Cahuita National Park

Infobox protected_area | name = Cahuita National Park
iucn_category = II


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location = Costa Rica
nearest_city = Cahuita
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area = 11 km² land, 6 km² marine
established = 27 December 1982
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governing_body = National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC)

Cahuita National Park is a National Park in the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area of Costa Rica located on the southern Caribbean coast in Limón Province, connected to the town of Cahuita. It protects beaches and lowlands and attracts tourists and other visitors who are able to scuba dive and snorkel in the protected marine area which contains the Coralline Reefs, as well as being a nesting ground for sea turtles. This is also one of the nicest and least developed beaches in Costa Rica.

The reef is known to have at least 35 species of coral, 140 species of molluscs, 44 species of crustaceans, and 123 species of fish. On land there are many types of animal as well including tamanduas, pacas, coatis, raccoons, sloths, agoutis, howler and capuchin monkeys. It has a variety of birds as well including the green ibis, rufous kingfisher and keel-billed toucans.

History

Originally the site was created as the Cahuita National Monument in 1970, and was reformed as a National Park in 1978, this change was ratified in 1982. Cahuita National Park also has the distinction of the only national park in Costa Rica not to charge an admission fee(at the Cahuita entrance) and instead relies on donations.

External links

* [http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/cahuitanationalpark.html Cahuita National Park] at Costa Rica National Parks
* [http://www.wikicostarica.com:16080/index.php/Cahuita_National_Park Videos and photos of Cahuita]
* [http://centralamerica.com/cr/parks/mocahuita.htm Overview of the park] from Moon Handbooks
* [http://www.trycostarica.com/info.php?id=193&cat=119&page=2 Cahuita National Park] at Try Costa Rica