| Cahuita | |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Pushpin Map: | Costa Rica |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Cahuita district location in Costa Rica |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Cahuita district location in Costa Rica |
| Coordinates: | 9.6798°N -82.7722°W |
| Map Alt: | Cahuita district |
| Image Alt: | Main street in Cahuita |
| Established Title: | Creation |
| Established Date: | 19 February 1970 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Limón |
| Subdivision Type2: | Canton |
| Subdivision Name2: | Talamanca |
| Area Total Km2: | 234.6 |
| Elevation M: | 4 |
| Population Total: | 8293 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 70403 |
| Government Type: | Democratic |
| Leader Title: | Syndic |
| Leader Name: | Adenyl Guillermo Peralta Cruz (PLN) |
| Leader Title1: | Substitutle syndic |
| Leader Name1: | vacant |
Cahuita is a district of the Talamanca canton, in the Limón province of Costa Rica.[1] [2] It is located on the Caribbean coast.
Cahuita was created on 19 February 1970 by Decreto Ejecutivo 13.
Cahuita has an area of km2[3] and an elevation of metres.
Manzanillo is a village located just outside the Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge, at the end of Route 256.[4] Manzanillo is situated south of Puerto Limon in Limón Province on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. The main attraction of this tiny town is its white sand beach lined with palm trees.[5] [6]
For the 2011 census, Cahuita had a population of inhabitants.[7]
Due to its proximity to the Caribbean shoreline, Cahuita is renowned for Afro-Caribbean influence on dining and local culture. The city is specifically known for its beaches, dessert crepes (often including local bananas, strawberries, and chocolate), and variations of grilled chicken.
The town was also home to Walter Ferguson (1919–2023), the "King of Calypso". His 100th birthday in 2019 was declared National Calypso Day by Costa Rica's vice president.
The Playa Negra (Black Beach) and Cahuita National Park are close to town. Limón is north of Cahuita. Puerto Viejo is the next town south.[8]
The main access of Jairo Mora Sandoval Gandoca-Manzanillo Mixed Wildlife Refuge is located in this district, in the Manzanillo village.
The district is covered by the following road routes:
Cahuita is served by Route 36, which connects Puerto Limón to Sixaola. Many roads in Cahuita are composed of dirt, gravel, and stone, often making it necessary for foreign visitors to rent a 4WD vehicle to reach local beaches and hotels on the northern fringes of town.
Cahuita has a tropical climate. Temperatures remain consistent during the year. Sunrise and sunset change very little during the year (about 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, respectively). Limón International Airport is nearby and has similar average temperatures and precipitation.