Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk, Arenal/La Fortuna
Spot sloths by night, their most active time, on a wildlife-rich 1-mile (1.5 km) trail just outside La Fortuna
Saw many sloths. The guide ensured we saw them through telescopes as they are often up high in the trees
We saw about 12 sloths, but far away. If you want to be close look for conservatory. Also seeing sloths could be a miss. But the... Read more
It was a lot of fun to “hunt” for sloths in La Fortuna and see them in their natural habitat. We had a specialty guide for... Read more
Our guide, Luis was outstanding!
Saw sloth bear with baby, frogs and lots of other creatures. It was good experience. Important to note that night walks are similar in Arenal and... Read more
Overview
See sloths in their natural habitat on this family-friendly excursion! During this two-hour tour in a private nature reserve just outside La Fortuna, you'll not only have the opportunity to view these slow-moving creatures hanging out in the trees, but you'll also learn all about the sloth's lifestyle, the history of the species, and the importance of sloth protection. Your expert guide will point out two- and three-toed sloths and bring your attention to other noteworthy flora and fauna as you walk along a 1-mile (1.5-km) trail. If you're lucky, you might even spot a mother sloth with her baby.
Highlights
- Observe two-toed and three-toed sloths in their natural habitat
- Benefit from the experience of an expert guide trained to spot sloths
- See tropical flora and fauna along a walk through a private reserve
Know before you go
3 hours
All ages
Small group
Water provided
What you'll do
Join a morning, afternoon, or evening excursion to spot them in the wild with an expert guide. Observation equipment is included. Note that two-toed sloths are most active after dark.
You'll transfer from your accommodations to a private nature reserve located just outside of town. Your guide will offer some background about the sloth and its lifestyle — and give you a flashlight if you're on a night tour — before you begin the 1-mile (1.5-km) walk. The hike lasts around two hours.
As you make your way along the path, your guide will stop at red flags that mark where other guides and property staff have recently spotted sloths. Be sure to look up: two- and three-toed sloths love to laze about in the trees! The Guarumo tree is a source of the sloth's favorite food. Your guide will point out these trees as you hike through dense forest and along a river that borders the reserve. Although sloths are solitary animals and spend most of their time sleeping or eating, your specialized guides are experts at finding them, so you're guaranteed to see them! You'll also look for other wildlife, take photos, and learn a lot about sloths, the local habitat, and other critters you see along the way.
During the excursion, you'll learn about the importance of sloth protection. Illegal trade of this species has increased significantly due to the sloth's popularity. This ecological sanctuary promotes the animals' security by protecting their natural habitat.
You'll transfer back to La Fortuna to end the trip.
Start times
-
Daily8:00 am, 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm
What's included
- Transportation
- Bilingual guide
- Entrance fee
- Flashlight
- Bottled water
- Snacks
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Get startedSee alternatives
Sloth & Bird Hike
Embark on a two-hour hiking excursion along the "sloth trail" with a bilingual guide. Discover the tropical forest while spotting sloths, birds, and reptiles in their natural habitat.
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Ecocentro Danaus Nighttime Rainforest Walk
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Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus
A bilingual guide will lead you on a nature walk through the Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus on this half-day tour. You'll have the chance to spot tree frogs, caimans, monkeys, sloths, and a wide variety of birds as you follow your guide on a nature trail. Stop at botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, and a wetlands area that serves as a bird nesting site. Finish the tour with a visit to a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous traditions and environmental practices.
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Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
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Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Visit
Visit Proyecto Asis, a wildlife rehabilitation and rescue center. A naturalist guide will lead you on a tour, introducing you to the resident animals and sharing their stories. You'll likely see anteaters, monkeys, snakes, parrots, sloths, and more.
(Because the center's goal is to release as many animals back into the wild as possible, the wildlife present at the center is subject to change.) During your visit, you'll also learn about conservation and sustainability.
Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rehabilitation Center - Volunteer Experience
Visit Proyecto Asis, a wildlife rehabilitation and rescue center. A naturalist guide will lead you on a tour, introducing you to the resident animals and sharing their stories. You'll likely see anteaters, monkeys, snakes, parrots, sloths, and more. (Because the center's goal is to release as many animals back into the wild as possible, the wildlife present at the center is subject to change.) During your visit, you'll learn about conservation and sustainability. As part of the volunteer tour, you will also have hands-on opportunities with the animals. Learn how to prepare and serve food to the animals, interact with them (following the guide's instructions), help clean cages or craft animal toys, and more. You will go home with unforgettable memories!
La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike
Traveler photos
Travelers often mention
Summarized by AI based on kimkim traveler reviews
Many reviews praised the guides for being knowledgeable, friendly, and capable of spotting sloths and other wildlife. Specific guides such as Luis and Gustavo were mentioned positively. (11 mentions)
In addition to sloths, reviewers mentioned seeing a range of other animals including frogs, lizards, toads, toucans, howler monkeys, and insects. (10 mentions)
Reviews frequently mention seeing both two-toed and three-toed sloths, often with baby sloths. However, the experiences varied, with some noting sloths were far away or hard to spot. (6 mentions)
Night tours were highlighted as a unique experience where travelers could see nocturnal creatures. Some noted it was similar to other night tours and could feel repetitive if done multiple times. (4 mentions)
Traveler reviews
4.7
4.9
4.9
Important to note that night walks are similar in Arenal and Monteverde so doing both was a bit of an overkill. Read more
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