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

Meet Geriold and his team for a private wildlife outing from Jaco. You may see white-faced capuchin monkeys up close, American crocodiles at Tarcoles Bridge, sloths near the beach, and native birds and reptiles. The experience includes transportation, snacks, a traditional Costa Rican lunch, and beach time. A Tarcoles boat ride costs an extra $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, mostly flat Bogarin Trail with guides such as Alex, Mar, William, Randall, or Jason. They use a telescope to locate sloths high in the trees and help you take close-up phone photos. Expect birds, frogs, lizards, bats, and a fresh pineapple snack during this relaxed two-hour visit near central La Fortuna.

“If you don’t hire a tour guide, you will not see the animals. The tour guides have an eye to see the animals way up in a tree. They use a monocular lens and will take pictures with your phone for you. We got to see sloths, poison dart frog, owl, baby sloth with mother, leaf cutter ants, iguana, termite nest, and several kinds of birds. If you want to see animals, I would highly recommend this tour.”

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3.Rio Celeste Waterfall Plus Sloths and wildlife Sanctuary

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

Leave Tamarindo at 6:30 a.m. for a private, air-conditioned ride to Rio Celeste and Tenorio National Park. Walk 2 to 3 hours to the blue waterfall, then visit Spring Paradise Bijagua Tours, where sloths are guaranteed, followed by lunch at Doña Carmen and its butterfly sanctuary. Guides may include Verny, Hernan, Allan, or Eric.

“Hernan was amazing. The tour was great! We got to see a baby sloth up close, which was worth the price of admission by itself!”

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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 former farm and wildlife corridor with guides such as David, Sergio, Jamie, or Davi, using a scope to spot two- and three-toed sloths. Then press fresh sugarcane, visit a medicinal garden, and make tortillas served with cheese, arracache hash, and juice. The tour lasts about two hours and suits families, couples, and solo visitors.

“Our family of four (2 teens) really enjoyed this morning sloth tour in a wildlife corridor seeing not only sloths but other creatures such as a Green Basilisk lizard, an agouti, bats and a sleepy porcupine. Sergio, our guide was very knowledgeable and patient. The sugar cane squeezing and tortilla making was fun and the ‘snack’ of 2 tortillas with cheese and another topping and a small cake abc fresh pineapple juice was delicious and a perfect for a mini-lunch! Highly recommended.”

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5.Sloth Discovery & Swim in Rio Celeste

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

Travel from Playa Hermosa to Bijagua with a bilingual guide such as Kevin, Luis, Gabriel, Memo, or David. Hike a private reserve for sloths, visit a butterfly garden and snake park, enjoy a typical lunch, and swim in Rio Celeste. Expect an early start, about two hours of driving each way, and a full day in warm, wet forest.

“Our guides, Memo and David were amazing! They were so friendly and accommodating. Our group was small which made moving to the different locations much faster. Getting to be up close and personal with the sloths was such a joy aRead more”

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

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

Start at 6:30 a.m. from Tamarindo for a private drive to Bijagua. With guides such as Dayro, Fernando, Dido, and Anthony, you’ll walk a rainforest trail, look for sloths and frogs, make coffee and chocolate, eat a traditional lunch, and swim at Llanos de Cortez Waterfall.

“This tour was a fun and enjoyable experience! We learn a lot about how the coffee is grown and harvested. The tasting experience was great. Highly recommend.”

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

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

Leave Liberia at 7:00 a.m. for Llanos de Cortés, Tenorio Volcano National Park, and sky-blue Rio Celeste. Guides such as Caesar, Grey, and Harold lead an active day with waterfall swimming, rainforest wildlife, sloths, toucans, coffee, chocolate, and a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Expect a moderately demanding hike and a small group of up to 15.

“The one and a half hour drive from our resort to the first waterfalls was scenic and fascinating. A hike to the first waterfall, was exhilarating, culminating in a dip next to the roaring Falls. The walk through Tenorio Park was moderately difficult, but beautiful. Our guide, Grey, was humorous and knowledgeable, pointing out the most poisonous snake in Costa Rica. In the sloth sanctuary ,we observed a tapir just feet from us, as well as a sloth hanging near by. We saw numerous toucans, which were breathtaking.”

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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, a naturalist guide leads you through an educational sloth experience focused on evolution, sustainability, and animal welfare. Look for two-toed and three-toed sloths in their natural habitat, with possible toucan sightings. The 60 to 90 minute visit includes coffee, juice, and cookies.

“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 before sunrise for Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park, then watch sloths, toucans, frogs, butterflies, and other wildlife with a local guide. Breakfast, lunch, transport, park admission, and hotel pickup are included. Guides such as Yancy, Johnhan, Luis, and Fernando have earned praise for their sharp eyes and friendly style.

“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 to a private rainforest reserve near Bijagua, where a local guide helps you find sloths, frogs, snakes, and toucans. Then float the Corobici River by guided rafting boat to spot crocodiles, monkeys, iguanas, bats, and birds. Marlene and guides such as Walter, Marco, and Brian are often part of this relaxed, family-friendly day, which includes transport, snacks, lunch, and all entry fees.

“1) not worth $660 for a family of 4 2) the “Natural reserve in rain forest….” is ACTUALLY someone’s private property 3) 45 min walk (not 2 hours as advertised). 4) 1 hour raft boat ride (not motor) does not allow to get closer to any sightings as the river controls the raft 5) Lunch is NOT buffet style like other excursions (remember $165/person!) 6) 11 hour excursion for 3 hour activity (pick up 715am; drop off 6pm). This should be advertised! 7) Marlene (tour lady) & Orlando (driver) are great.”

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11.SLOTH PARK ADVENTURE La Fortuna

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

Walk about 2 miles through Sloth Trail Arenal with a naturalist guide, looking for four to five sloths and other wildlife. The flat route suits families, and guides such as Sergio help you spot animals through a telescope and take photos with your phone. The experience also lists tortilla making, cooking, and sugar-cane juice.

“Eco friendly, respectful of the space and the visitors, great tour guide! Sergio was our guide, very knowledgeable and eager to teach. Enjoyed this tour very much”

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

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

Travel from Tamarindo in an air-conditioned vehicle to Tenorio Volcano National Park for the blue Rio Celeste, forest trails, Los Teñideros, volcanic vents, and a waterfall. Add a sloth sanctuary visit and traditional Costa Rican lunch. Guides such as Edgar, Willy, Nicole, and Martini have earned praise for spotting wildlife and explaining the area.

“So much fun. Tour guide was super knowledgeable everything wildlife/Costa Rica. They made sure we got in pictures and experienced everything both yours had to offer”

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13.Slothies and Birds Sightseeing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Walk a family-friendly 2-kilometer trail in La Fortuna’s secondary rainforest while guides help you find sloths, birds, and useful plant life. Morning and afternoon departures are available, with hotel transfers and groups capped at 15. Guides such as Melanie, Jason, and Helen have earned praise for patience, sharp eyes, and clear explanations.

“This is a great way to see sloths, learn about their environment and be educated in other animals found in the rainforest while walking on a level trail. Melanie was a great guide, informative and patient.”

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

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

Travel from San Jose to Toucan Rescue Ranch with a private driver and a small group guide. Expect about two hours among rescued sloths, toucans, parrots, macaws, owls, monkeys, and other wildlife. Guides such as Jos, Natasha, and Joci explain each animal’s story, rehabilitation, and Costa Rica’s conservation rules.

“The rescue center was very Intersting. Very informative and educational experience about the rescue process and the animals Our driver Nelson was personable and careful. Our guide was the vet at the center.”

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15.Sloths in their natural habitat & Blue river waterfall

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

Leave Tamarindo at 7:00 a.m. for a private day with a driver-guide such as Sosa, Esteban, Juan Carlos, or Abraham. Swim at Llanos de Cortes, hike to the Blue River Waterfall, spot sloths and frogs with local guides in Bijagua, and eat a fresh Costa Rican lunch. Expect an 8 to 10 hour day.

“This was this excursion that our group of 11 friends had been anticipating and Manual and Juan Carlos did not disappoint. Manual’s driving was excellent and we felt very safe during the long drive. Juan Carlos (JC) was fabulous - providing lots of general information about Costa Rica from the get-go. The walks to the waterfalls were accurately described with respect to required physical effort and a couple of our group opted to stay with the bus for the Tenorio Volcano NP portion. JC was very solicitous- constantly checking that the slower walkers were ok and taking group photos. Lunch was delicious and accommodated vegetarians and vegans. The restaurant had…”

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