Cabuya is a small fishing village at the southern tip of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, where the road from Montezuma ends at Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. Come for the reserve's forest trails, the island cemetery you can walk to at low tide and very quiet nights; for restaurants and nightlife, Montezuma is 15 to 20 minutes away.
Drive south from Montezuma along the coast and the road gets quieter, the forest gets thicker, and after 15 or 20 minutes you reach Cabuya. Past the village there's only the gate of Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve and the forest beyond it. Cabuya has a school, a couple of small supermarkets, a bakery, a bar and a handful of places to stay and eat. That's much of its appeal.
What Cabuya is like
Cabuya is a fishing village on the gulf-facing side of the cape, looking east across the water toward the island that serves as its cemetery. The beach is rocky, the reef drains at low tide, and the boats that go out fishing are pulled up on the sand. Howler monkeys call from the trees in the early morning, and evenings are quiet.
It isn't a party place or a resort town. People come to hike, swim when the tide is right, snorkel on calm days, read, and use the village as a base for the rest of the southern peninsula. If you want nightlife and lots of restaurant choice, stay in Montezuma or Santa Teresa and visit Cabuya for the day.
The two things not to miss
Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. Created in 1963 and often called Costa Rica's oldest protected area, the reserve starts just south of the village. Its main trail, the Sendero Sueco, runs about 4.5 to 5 km each way through dry tropical forest to a white-sand cove, and a shorter loop, the Sendero Danés, suits a gentler walk. The reserve is open Wednesday to Sunday, 8 am to 4 pm.
The island cemetery. About 100 m offshore, Isla Cabuya is still the village's cemetery. At low tide you can walk out across the rocks in 10 to 15 minutes. Check the tide, wear water shoes and be respectful.
There's much more in our things to do in Cabuya guide, including boat trips, the Río Lajas, a chocolate tour and Montezuma's waterfalls.
Beaches
The village beach is pebbly and rocky, calm for a swim at high tide and full of rock pools at low tide. For sand, head to Playa Los Cedros just north, Playa Las Manchas near Montezuma, or the beach at the end of the Cabo Blanco trail. The surf beaches of Santa Teresa are on the far side of the hills. See beaches near Cabuya and surfing near Cabuya.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Cabuya are small: a few villas, cabins and jungle lodges, and a retreat center. Good options include Villas Cabuya, with private villas a short walk from the beach, and the jungle lodge at Wild Sun Rescue Center, whose stays support wildlife rescue. The Sanctuary at Two Rivers hosts yoga retreats in the forest. On the road toward Montezuma, Hotel Amor de Mar sits on the ocean opposite the waterfall entrance. Our where to stay guide has more.
Where to eat
The Cabuya bakery is the village's breakfast spot, with fresh bread, cakes and smoothies. Cafe Coyote is known for pizza, Salón El Higuerón is the village bar, and Indígena Café and Chocolate by the reserve gate is a good lunch stop after a hike. Opening days are limited, so check before you go. See where to eat in Cabuya.
Getting there
From San José, most people drive or take a bus to Puntarenas, cross the Gulf of Nicoya on the car ferry to Paquera (about 70 to 80 minutes), then drive about 1 hour to Montezuma and another 15 to 20 minutes to Cabuya. Scheduled domestic flights now land at the airstrip at Cóbano rather than Tambor, about 35 to 40 minutes from San José. The rough road from Cabuya over the hills to Mal País needs a 4x4 and is usually only passable in the dry season. Full details are in getting to Cabuya.
When to go
The dry season runs from about December to April, with sunny days and dusty roads. The green season, from May to November, brings afternoon rain, a greener forest and fewer visitors, with September and October the wettest months. See the best time to visit, plus our guides to the tides and what to pack.
A few slow days in Cabuya
- Day 1: Arrive, walk the village beach and check the tide times. Dinner in the village.
- Day 2: Hike the Sendero Sueco in Cabo Blanco in the morning, then lunch and a chocolate tour by the gate. (Remember the reserve is closed Monday and Tuesday.)
- Day 3: Walk out to the island cemetery at low tide, then swim in the Río Lajas lagoon.
- Day 4: A boat trip to Isla Tortuga, or a day in Montezuma for the waterfalls.
- Day 5: Cross to Mal País and Santa Teresa for surf and sunset.
Practical tips
- Cash: Small places may prefer cash. Bring enough with you, and ask your host about the nearest ATM.
- Supplies: The village supermarkets cover basics. Montezuma and Cóbano have more.
- Getting around: A car is useful. Local buses run between Montezuma and the reserve turnaround a few times a day, but times change, so confirm locally.
- Respect the village: It's a working fishing community. Keep noise down at night and be quiet around the cemetery.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Cabuya, Costa Rica?
At the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas province, about 15 to 20 minutes' drive south of Montezuma, beside the entrance to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.
Is Cabuya worth visiting?
Yes, if you like nature and quiet. Cabo Blanco's trails and the low-tide walk to the island cemetery are the highlights. If you want nightlife, stay in Montezuma or Santa Teresa and visit for the day.
How do you get to Cabuya from San José?
The usual route is to Puntarenas, the ferry to Paquera, then the road through Cóbano and Montezuma. Alternatively, fly to Cóbano and drive the last stretch.
Is there an ATM in Cabuya?
We couldn't confirm one in the village. Bring cash and check with your host; Montezuma and Cóbano are the nearest places to look.
Can you walk from Cabuya to Cabo Blanco?
Yes. The reserve entrance is just south of the village, and local buses from Montezuma also stop near it.
The places in this guide
Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco
Cabo Blanco, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve covers the forested southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, a short drive past Cabuya, and was Costa Rica's first…
Isla Cabuya
Cabuya village, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Isla Cabuya is a small island just off Cabuya's beach that serves as the village cemetery. At low tide you can walk out to it over the rocky reef in…
Playa Los Cedros
Montezuma road, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Playa Los Cedros is a stretch of coast just past the Río Lajas on the road between Cabuya and Montezuma. It's best known as one of the area's better…
Wild Sun Rescue Center
Cabo Blanco, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Wild Sun Rescue Center is a non-profit wildlife rescue in Cabuya, on land bordering Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, that treats injured animals and…
The Sanctuary at Two Rivers
Cabuya village, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
The Sanctuary at Two Rivers is a yoga and meditation retreat center on about 40 acres of jungle in Cabuya, where the Río Lajas and Río Cacao meet.…
Panadería Cabuya Cafetería
Cabuya village, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Panadería Cabuya, often called the Cabuya Bakery, is a family-run bakery and cafe on the village's main road. It's the go-to spot for breakfast…
Cafe Coyote
Mal País road, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
Cafe Coyote is a long-running, informal restaurant in Cabuya, best known for its pizza, with local fish, Costa Rican plates and fruit shakes too.…
Catarata de Montezuma
Montezuma, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
The Montezuma waterfalls are a set of 3 falls on the Río Montezuma, just south of Montezuma village and about 20 minutes' drive from Cabuya. The big…
