The 15 Best Sloth Tours in Costa Rica

1.Monkey, Crocodile, Sloths & Beach Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88Our pick

Spend about 3.5 hours with Geriold’s team visiting free-ranging white-faced capuchins, Tarcoles crocodiles, wild sloths, and Jaco Beach. Your guide explains local wildlife, ecology, and Costa Rican life, with transportation, snacks, a traditional lunch, and beach time included. Add the 1-hour-40-minute Tarcoles boat ride for $43.

“We saw lots of monkeys, they would sit on your shoulders it was super neat, there were crocodiles and unique birds, sloth with baby up high in trees. The tour guide was super nice full of info. Lunch was provided and very good. Would recommend.”

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2.Bogarin Trail Sloth Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $55

Walk the easy Bogarin Trail in La Fortuna with guides such as Alex, Mar, William, or Randall, who use a telescope to find sloths, frogs, birds, bats, and lizards high in the trees. The two-hour outing ends with fresh pineapple and time to relax in rocking chairs. It is close to town, mostly flat, and best for wildlife spotting rather than a strenuous hike.

“We had a wonderful tour with our guide Mar! Her English was great, which was a relief since our Spanish isn’t great. She told us all about the birds, plants, trees, bugs, and sloths!! It was wonderful. She had a tripod and scope and used them to take some great shots with our iPhones.”

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3.Rio Celeste Waterfall Plus Sloths and wildlife Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · 7 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $220

From Tamarindo, you ride in a private air-conditioned car to Rio Celeste and Tenorio National Park. Expect a two to three-hour rainforest walk, a sloth and wildlife visit at Spring Paradise Bijagua Tours, and lunch at Doña Carmen. Guides may include Verny, Hernan, Allan, or Eric, and the pace can be tailored to your group.

“Our guide Hernan S and driver Alan were OUTSTANDING. Our guide Hania at the wildlife preserve was amazing as well. Hernan was very knowledgeable about the history, environment and flora/fauna of the region. Moderate hike. Beautiful waterfall. Wildlife abundant and pictures of a lifetime. Lunch was delicious and the butterfly garden was a lovely surprise and really well done. They will pick you up at your location, which was very helpful. Great day. Highly recommend.”

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4.Sloth Tour in La Fortuna and Tortillas Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $38

Walk a forest trail with guides such as David, Sergio, Jaime, or Jason while searching for sloths, frogs, birds, bats, and lizards. Use a spotting scope for close views, then press sugarcane and make tortillas with cheese and local toppings. The two-hour tour costs $38, with morning and afternoon departures.

“This was the perfect sloth walk. The group was small and felt personal. Our guide, David, was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure we all got great pictures of the animals we saw. We encountered sloths, many birds, frogs, lizards, and an agouti. There is no way we would have spotted the sloths without David’s expertise! My kids had a blast pressing sugar cane to make juice and learning to make handmade tortillas after the walk. “Best tortillas I ever had” - my 9 year old son. Highly recommend this family run business.”

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5.Sloth Discovery & Swim in Rio Celeste

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · from $127

Leave Playa Hermosa at 7 a.m. for Bijagua de Upala, where a bilingual guide leads you through a private reserve to find sloths, toucans, frogs, and snakes. You’ll also visit butterfly and snake attractions, eat a typical lunch, and swim in Rio Celeste. Guides may include Kevin, Luis, Gabriel, Memo, or David.

“Come prepared to endure a nearly 2hr private bus ride, hike to the rio Celeste, and through the rainforest to see sloths, toucans, frogs, etc. when I say “prepared” I mean it… I wish we would have worn long pants, long sleeves, and more comfRead more”

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6.Coffee & Chocolate Tour+Sloths Park & Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $210

From Tamarindo, this private eight-hour trip visits Spring Paradise Bijagua for rainforest wildlife, a coffee and cacao workshop, Llanos de Cortez Waterfall, and a traditional lunch at El Sabor de Doña Carmen. Guides such as Dayro, Fernando, Dido, and Anthony are praised for wildlife spotting, translation, local insight, and flexible pacing.

“First let me say Our private guide, Fernando, was exceptional! He was very friendly, attentive & informative all day. He even ensured the owner of the restaurant that we had lunch at was aware of my fish allergy so that I could enjoy the delicious lunch that was served with no fear of cross contamination in the kitchen. He also took us to The waterfall first thing in the morning as there were only a handful of other people there. He said if we went at the end of the day it would be so packed that we would not have had the room to move or take any personal…”

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7.Rio Celeste Expedition – Sloths, Waterfalls & Nature’s Magic

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 5 hours 25 minutes (approx.) · from $188

This 5-hour-25-minute trip from Liberia combines Llanos de Cortés waterfall, a rainforest hike to Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park, sloths, coffee, chocolate, and a Costa Rican lunch. Guides such as Caesar, Grey, and Harold bring strong nature knowledge and humor to a small group of up to 15 people.

“Harold was very knowledgeable. He took his time to explain and showed us frogs and snakes. Awesome experience. I will highly recommend it.”

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8.Sloth Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $35Best value

At Proyecto Asis near La Fortuna, you’ll spend about 90 minutes learning how two-toed and three-toed sloths live in the trees. A naturalist guide leads the small group, with coffee, tea, juice, and cookies included. Expect a calm, educational visit that puts animal welfare ahead of close contact or staged encounters.

“Very knowledgeable guide, relaxed tour and respectful of the sloths. We saw 3 different sloths, 3 toed and 2 toed, and a toucan!”

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9.Rio Celeste Waterfall at Tenorio Volcano and Sloth Watching Tour From San Jose

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 60 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $185

Leave San Jose early for Tenorio Volcano National Park and the striking blue Rio Celeste waterfall. The day also includes a guided sloth and wildlife visit, breakfast, lunch, coffee, and hotel pickup. Guides such as Yancy, John, Luis Molina, and Fernando have helped guests spot animals and understand the forest.

“Tour muy completo! Luis y Johan muy buenos guías, nos dieron oportunidad de nadar en el rio (el tour no lo incluye, solo ver la cascada), muy amables todo el tiempo. Es importante tener en cuenta el tiempo de traslado si están en San Jose, es algo largo y mas si hay trafico. El ver a los perezosos y otros animales igual es interesante, se ven desde un telescopio entre la naturaleza con otro guía.”

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10.Sloths in the Rain Forest and Safari by the River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $165

Travel from Liberia with a private guide such as Marlene, float the Corobici River with a wildlife guide, enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch, then walk a private rainforest reserve near Bijagua de Upala for sloths, frogs, snakes, toucans, and more. The tour runs about 5 to 6 hours from Liberia, though distant hotel pickups can make the day much longer.

“Had a great experience. Drive a little long but worth it. Marlene very knowledgeable and told us a lot about the area, economy and wildlife in the area. We got to see a baby sloth! It was amazing! Highly recommend!”

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11.SLOTH PARK ADVENTURE La Fortuna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $67

Walk an easy, mostly flat trail near La Fortuna with a naturalist guide such as Sergio, using a telescope to spot wild sloths and other wildlife. The roughly 2 to 2.5-hour outing includes a trail walk, sugar cane juice, and a cooking activity. Groups are capped at 10 people.

“Very enjoyable tour! Saw so much wildlife and flora. We saw 4 sloths and even their faces up close in the telescope. The guide took excellent photos with our own phones. Saw lizards and snakes and birds and much plant life. Made sugar cane juice and our own tortillas.”

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12.Rio Celeste, Tenorio Hike, Sloths Sanctuary & Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 48 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $170

Leave Tamarindo early for Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park. Hike through rainforest to Los Teñideros, volcanic vents, and the famous blue waterfall, then visit a sloth sanctuary and enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Guides such as Edgar, Willy, Nicole, Carolina, and Martini have led this outing.

“This was an amazing trip! The driver was excellent navigating to each destination and our tour guide “Martini” was so friendly and full of knowledge! We saw everything that was promised including sloths. I would do this again for sure!!”

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13.Day Trip from San Jose to Sloths & other wildlife Rescue Center

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 41 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $150

Travel from San Jose by private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Toucan Rescue Ranch for a two-hour guided visit with sloths, toucans, macaws, owls, parrots, and monkeys. Guides such as Josie, Natasha, and Andrea explain each animal’s rescue story and the center’s rehabilitation work. The ranch visit joins a small group, even though transport is private.

“Must do experience to see Sloths, toucan and ther rescued animals close up and learn about them. Very informative guides.”

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14.Sloths in their natural habitat & Blue river waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $195

From Tamarindo, you’ll visit Llanos de Cortes Waterfall, hike to the Blue River Waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park, and look for wild sloths, frogs, birds, and other animals with local guides. The private tour includes hotel pickup, lunch, entrance fees listed, and about 8 to 10 hours on the road.

“John was our driver/guide. Was fantastic! We stopped at a waterfall to swum then onto Blue River Waterfall. Was a hike but we'll worth it! Was breathtaking! Then onto lunch which great as well. Then onto a sloth park. Had Carlos as our guide, he took beautiful pics with our cameras. It was a long day but John picked us up at our rental and dropped back home! Super day!”

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15.Miravalles Volcano: Sloth’s Park, Hanging Bridges & Hot Springs.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $205

Leave Tamarindo at 6:00 a.m. for Llanos de Cortes Waterfall, then spend about four hours at Las Hornillas near Miravalles Volcano. Your private, air-conditioned ride includes lunch, water, mud baths, sauna, and hot springs. English service, pickup, and dietary requests are available.

“In spite of the rain we had a great time. Our driver was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was panic and do kind. The lunch was exceptional. The water falls were breathtaking.”

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