GUIDED NATURE HIKE

For those visitors who want to experience the waterways of Costa Rica – without the adrenaline rush of whitewater rapids – we recommend a float trip down the scenic and historic Puerto Viejo River. The tour starts at the small town of El Tigre and ends in the city of Puerto Viejo. You will be given a life jacket, helmet and a paddle … and yes you will be expected to paddle, a little. The guides will show you how to paddle and give you instructions on basic river safety.

The Puerto Viejo River is class I (flat water) and is a great opportunity to float down through the pristine rainforest of the La Selva Biological Station. It´s great tropical rainforest: you will be able to see howler monkeys, sloths, iguanas and all manner of birds which are sometimes difficult to spot while hiking, including sunbitterns, toucans, herons, ospreys and more. This trip is a must for bird watching.

Depending on the water level, the tour lasts between 2 and 3 hours and is perfect for families with younger children & adults of all ages are welcome on this peaceful float. Canoes are recommended for the trip, but arrangements can also be made for ducky (inflatable kayak) and raft trips.

NATURAL HISTORY TOURS AT TIRIMBINA
“An adventure and learning destination”

Tirimbina Rainforest Center protects 346 hectares (865 acres) of pristine forest and contains great biodiversity. The reserve’s habitats include riverside, island, forest edge, gardens, and others; all having their own characteristic species. The reserve has eight kilometers of trails adapted for all ages. The access trail from our parking lot to the main bridge is handicap accessible.

NATURAL HISTORY WALK

With the company of a local guide, you will discover the wonders of a tropical rainforest. The tour takes three and a half hours. Several suspension bridges carry visitors through breathtaking river and forest canopy environments. The 860–foot Joan Spector Bridge crosses the Sarapiqui River and Tirimbina Island, and a 370-foot Canopy Walkway allows access to where 90% of the rain forest life thrives: home to thousands of species of plants and animals.

The Tirimbina Island abounds with wildlife and secondary forest vegetation. Natural tropical pools invite a swim or wildlife watching.

BIRDING AT TIRIMBINA

Costa Rica’s Caribbean slope is best known for its great diversity of birds. About half of the species in Costa Rica dwell in this area. Migratory birds, including warblers and orioles, are found here, as well as the spectacular hawk and vulture migration.

Tirimbina Rainforest Center contains 420 species of birds. The reserve’s habitats include riverside, island, forest edge, gardens, and others; all having their own characteristic bird species.

During a bird walk, visitors explore these different habitats and learn about bird identification, bird behavior, basic and alternate plumage of migratory birds, and conservation.

The walk begins at 6 a.m. with birding in the gardens of Tirimbina. Common species that may be seen in this habitat are warblers, orioles, flycatchers, and pigeons. As we continue toward the forest, we cross the longest suspension bridge in Costa Rica which overlooks the Sarapiqui River. This is a great opportunity to see herons, cormorans, kingfishers and sunbitterns. Once in the forest, we will learn about bird sounds and look for species such as trogons, toucans, wrens and tinamous.

The tour will finish by 10 a.m. in Tirimbina’s gardens. Visitors are welcome to stay following the tour for additional bird watching or picture taking.

NOCTURNAL WALKING TOUR

With the company of a local guide, you have the opportunity to discover the wonder of the rainforest at night. Sounds, lights and aromas will capture your imagination. In a two and a half hour walk, we investigate nocturnal species such as insects, frogs, toads, and mammals providing a different perspective of the rainforest. We also include mist-netting to observe bats.

NIGHT BAT PROGRAM

Because bats represent 50% of Costa Rican mammals and the 110 Costa Rican species represent 12% of the total bat biodiversity worldwide, we provide the opportunity for our visitors to discover the wonders of this group of mammals.

The activity includes a multimedia presentation about the natural history of bats (classification, diversity, adaptations, reproduction, threats, and environmental education) with lots of pictures and information (45 min). Later we apply what we learned by observing live specimens that were previously captured using mist-nets. On average we view between 3 to 6 different species of bats per night. A trained guide provides our visitors with the opportunity to touch the bats, in total security, as well feed them. Finally, we release the bats into the wild again.

We also take a short walk (15-30 min) to observe the mist-nets in the field, investigate how to use bat detectors, and describe the process of capturing the bats.

The total activity takes approximately two and a half hours.