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    WildlifeBogarín Trail / Sloth Paradise

    Bogarín Trail – Sloths & Wildlife Tour

    Almost-guaranteed sloth sightings, trogons and easy wildlife photography on La Fortuna's most beloved trail.

    • 2 hours
    • Bogarín Trail / Sloth Paradise
    • Private or small group
    • From $115 · taxes included

    Your card is authorized only, not charged. VIVO confirms availability before capturing payment.

    Duration
    2 hours
    Start time
    7:00am / 3:00pm
    Group style
    Private or small group
    Pickup
    Pickup can be coordinated
    Languages
    EN / ES

    The experience

    Bogarín Trail – Sloths & Wildlife Tour

    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. Round-trip transport from La Fortuna, park entrance and bilingual naturalist guide are included on our tour. 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.

    Highlights

    What makes this day different

    Great for families

    Easy walking trail

    Almost guaranteed sloth sightings

    Itinerary

    Your day, hour by hour

    Indicative timings — we adapt to wildlife activity and weather.

    1. 7:30 AM

      Hotel pickup

    2. 7:45 AM

      Arrive at Bogarín

    3. 8:00 AM

      Guided trail walk

      Gentle flat loop with sloth tracking and scoping.

    4. 9:30 AM

      Wildlife highlights

      Sloths, toucans, motmots and caimans.

    5. 10:30 AM

      Return to hotel

    Included

    What is included and what to bring

    Included

    • Naturalist guide

    What to bring

    • Comfortable clothes
    • Camera
    • Binoculars
    • Water

    Logistics

    Practical details before you book

    Pickup can be coordinated

    Bogarín Trail

    Share your hotel or Airbnb name during checkout and we confirm pickup time and any transport cost in writing.

    Booking window

    Requests close 36h before departure. Inside that window we still try, but availability is not confirmed.

    This experience accepts a card authorization online: the amount is held, never charged, until VIVO confirms.

    2 Adults · 10

    Cancellation & changes

    • 72+ hours before tour → 100% refund to original payment method, minus 5% administrative fee
    • 48–72 hours before tour → 50% refund to original payment method (minus 5% admin fee) OR free reschedule (subject to availability)
    • 24–48 hours before tour → 25% refund to original payment method (minus 5% admin fee) OR reschedule with 25% rebooking fee (subject to availability)
    • Less than 24 hours before tour → No refund, but reschedule possible with 50% rebooking fee
    • No-shows are non-refundable and non-rescheduleable
    • The 5% administrative fee is non-refundable and covers non-recoverable bank/processor fees (Stripe and PayPal retain ~3% on every transaction even when refunded) plus the cost of processing the cancellation. It is waived when we cancel for operational or weather reasons.
    • All refunds are issued to the original payment method (card, PayPal, or bank transfer used at booking). We do not issue cash refunds under any circumstance.

    Book

    Secure your date

    Authorize your card today; the charge only happens once VIVO confirms the operation.

    How it works

    1. 1. Choose date, modality and travellers at checkout.
    2. 2. Your card is authorized (hold), not charged.
    3. 3. VIVO confirms in writing (email and WhatsApp) with the operational details.

    You can also add this experience to your itinerary and book several together. View my itinerary

    Price per person

    From$115

    Taxes and card fee included.

    Small group from $64

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    Your card is authorized only, not charged.

    VIVO confirms availability before capturing payment.

    Free cancellation 72h+ (−5% fee)

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    Questions

    Frequently asked

    Are sloth sightings guaranteed at Bogarín Trail?

    In practice, yes — Bogarín is the most reliable place in Costa Rica to see wild sloths. Guides log daily which cecropia trees the sloths are resting in, so on 95%+ of tours you see both Brown-throated Three-toed and Hoffmann's Two-toed sloths at 3–8 m eye-level height. Perfect for smartphones and short telephotos, and family-friendly.

    How long is the Bogarín Trail walk?

    The loop is about 1 km, flat and shaded, and the guided walk takes 2 hours at a slow wildlife-focused pace. It is one of the easiest trails in La Fortuna — great for families, seniors and travelers with limited mobility. No steep climbs, no stairs.

    What is the best time to visit Bogarín Trail?

    Two sweet spots: dawn (6:30–8:00 AM) for peak bird activity — over 200 species recorded on eBird — and late afternoon (3:00–5:00 PM) when sloths move to feed and light for photography is softer. Our tour departures at 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM are timed to these windows.

    Bogarín vs Sloth Territory — which is better?

    Both are excellent private reserves within 10 minutes of downtown. Bogarín has a longer, richer bird list (200+ species), a shaded wetland edge and a stronger reputation among birders. Sloth Territory is smaller and can feel more crowded midday. If you want sloths + birds in one stop, Bogarín is our top pick. Pair it with Mariolas Trail for an unmatched double-sloth morning.

    Is Bogarín Trail suitable for kids?

    Yes — flat, short, shaded and full of sightings kids remember (sloths at eye level, colorful frogs, huge iguanas). Ages 4 and up love it. Strollers work on the main loop with minor bumps. A private guide adjusts the storytelling to the kids' age.

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