Page 81 - CARIBE TOURIST GUIDE

Cahuita National Park
of sharks, moray eels, sea urchins, sea cucumbers (which can measure up to 30 cm in length), lobsters, sponges, giant conches, white shrimp, green turtles and hawksbill turtles. In the Cahuita reef, 35 species of corals, 140 species of mollusks, 44 species of crustaceans, 128 species of algae and 123 species of fish have been identified.
The marine resources protected here are undergoing a process of deterioration caused by the large amount of sediments and agrochemical contamination carried by the río La Estrella and deposited by marine currents on the coral reef.
A coral reef with areas for snorkeling, where you can observe a great variety of coral fish and developed coral structures.
Flora and fauna (identified to date)
So far, 551 species (370 genera and 109 families) of vascular plants have been recorded in Cahuita.
The bird fauna of Cahuita comprises 233 identified species, comprising 19 orders and 50 families. The most diverse families are Tyrannidae (flycatchers, 21 spp.), Accipitridae (eagles/elanids/ gulls, 15 spp.) and Thraupidae (tanagers and honeycreepers, 15 spp.).
There are 62 diurnal species of butterflies in Cahuita, belonging to 49 genera, 14 subfamilies and 5 families, and 104 nocturnal species belonging to 85 genera, 26 subfamilies and 12 families.
Most of the medium and small mammals recorded for the Southern Caribbean can be found in this area, with an estimated 80 species of mammals. The most numerous group are the bats, with over 40 species that may be present in the area. The most common are the phyllostomid bats of the undergrowth, such as the Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), the great fruit- eating bat (Artibeus lituratus), Seba’s short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata), the chestnut short-tailed bat (Carollia castanea) and Pallas’s long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina). Among the non-flying mammals, primates such as the howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) and the white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator) and the two species of sloths, the two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) and the three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) are easy to observe. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata) are also easy to find, while coatis (Nasua narica) are a little less common.
Activities
Swimming
Diving in the coral reef
Play beach soccer and volleyball
Hiking
Rest listening to the sounds of nature
Enjoy the beach
Watch the behavior of flora and fauna.
Practice surf
Birdwatching
Attractives
White sand beaches with safe areas for the enjoyment of visitors, and you can do beach activities.
8811