Private Reserves
Trip Ideas
- The Best of Costa Rica
- Costa Rica’s Top Spots for WIldlife
- Costa Rica’s Most Beautiful Beaches
- Costa Rica’s Best Beaches for Wildlife
- Best Surfing Beaches in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica’s Unique Retreats & Resorts
- Surf’s Up in Costa Rica
- Off-The-Beaten-Path Eco-Adventures
- Costa Rica Family-Friendly Adventures
- Adrenaline Rush
Ecological Sanctuary Wildlife Refuge (Finca Ecológica, tel./fax 506/2645-5869, www.ecologicalsanctuary.com, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, $10 adults, $8 students, $5 children), on the same road as the Butterfly Garden, has six signed trails through the 48-hectare property, which has waterfalls.
You have an excellent chance of seeing coatimundis, sloths, agoutis, porcupines, and white-faced monkeys, as well as butterflies and birds. It offers a twilight tour at 5:30 p.m. ($25 pp including transfers).
Sendero Tranquilo (Quiet Path Reserve, tel. 506/2645-5010, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. daily) has a three-hour guided tour beginning at the Hotel Sapo Dorado.
New in 2010, Ficus Trails (Hotel Fonda Vela, tel. 506/2645-6474, ficustrailmonteverde [at] gmail [dot] com) has bird-watching tours at 6 a.m. and night walks ay 5:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Hidden Valley Nature Trail (tel. 506/2645-5156, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. daily) has two-hour night walks at 5:30 p.m.
© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Costa Rica, 8th Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.