Property
We arrived after dark and upon our first step through the wooden gate, we were enchanted by the lush gardens and lit paths. Our tastefully decorated and well appointed cottage was absolutely perfect for the three of us during our 8-day stay.  Each day after walking on the beach or touring the area, we would relax around the pool feasting our senses on the sounds of the birds and the occasional call of the howler monkeys, and the sights of the colourful blooms and foliage in the gardens.

Location
The Caribbean town of Cahuita, in Limon, just a short 15-minute walk to town for groceries, souvenir shopping, or dining in a restaurant serving great seafood. Our hosts Greg & Michel pointed out many of the great attractions and activities in the area.

Sleeps
Two guestrooms sleep three, one sleeps two, and the two cottages accommodate four each. All rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, coffee maker, ceiling fans, safety box and Wireless Internet. The cottages have spacious porches and each cottage and guestroom has plenty of privacy and views of the lush, tropical garden.

Highlights
We walked the trail in the Cahuita National Park, went dolphin watching and snorkelling at Cahuita Point and visited the Jaguar Reserve where we observed baby sloths and fed baby howler monkeys. Playa Negra is a great destination for all generations – we were a child, mom & grandmother. We’ll certainly visit again!

Good to know
It is a 3 ½ to 4 hour ride from the airport in San Jose to the Playa Negra Guesthouse; however our hosts arranged for a car and driver to pick us up. After a long day of air travel, we were able to relax as we passed through the mountains and along the coast enjoying the scenery on our way to the guesthouse.

Contact
http://www.playanegra.cr/

Written by travelsavvymom

Property
El Encanto B&B, only one block from the swimmable black sand Playa Negra, is beautifully landscaped and has a very peaceful atmosphere. The Japanese style meditation pavilion is lovely and the rooms (with a double bed and a single bed) are nice but a bit small for families with more than one child. The real jewel here is the small 3 bedroom house that is perfect for families who want some space and privacy while still having the option to stroll over to the common area for a huge healthy included breakfast. No AC but they do have ceiling fans and a small pool for cooling off. There’s a common living room area with comfy chairs to read or watch TV.

Location
Playa Negra is a black sand beach on the Caribbean coast that has just a few small lodges and 3 restaurants. It’s a 10-minute walk into the town of Cahuita which has escaped overdevelopment and is full of eclectic locally owned shops and restaurants. Service is notoriously slow but the food is good with a strong Afro-Caribbean influence. 3-4 hours from the San Jose airport.

Sleeps
2-3 in the rooms. They also have a 3 bedroom house that sleeps 6-9 and is recommended for families.

Highlights
The property itself is lovely and quiet. Easy walk to Playa Negra for a swim. Walk or drive into Cahuita for banana bread and beans and rice cooked in coconut milk. Visit Cahuita National Park at the far edge of town, a gorgeous white sand beach with one of the best coral reefs in Costa Rica and a stretch of rainforest along the beach full of white faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, and birds.

Good to know
Cahuita and most of the Caribbean coast is still a cash economy- credit cards are rarely accepted except for lodging reservations. There can be riptides at Cahuita’s beach- ask at the ranger station where the safe areas are to swim or just play in the sand. It’s worthwhile hiring a local guide to take you for a walk through the rainforest in the National Park to point out wildlife. It’s a flat easy walk for kids and the monkeys are often easy to spot in the palm trees near the beach.

Contact
www.elencantobedandbreakfast.com/

Written by Jenny Jensen