WildlifeMariolas Sloth Trail

Mariolas Sloth Trail – Wildlife Tour

Guided walk focused on sloths, birds and easy wildlife photography

2 hours
Mariolas Sloth Trail
Private or small group
From $115 · taxes included

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Sloth seen on the Mariola's Sloth Trail at Papa's Place

Bird at Papa's Place rainforest reserve near La Fortuna

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

Mariolas Sloth Trail – Wildlife Tour

The Mariolas Sloth Trail is a family-run private reserve on the outskirts of La Fortuna that has quietly become one of the most productive sloth-viewing spots in the Arenal region — a quieter, less crowded alternative to the more famous trails and a favorite for photographers and small groups. The property protects roughly 6 hectares of secondary rainforest and old cacao/citrus edges, exactly the kind of mixed canopy that Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths (Bradypus variegatus) and Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) prefer. Trails are flat, well-maintained, about 1.2 km in a loop, and the tour runs 2 hours at a slow pace. Your naturalist guide checks the current-day sloth locations with the property staff before starting, so encounters are consistent — most tours see 2–5 sloths on a single walk, often at closer eye-level heights (4–7 m) than at busier reserves. Beyond sloths, expect Keel-billed Toucans, Collared Aracaris, Chestnut-headed Oropendolas, Passerini's Tanagers, Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, Great Kiskadees, Long-tailed Manakins in season, and White-nosed Coatis and Central American Agoutis on the ground. The site is excellent for macro and telephoto work because light gaps are open and the trail edges give clean backgrounds. Round-trip transport from La Fortuna, park entrance and bilingual naturalist guide are included; pair it with Bogarín Trail for a double-sloth day, or with the Safari Float in the afternoon for a full wildlife itinerary.

Highlights

What makes this day different

Family-friendly

Easy walking trail

Great sloth habitat

Itinerary

Your day, hour by hour

Indicative timings — we adapt to wildlife activity and weather.

7:45 AM
Hotel pickup
8:00 AM
Arrive at Mariolas
8:15 AM
Family-run trail
Small private reserve with a gentle loop.
9:30 AM
Sloth & bird stops
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

What to bring

Comfortable clothes
Camera
Binoculars
Water

Logistics

Practical details before you book

Pickup can be coordinated

La Fortuna (Mariolas) Hikes and Trails

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

Reserve My Experience

Your card is authorized only, not charged.

VIVO confirms availability before capturing payment.

Free cancellation 72h+ (−5% fee)

La Fortuna (Mariolas) Hikes and Trails

Reserve My Experience

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Questions

Frequently asked

What makes Mariolas Sloth Trail different from Bogarín?

Mariolas is a smaller, family-run reserve on the outskirts of La Fortuna — quieter, less crowded and often with sloths at closer eye-level heights (4–7 m). Bogarín has more birds and is closer to downtown; Mariolas has better photographic backgrounds and more peaceful sessions. Serious photographers usually prefer Mariolas; birders usually prefer Bogarín. Doing both in one morning is our top-selling combo.

How many sloths will I see at Mariolas?

Most tours see 2–5 sloths on a single 2-hour walk — both Brown-throated Three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) and Hoffmann's Two-toed (Choloepus hoffmanni). The family staff scouts the current-day tree locations before your tour starts, so encounters are consistent year-round.

Can I do Mariolas Sloth Trail without a guide?

The reserve does allow self-guided visits, but a private naturalist guide is strongly recommended. Sloths blend into the canopy perfectly — most self-guided visitors walk past 3 out of 4 sloths without seeing them. A guide brings a spotting scope, checks with staff for the day's sloth locations, and identifies every bird call. Same trail, dramatically different experience.

How far is Mariolas from La Fortuna?

About 10 minutes from downtown La Fortuna by car — on the outskirts of town toward the Peñas Blancas area. Round-trip hotel pickup within La Fortuna is included in the tour price. If your hotel is outside town, we quote a small transport surcharge by zone when you book.

Is Mariolas good for photography?

Excellent — trail edges give clean, uncluttered backgrounds; light gaps are open enough for 400–600mm work; and the low visitor volume means you can set up a tripod without blocking anyone. A private guide will slow the pace to your shot list. Great for both sloth portraits and small-bird photography (motmots, tanagers, honeycreepers).