On the edge of the town, starts the expansive nature reserve of dense forest that meets the ocean on the southern tip of the peninsula. Cabuya, Costa Rica, is literally the last town of Nicoya Peninsula, on the east coast.
It is a small fishing village where locals live in a harmonious close knit community. Green leaves and pink flowers frame the rustic village roads. Soft waves comb the coastline of the town. And the clock seems to tick at a slower pace.
Whether you are chasing waterfalls or jumping off treetops, Costa Rica will always keep you busy. But if you want to take a pause, hang up your boots and just observe life go on from the fence, Cabuya can give you that halcyon escape.
Things to do in Cabuya, Costa Rica
Although this small village is perfect for taking things slow, you will not be disappointed if you are looking for some activities in the area. There are quite a few things to do in Cabuya, Costa Rica.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve
Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve holds the crown of Costa Rica’s first ever nature reserve. The town of Cabuya is like the gateway to this nature reserve as the human accessible trails are located next to the town.
There are couple of short hiking trails that can take less than an hour each. The longer trail is a 10 km loop, for which you need to dedicate almost the entire day. You will be passing through thick forests, walking on uneven terrain, crossing rivers and climbing stairs. Along the way, keep your eyes open for sightings of rare animals and birds. The longer trail also takes you to a secluded white sand beach, Playa Cabo Blanco.
Whether you are staying in Cabuya, Montezuma, Santa Teresa or Malpais, hiking in Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve is one of the best activities in the area.
Read this post for our complete guide to hiking in Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve.
Cabuya Island Cemetery
A place of legends and myths about phantom beings, Cabuya Island Cemetery has been a place of burial in Cabuya for centuries. This also happens to be a popular place of attraction, both among locals and visitors.
So, if you want to add some supernatural thrill to your travel itinerary, include Cabuya Island Cemetery to your list of things to do in Cabuya. We cannot guarantee any ghost sighting though!
During low tide, you can walk over the rocky beach to the island and explore the island on foot. Find peace in the quiet atmosphere of the island cemetery and enjoy the views of the blue ocean and Cabuya town from the island. To avoid getting stranded on the island, be mindful of the tide timings and remember to return on time.
El Higueron de Cabuya
On the way from Montezuma to Cabuya, a huge banyan tree will welcome you to Cabuya. Not literally. But there is a ‘Bienvenido a Cabuya’ (Welcome to Cabuya) sign in front of the tree.
This tree is called El Higueron, Spanish for fig. The giant tree wears its distinct powerful look due to its intertwined roots and branches, making it look stronger with age.
Having grown up in India, we have seen several such banyan trees, sometimes much bigger, in different parts of the country. So, seeing this tree was kind of nostalgic for us. Regardless, El Higueron does provide a very good photo opportunity. If only we know how to pose!
Can you spot Indranil by the tree in the second photo?
Playa Cabuya
Cabuya is not really known for its beaches. But I wonder why. The namesake beach of Cabuya town, Playa Cabuya, is a lovely spot to spend some quiet time. Admire the surrounding lush hills and a distant view of the Cabuya Island, as the soft waves come stroke on your sand-dipped feet at Playa Cabuya. We had visited in the early evening, when we had the entire beach to ourselves.
Playa Los Cedros
Playa Los Cedros is a popular beach among the locals. We visited this beach on a December evening, when many families were packing up after spending a beach day there. The waves here are also supposedly good for surfing. During low tides, tide pools form on the rocks of this beach. So, surf or not, Los Cedros is definitely worth checking out when you are in Cabuya.
Wild Sun Rescue Center
Costa Rica is blessed with incredible wildlife. The country’s nature conservation and wildlife protection efforts stand out globally.
But over the years, many animals and birds have also been susceptible to various types of threats, ranging from highway accidents, illegal pet trades to electrocution. That is where the wildlife rescue centers play a huge role. They rescue the injured creatures, treat them and rehabilitate them, with the final objective of releasing them back in the wild.
Wild Sun Rescue Center is one such center in Cabuya. It is one of the youngest wildlife rescue centers in Costa Rica. They focus on not just rescue, rehabilitation and release, but also on species reintroduction and community education, among other initiatives. Reintroducing scarlet macaws in the wild is one of their early success projects.
Take a tour of the rescue center to understand more about their objectives and methods. If you have the required experience, you can also sign up for one of their volunteer programs.
Explore Montezuma
Montezuma is a personal favorite of mine. The charm of this beach town is like poetry for the soul.
Explore miles of white sand beaches blending in with green forested hills along the coastline of Montezuma. Hike to the Montezuma Waterfalls. Watch capuchin monkeys hang out at every nook and corner of the town. See baby turtles take baby steps to enter the ocean for the first time.
There are plenty of wonderful experiences that you can get in Montezuma. We would highly recommend spending a few nights there. But even if you are not staying in Montezuma, do not miss out on its offerings. The town is only about 10 km (6 miles) from Cabuya. So, take the trip and explore Montezuma.
Read this post for our detailed travel guide about Montezuma.
Visit Malpais & Santa Teresa
Ranking much higher in popularity and tourist footfall is the nearby town of Santa Teresa. It is the surfers’ choice beach town where you get to see amazing sunsets and eat fancy food from around the world. Malpais, a fishing village, is a quieter extension to the south of Santa Teresa.
From Cabuya, you can take a day trip to Santa Teresa and Malpais. Hop from one beautiful beach to another, Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa, Playa Manzanillo. Grab a good lunch. End the day with a magical sunset, either in Santa Teresa or Malpais.
Chances are good that you will come back for a longer stay.
Check out our Malpais travel guide here.
Cabuya, Costa Rica: Make It Happen
To help you plan your trip to Cabuya, Costa Rica, we are going to share the details on the travel logistics in this section.
How to reach Cabuya
Cabuya is as remote as it can be on a peninsula. So, the roads to Cabuya have not been built with much care. In fact, in some cases, there are no proper roads at all. And that adds to the fun of reaching Cabuya.
Refer to the respective sections here for driving directions to Cabuya from Liberia, San Jose, Santa Teresa or Malpais.
Alternatively, you can take a domestic flight to Tambor and then continue with the rest of the trip by road. For flight schedules and ticket reservation, check the Sansa Airlines website.
From Liberia
If you are driving from Liberia, take the Ruta 21. The road condition is good for the most part, and paved till Montezuma. The section between Montezuma and Cabuya is often unpaved and filled with potholes. But this is still drivable, without a 4X4, at least in the dry season.
Read this post for driving directions from Liberia to Nicoya Peninsula.
From San Jose
The fastest way of traveling by car from San Jose to the southern part of Nicoya Peninsula is to take the Naviera Tambor ferry. Drive till Puntarenas ferry landing, embark the ferry along with your car and disembark at Paquera, after crossing the Gulf of Nicoya. From Paquera Ferry Landing, continue driving on Ruta 21, towards Cabuya, Costa Rica.
Read this post for details on how to take the Puntarenas Ferry.
From Malpais or Santa Teresa
If you are already in the southern Nicoya area, catching waves at Santa Teresa or watching sunsets in Malpais, you have to cover a much shorter distance.
From Santa Teresa: Drive towards Cobano. From the main intersection, take the right towards Montezuma. Then from Montezuma, keep driving south on Ruta 21 till Cabuya.
From Malpais: The easier way is to take the road from Santa Teresa to Cobano, and then follow the directions explained in the previous section. But, if you are up for some adventure, take the Malpais-Cabuya road. This road connects the west coast to the east coast in the southern tip of Nicoya peninsula. It is a dirt path through the jungle. Three rivers flow over the road on this route, making it un-drivable during the rainy season. As you can guess, a 4X4 is highly recommended for this adventurous drive. (We did this drive without a 4X4 in the month of December.)
Where to stay in Cabuya
Jungle Lodge at Wild Sun Rescue Center: A jungle lodge run by the Wild Sun Rescue Center. Spotless clean cottages with sitout areas and open air bathrooms. Your stay here contributes towards the maintenance of the rescue center. Click here to review prices and book stay options.
Calala Lodge: Rustic duplex cabins, each with living room, bedroom, private bathroom and porch with hammocks. You can choose between beachfront and garden view cabins. Check prices and availability here.
Villas Cabuya Beach & Jungle: Private villas, each with living area, bedroom, private bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. Click here to check availability and prices.
Where to eat in Cabuya
Bar Higueron: A big bar in a small village, serving craft beer and delicious pizza and homemade burgers among other food. It is such a cool place, we hung out here every evening during our stay in Cabuya.
Habitat: Located just opposite Bar Higueron, Habitat serves coffee, baked goodies and other items for breakfast and lunch. You need to make a prior reservation if you wish to have dinner here.
Panaderia: Literally translated, a bakery, but serves Costa Rican meals apart from desserts and coffee.
La Selva Brewery: What if you crave for a fresh beer brew when traveling in a remote village? In Cabuya, you can get your fix at La Selva Brewery.
Final Thoughts on Cabuya, Costa Rica
Cabuya is not your usual holiday destination. In fact, with towns like Montezuma and Santa Teresa in the vicinity, you would perhaps not even consider Cabuya for more than a day trip. And you would probably spend most of the hours of that day trip at Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve.
But, according to us, Cabuya’s attraction is not your typical list of things to do, but the style and vibe of life in general. In Cabuya, you can hike in the jungle in the morning, spend a quiet afternoon by the beach and then catch up with your friends over beer and bocas in the evening. It is that simple village life that we loved the most about Cabuya.
Spend a few days in Cabuya, and who knows you might end up finding your Pura Vida and even contemplate moving to Costa Rica?
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Wonderful article full of value information and insights that express the energy of the area. Hope to visit in ’21. Thank you!
Thanks John.Hope you have a great time when you visit Costa Rica this year.
Went der two years ago from here in my home island of Ireland,it was definitely worth da time and trip to get der,it is way out der,but worth it,if der is an 8th wonder of da world,I would put Dis place up der…And I even got a bottle of Guinness in montezuma..?
Thanks John for sharing your travel memories. Sounds like you had a lot of fun here! 🙂
Haha, I love the water crossing photo. That was our first Costa Rica water crossing. We actually had chickened out when a Tico drive by and said to follow him, so we turned around and did!
And I’ve swam in that pool at Wild Sun at one of their fund raising parties. A very pleasurable evening with music and fire dancing.
is there also waters to cross when coming from san jose side/montezuma side?
Hi there, No, there aren’t any.