Cloud Forest, Margays & Turtles

Accommodation : Grano de Oro

Accommodation : Arenal Observatory Lodge

Very early start to try and glimpse the rare and elusive Margay before heading out straight away (packed breakfast included) on a small group Sloth tour. The aim of the trip is to see as many sloths as possible, but also we have good chances to see toucans, frogs, iguanas and monkeys.

Leave at 7:00 a.m. from La Fortuna. After a typical breakfast in route to Rio Celeste, arrive at Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you will begin a 5-mile hike (approximately 4 hours) through the tropical rain forest. Arrive to “Los Teñideros” of the Rio Celeste, the site where two streams of crystalline water come together and form the heavenly color blue that gives the river its name.

Accommodation : Villa Blanca cloud forest hotel

Enjoy the cool dawn air of the cloud forest surrounding Villa Blanca, along with its gentle sloping pastures, where you will have the opportunity to spot a variety of birds from an inventory of over 300 recorded species, including certain endemic birds, such as the orange-bellied Trogon (Trogon aurantiiventris).

As a part of only 2.5 % of the planet´s remaining cloud forests, this unique forest habitat continues to amaze the visitors and guides, as well as the trained research scientists from INBio (The National Institute of Biodiversity), who established the first research station to operate on a hotel property in Costa Rica, This small group walking tour led by an expert guide lasts approximately 2 hours. Recommended: Hiking shoes, camera, long pants, a light jacket or poncho, water.

Accommodation : Mawamba Lodge

Breakfast available from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. This morning and a time you will confirm with your naturalist guide (usually around 9.30 a.m.) go on a visit to the “Mawamba Park”, a private facility in our Lodge’s gardens that features two butterfly farms, a frog garden, our bio-digester and river turtle’s area. In the afternoon you will enjoy a second private boat safari on the famous Tortuguero canals, with the chance to see otters, monkeys and large caimans.

Although this is a free day and we can look at kayaking tour (park entrance fees not included) and a gentle walk into the very interesting town , our focus in the evening will be the turtles. Mawamba lodge offers nesting tours for the green sea turtles that come to nest between June/July and October. Turtles nest in the evening, to avoid predators. Guided nesting tours are available during this time and these are regulated by the National Park and conditions for participation apply.

A gentle start to the day with breakfast and a short stretch of the legs before packing up and driving back to the capital San Jose. We can easily include a short afternoon tour of your preferred attractions (cost not included), or simply drop you off at the stunning Grano de Oro, where you will be enveloped in luxury and can enjoy a final nights Costa Rican cuisine.

Sadly, this is the final day of your Costa Rica wildlife holiday; unless of course you want to extend it and stay longer in this beautiful country and since all our tours are tailor made we can talk you through all the possible options.