians working on the bundles of wires lining the roads. Nobody is hurrying, but somehow things seem to tick along.

Approaching Cahuita Dom needed to break quite heavily, as a huge Iguana ran across the road. We got our first glimpse of tomorrow’s stop - Costa Rica’s National sloth sanctuary, very exciting.

Arrived at our accommodation “The Secret Garden” which was a fabulous small complex of barrel rooms along with the shared dorm.

Went for a stroll down “white beach” though were turfed off within half an hour (who knew national parks have opening times) but walked onto the nearby “black beach” where we played in the huge waves, watched the surfers and forraged a coconut. The sea was warmer than any Ive felt before, and sand so smooth I didn’t need my sea shoes for once!

Back to get showered, meet the cute pair of Aguti near our room, then tea and cocktails at Cocos. An early night needed…Read more