Selva Verde

Selva Verde (tel. 506/766-6800, fax 506/766-6011, selvaver@racsa.co.cr, www.selvaverde.com, 7 a.m.–3 p.m., $5 admission with guide, free to hotel guests), on the banks of the Río Sarapiquí, about one km east of Chilamate and eight km west of Puerto Viejo, is a private reserve protecting some 192 hectares of primary rainforest adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park. At its heart is an internationally acclaimed nature lodge and the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (Centro de Enseñanza), with a lecture room and library. The reserve is renowned for its birdlife, including oropendolas, motmots, parrots, jacamars, sunbitterns, and other exotic lowland tropical birds. Poison-arrow frogs are easily spotted. Walking trails lead through the forests: trail maps are provided, and the lodge has a fine staff of naturalist guides. Guided hiking cost $8 (2.5 hours). Selva Verde also offers trips up the river by canopied boat ($8), guided canoe trips ($45 half-day), and horseback trips ($12 pp, three hours). Mountain bikes are also available ($25 half-day).

It has a small butterfly garden—the Sarapiquí Butterfly Center—accessed independently, roadside, 200 meters downhill from the lodge entrance.