Two-toed sloth resting on a tree at Ecocentro Danaus, La Fortuna

WildlifeEcocentro Danaus – La Fortuna

Ecocentro Danaus – Day Guided Rainforest Tour

Walk through regenerating rainforest and wetlands to spot sloths, frogs, caimans, butterflies and diverse tropical wildlife

2 hours
Ecocentro Danaus – La Fortuna
Private or small group
From $115 · taxes included

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Tropical bird at Ecocentro Danaus wildlife reserve, Arenal

Wildlife photo from a daytime tour at Ecocentro Danaus Costa Rica

Duration: 2 hours
Start time: 7:30am / 2:00pm
Group style: Private or small group
Pickup: Pickup can be coordinated
Languages: EN / ES

The experience

Ecocentro Danaus – Day Guided Rainforest Tour

Ecocentro Danaus is a 5-hectare private reserve on the edge of downtown La Fortuna and one of Costa Rica's most reliable places to see wildlife on an easy walk. This is the guided day tour: a certified naturalist leads you along flat, well-maintained trails (about 1.5 km / 1 mi, wheelchair-accessible sections) through regenerating rainforest, a wetland lagoon, amphibian ponds, butterfly gardens and a medicinal plant garden. In roughly 2 hours you can expect two- and three-toed sloths, poison dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs in the ponds, Spectacled Caimans in the lagoon, coatis, agoutis, iguanas, Blue Morpho butterflies and dozens of common tropical birds — toucans, motmots, oropendolas, honeycreepers, tanagers. The reserve has recorded 130+ bird species; the birdwatching program is a separate specialized tour (see 'Ecocentro Danaus – Birdwatching'). Your guide interprets the plant-animal relationships, the Maleku indigenous heritage of the region and the reforestation history of the site. Ideal for families with children, seniors and first-time visitors to Costa Rica who want a comfortable, high-density introduction to Arenal biodiversity without steep terrain. Round-trip transport from La Fortuna, park entrance and bilingual naturalist guide are included. Also available as a Night Tour and as a self-guided Day Pass.

Highlights

What makes this day different

Family-friendly

Great for first-time visitors

Best in early morning

Itinerary

Your day, hour by hour

Indicative timings — we adapt to wildlife activity and weather.

7:30 AM
Hotel pickup
8:00 AM
Arrive at Danaus
8:15 AM
Guided reserve walk
Flat boardwalk through wetlands and secondary forest.
9:30 AM
Wildlife highlights
Sloths, caimans, poison dart frogs, toucans.
10:30 AM
Return to hotel

Gallery

What you may see

Real photographs from our departures. Sightings are never guaranteed.

Included

What is included and what to bring

Included

Naturalist guide
Entrance fees

What to bring

Closed shoes
Light outdoor clothing
Water
Insect repellent
Camera

Logistics

Practical details before you book

Pickup can be coordinated

Ecocentro Danaus

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. Choose date, modality and travellers at checkout.
2. Your card is authorized (hold), not charged.
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)

Ecocentro Danaus

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Questions

Frequently asked

Is the Ecocentro Danaus Day Guided Tour worth it?

Yes — it is one of the highest-yield easy walks in La Fortuna. In ~2 hours on flat trails you can realistically see two- and three-toed sloths, poison dart frogs, Spectacled Caimans, coatis, iguanas, Blue Morphos and 20+ tropical bird species. A certified naturalist with a spotting scope makes the difference vs. the self-guided Day Pass: you spot 3–5× more wildlife and get proper interpretation of behavior, plants and Maleku indigenous heritage.

Danaus Day Guided vs Day Pass vs Night Tour — which should I book?

Day Guided (this tour) = best all-around wildlife experience with a naturalist, ideal for first-time visitors and families. Day Pass = self-guided entry only, cheaper but you miss ~70% of the wildlife because it is well camouflaged. Night Tour = red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers and nocturnal species — completely different fauna. Many guests book Day Guided + Night Tour combo for full 24-hour coverage of the reserve.

Danaus vs Bogarín for sloth sightings — where should I go?

Both are excellent and only 5 minutes apart in downtown La Fortuna. Bogarín tracks specific sloth trees daily and has near-guaranteed sightings — the "safest" bet for guaranteed sloths. Danaus is broader: sloths plus caimans, frogs, morphos and wetland birds all in one 5-hectare reserve. If you have only one morning and sloths are the priority, do Bogarín; if you want a richer wildlife mix in one stop, do Danaus. Doing both in the same trip is easy and complementary.

Is hotel pickup included from La Fortuna?

Round-trip hotel pickup from any hotel in downtown La Fortuna is included in the price. If your hotel is outside town (Arenal Observatory, El Castillo, Lake Arenal shore) a small transport surcharge applies — we quote it at booking so there are no surprises.

Is it accessible for seniors, kids and wheelchairs?

Yes — trails are flat, wide and mostly paved or hard-packed (about 1.5 km total). There are wheelchair-accessible sections, though a few muddy stretches in wet season may require assistance. Ideal for families with young children, grandparents and travelers who want dense biodiversity without hiking effort. Total walking is slow-paced over ~2 hours with plenty of stops.