Cabuya, Costa Rica
Cabuya is a quaint little fishing village that stretches for several miles along the coast until the border of the » Cabo Blanco Reserve. A small bus connects to » Montezuma and the entrance to the National Park.
The beach of Cabuya is pebbly and low tide exposes the many rocks underwater. At high tide however you can swim in the calm waters in front of Cabuya. Hiking north along the scenic, lonesome beach brings you to the estuary of the majestic Rio Lajas. A lagoon has formed at the mouth of the river, providing a nice opportunity for bathing. You can also wade upstream through the river to find natural jacuzzis in the rocky riverbed and watch a variety of birds including » egrets, herons and kingfishers.
A natural monument is found near the bridge over the Rio Lajas: the Higuerón de Cabuya is a giant strangler fig with a diameter of about 22 m and an altitude of almost 40 m. It is said to be the largest strangler fig in Costa Rica.
At the river mouth of the Rio Lajas you can sometimes find good surfing conditions. Another good surf spot is a little further north, towards Montezuma, at Playa Cedros. A picturesque coastal landscape ensues all the way until Montezuma, including sandy stretches of beach where you can bathe and swim. A popular beach for locals is Playa Las Manchas, with its white sandy beach and turquoise waters that make for good snorkeling. From Las Manchas it’s only one kilometer to Montezuma.
The Cemetery Island of Cabuya
A rare attraction of Cabuya is the small cemetery island (Isla de Cabuya), located a hundred metres off the coast. In pre-Columbian times, the Indians used the island as a burial ground and until today funerals are still held here today. At low tide, a causeway over the rocks makes it possible to walk to the island and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The reef at the extreme tip of the Cabuya Island is a great spot for snorkelling. Even without snorkel equipment, you can see colorful fish in the rocky tide pools.