This is the shared departure of Bogarín Trail – Sloths & Wildlife Tour: a small group of no more than 15 travelers, on a fixed schedule, at a per-person rate. You share a VIVO naturalist guide with other travelers looking for the same thing you are — real wildlife, good light and an honest explanation of what you are seeing. The itinerary, the certified guide and the safety standards are identical to our private expedition; what changes is that the departure time is set and the group sets the pace. Transport is never shared: if you add it, it is private door-to-door for your party only.
The Bogarín Trail in La Fortuna is Costa Rica's most reliable place to see wild sloths — the site itself has become a legend among nature travelers, birders and photographers. Founded and cared for by naturalist Giovanni Bogarín, this 4-hectare regenerated wetland reserve sits inside downtown La Fortuna, so no long drives are needed. The trail is flat, groomed, roughly 1 km in a shaded loop, and the tour runs about 2 hours at a slow, wildlife-focused pace. Sloth sightings are near-guaranteed: naturalist guides log daily which trees hold Brown-throated Three-toed and Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloths, so even families with small children and travelers with mobility considerations get eye-level views (often 3–8 meters up) — perfect for smartphone and telephoto photography. Beyond sloths, Bogarín is one of the best short-trail birding sites in Arenal: 200+ species recorded on eBird, with regular Uniform Crake, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, White-throated Crake, Black-crowned Antshrike, Fasciated Antshrike, Broad-billed and Rufous Motmots, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Green Ibis, and a spectacular set of hummingbirds at the flowering ginger patches (Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Long-billed Hermit). White-nosed Coatis, agoutis, iguanas, Blue Morpho butterflies and, in the wet season, dozens of frog species round out the walk. Best sessions are dawn (6:30–7:00 AM start) for bird activity and cooler light, and late afternoon for sloth movement. Park entrance and bilingual naturalist guide are included. Transport is not included — we quote it separately by hotel and zone. Available as a small shared group or fully private; families, seniors and first-time visitors love it, and it pairs beautifully with the La Fortuna Waterfall or the Ecocentro Danaus Night Tour.
