Reserva Natural Cabo Blanco

We did the Playa Cabo Blanco hike 5.5 miles round trip . Fairly easy to moderate hike with about 600+ feet elevation gain. Trail is easy to follow, a little muddy, & a lot humid. The beach is worth the hike. We saw deer, iguanas, monkeys, & a cane toad. Park ranger Freddy also was a great source of information & you can tell he still loves his job. Freddy is a solid guy and we swapped some trading some patches.

Beautiful hike through an exquisite nature reserve. I walked the full 5km trail and it was a gentle to moderate hike, made slightly trickier because of the mud caused by yesterday’s rain. The beach was beautiful but hard to swim in; it was high tide and the currents were so strong I kept being knocked off my feet. The trail is marked and easy to navigate. The gate accepts card payments for entry and there is a bathroom, but importantly there isn’t anywhere to buy water or snacks so be sure to bring with you

Such an awesome park! We decided to take the longest trail, which is about 4.5 km (almost 3 miles) one way and leads to a stunning, paradise-like beach. The hike is pretty tough! especially the last 2 km toward the beach. Even though the trail winds through the shade of the jungle, it’s hot and super humid (we went in early May). Make sure to bring plenty of water - AT LEAST 1.5 liters per person is a must! Good, closed-toe shoes are also essential-there’s mud, rocks, and uneven ground. On the way, you’ll spot tons of amazing wildlife - monkeys, birds, butterflies... it's really magical. Just a heads-up: the park closes at 4 PM, and the hike back from the beach takes around 2 hours, so plan accordingly. This place will always have a special place in my heart because… this is where we got engaged ❤️

Nice hike in the jungle. We entered the park at 8 and saw some interesting animals (ant eaters, racoons, some birds and butterflies). It was way cooler than outside the park thanks to the dense forest, so even in the middle of the day it was possible to hike. We did the full hike from the gate to the beach - each direction it took us ~2hrs, though we are relatively fit. Be prepared for an ascent of ~200m up, then a walk down, before reaching the beach. Wear appropriate shoes. At the beach there are showers and some tables to sit. However, I did not like the pile of trash next to it.

Summary: Amazing park, get there early for wildlife (recommend at 8 am - didn’t see any wildlife after 10:30 am), park is NOT OPEN Monday/Tuesday Recommendations specifically to see wildlife/animals/birds: VERY, VERY important to get there early if you want to see wildlife. As a warning, the other friends staying with us arrived at the park ~1 pm the previous day and only saw anteaters and deer. Per other reviews and travel sites, I knew arriving early was important. I arrived at 7:20 am and saw several birds (white-throated magpie jay, turquoise-browed motmot, crested caracara) walking around the roads outside the park before it opened. I highly recommend this because the roads outside the park have great lighting for spotting/photos compared to the park’s heavy forest. Upon entering the park at 8 am, the ranger showed me the map and encouraged me to start on the 1 km loop to see wildlife (see attached map photo). I walked the 1 km loop twice and saw a few each of howler monkeys, long-tailed manakins, flycatchers, woodcreepers, doves, deer, agouti, colorful butterflies, and several other less remarkable birds. Around 9 am, I started on the 2 km loop. I saw three turquoise-browed motmots above on my left immediately after crossing the first short bridge after the ranger station. I also several manakins and more agouti. By 10:30 am, the forest was significantly less active, and I didn’t see any more animals. I think the prime time is 8-9:30 am. I departed at 11 am. This visit was on Friday, March 21, 2025. Other notes: Trail is in good condition, park staff are friendly, not many other visitors with only two other cars at park open and a dozen at departure.

Absolutely incredible hike and gorgeous beach. Quiet protected forest with many birds, butterflies, a family of monkeys, and an amazing beach at the end. Bring plenty of water - it’s a hot and humid hike. The beach is beautiful but swimming is not so great - it’s warm, shallow, rocky and murky (low visibility). More like paddling. There is a simple freshwater shower setup by the picnic tables, just have to look around for it. 1.5-2 hours each way, depending on your pace.

A long hot and very humid trail - 2 hours each way if you are going constantly without a break and at a good pace, up and down constantly, paths were not maintained and slippery - you need a good level of fitness - lots of steps. The beach wasn't swimmable - murky and slippery rocks. Take at least 2L of water - there is no water available along the trail. We only saw monkeys at the entrance - no other wild life. Park closes at 4pm. We have enjoyed other hikes much more in Costa Rica.

I did the hike to the beach. It's 10km return. I did it in my earthrunner sandals , no issues. It's pretty evenly up and down both ways in and out. It's a nice hike. You have to pay $12 which is fine but strange for me to pay to hike lol. I went inside right when they opened at 8, hiked to the beach, swam, sunbathed and came back to Cubaya by 2pm. I saw deer, a howler monkey, a lot of Halloween crabs, and a black turkey. Nothing too exciting but I enjoyed the hike. I had the beach to myself for awhile and later saw just a few other people hiking. It was not as buggy as I anticipated. I used natural bug repellent and only reapplied once after swimming. It's a great hike and good workout !