Puerto Viejo to Cahuita Coastal Heritage Track

This rugged coastal track connects Puerto Viejo with Cahuita National Park through indigenous Bribri territory and abandoned cocoa plantations from the 1940s banana boom. The route follows old United Fruit Company maintenance roads along the Sixaola River basin, crossing three significant river fords including the challenging Río Estrella crossing where high tide can make passage impossible. Remnants of narrow-gauge railroad bridges and concrete loading docks mark waypoints through dense rainforest corridors.

Requires high-clearance 4WD with decent approach angles for the river crossings and muddy plantation roads that turn treacherous during rainy season. Best attempted April through September when water levels drop. No permits required but respect for indigenous lands is essential. Fuel up in Puerto Viejo as there’s nothing reliable until Cahuita. The reward is pristine Caribbean beaches, intact coral reefs, and some of the best wildlife viewing on Costa Rica’s Atlantic coast.