This 1,097-hectare park envelops a promontory clad with rain forests, where beaches curl away north and south around topaz blue bays. A coral reef covers 242 hectares and extends around Punta Cahuita to Punta Vargas.

Much of the wildlife that inhabits the jungle-green shore can be experienced without leaving the beach. Bands of inquisitive white-faced monkeys often scamper about in the tree-tops, coatis, iguanas, and racoons poke their noses onto the sands, and the barking of howler monkeys echoes from within the dark forest bowels.

More than 125 species of fish, including blue parrot fish, gambol amid the hard and soft corals. The wreck of a slave ship with cannons and manacles is an added highlight.