Where to see Sloths (+ other wildlife) in La Fortuna
The 20 best places to see sloths in La Fortuna, plus other Costa Rican animals to add to your wildlife bucket list.
(Updated 2024)
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Seeing a sloth in Costa Rica is on most visitors’ bucket lists. There are a few really great destinations for sloth watching, including Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Corcovado and Cahuita. But La Fortuna is without a doubt one of the best sloth spotting locations in Costa Rica. Dedicated walks called Sloth Trails have been established here and can offer visitors the opportunity to get up close to a sloth in the wild, ethically. Some of the best sloth trails in La Fortuna include the Bogarin Trail, Sloths’ Territory and Sloth Watching Trail, but there are many more amazing places to see sloths in La Fortuna that we’ve also added into this article, including how to see sloths for free.
Time needed: 3-5 days.
When to go: Pleasant weather falls between December to April, while afternoon showers are frequent in wet season between May to November. Average highs of 30°C (86 °F) with a tropical and humid climate all year round.
Language: Spanish.
Currency: Costa Rican Colones (CRC).
Can I see sloths in La Fortuna?
Let’s start with the all-important question: can you see sloths in La Fortuna? The answer is yes, La Fortuna is one of the best places to see sloths in the world! The national symbol of Costa Rica, seeing a sloth is on most visitor’s bucket lists. There are actually two species of sloths in La Fortuna: the Hoffman’s two-toed sloth and the brown-throated three-toed sloth. Seeing sloths in La Fortuna is easier than you might think – if you’ve done your research and know what to look out for. We’re going to share a complete list of the best places to see sloths in La Fortuna in this article.
Where to see sloths in La Fortuna
Many visitors wonder where to find sloths in La Fortuna and they can be quite an elusive species. Sloths prefer high-altitude cloud forests and are often found in rainforest areas, where they camouflage well.
There are a variety of sloth tours in La Fortuna but it’s also easy to see them for free if you know where to go. From sloth trails to nature reserves to even by the side of the road, there are different locations where you can see sloths with different pros and cons. If you want to see sloths in La Fortuna, we’ve listed the best places to find them below!
Read next: Should you hold a sloth in Costa Rica?
La Fortuna Sloth Spotting Map
What kind of sloths can you see in La Fortuna?
Known for their slow relaxed nature, sloths are a globally beloved animal that have been around for about 60 million years. Despite their cuddly appearance, sloths are actually a living ecosystem and are covered in algae. This symbiotic relationship benefits the algae, which lives on their fur, and helps sloths to camouflage into their surrounding environment. There are six different species of sloth, with two kinds being found in Costa Rica: the two-toed and three-toed sloths. Their names are slightly misleading as all sloths actually have three toes but the two-toed kind has two fingers, which is what the name refers to. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal and typically move around at night while the three-toed sloth is much more active during the day. Sloths have a reputation for being lazy and are known to move incredibly slowly. This is because they have a very slow digestive system which actually contains three and a half stomachs. Sloths are constantly eating when not sleeping to process the amount of nutrients they need and only come down from the treetops to do their business, which is about once a week.
The best places to see sloths in La Fortuna
The best place to see sloths in La Fortuna is in the wild. Seeing an animal in its natural habitat (without disturbing it) is always the best way to experience wildlife. Due to the development of infrastructure in Costa Rica, which can lead to the destruction of natural environments, there are fewer places to see sloths than there once were. Therefore, sloths are usually found in designated protected areas, where their habitat is preserved and they are removed from accidental harm (e.g. from being hit by a car). In La Fortuna, sloths are mainly found in national parks, nature reserves and private conservation areas known as sloth trails. But it’s also possible to see sloths in the wild in La Fortuna in other forests and even by the side of the road!
There are also some circumstances where it’s ethical to experience animals in captivity. This is usually for purposes of rehabilitation and release of injured animals, or to give an animal that cannot be released a permanent home. Animals should never be experienced in captivity if the purpose is for the establishment to earn money from tourists who want to guarantee seeing the animal as this usually results in animal exploitation. There are a few ethical sloth sanctuaries in La Fortuna and we’ve listed these below.
Sloth Trails
Possibly the main reason for visiting for most travellers, La Fortuna’s Sloth Trails are arguably the best way to see sloths in the whole of Costa Rica. In response to the development in and around La Fortuna, areas of land have been acquired by eco-conscious locals and turned into dedicated conservation areas known as Sloth Trails. These private reserves maintain sloth habitats and are little oases for indigenous wildlife. Visiting a Sloth Trail is not only a great way to pretty much guarantee a sloth sighting in La Fortuna but also supports the local community too. How many sloths you’ll see on a Sloth Trail Walk depends on how long you spend there, if you hire a guide or not and luck. Guided walks typically last 60-90 minutes and you’ll probably see around 3-6 sloths in this time. Self-guided walks are also possible and a good budget option if you have experience wildlife spotting and know what to look out for.
1) Bogarin Trail
Located in the heart of La Fortuna, the Bogarin Trail is a short walk from the centre of town. Home to more than 30 two-toed and three-toed sloths, Bogarin is without a doubt one of the best Sloth Trails in La Fortuna. Other animals you might see on a sloth walk at Bogarin include agouti, toucans, frogs, coati and iguanas. Guided Bogarin Trail Tours run four times a day but you can walk the Bogarin Trail on your own too, you just need to pay the entrance fee. All visitors receive a map with the trails on it. The main loop is 1.5 miles (2.5km) and takes around 45 minutes at a slow pace (which you’ll need to adopt to spend your time looking up into the treetops for sloths). Other paths lead off from the main loop and crisscross throughout the reserve. The paths are flat dirt and would be suitable for a wheelchair or pushchair. Bogarin Sloth Trail is also home to a small garden with views of Arenal volcano and a small café.
2) Sloth’s Territory
Home to both two-toed and three-toed sloths, Sloth’s Territory is one of the best places to guarantee seeing sloths in La Fortuna. A family-run private conservation area, this sloth trail is only a 5 minute drive from downtown. Guided sloth watching tours are available to book, as well as night hikes and bird watching tours. Other animals you may see here include insects, termites, possums, birds and frogs.
3) Sloth Watching Trail
The aptly named Sloth Watching Trail is located at the western end of La Fortuna town, making it easily walkable from the main square. Home to about 1.2 miles (2km) of trails, this natural area is a great place to see sloths, birds, amphibians and snakes. As well as guided wildlife tours, the Sloth Watching Trail also offers a cultural Coffee, Chocolate and Sugarcane tour too.
4) Mariolas Trail (La Fortuna Hikes & Trails)
Just north of La Fortuna, Sendero las Mariolas is a family-run eco park. Lying on a former dairy farm, Mariolas Trail has been reforested and is now home to a variety of Costa Rican wildlife. Activities here include guided day and night wildlife walks, as well as a hands-on tortilla making session and trying freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. The Mariolas Trail can be found at La Fortuna Hikes & Trails.
Which La Fortuna Sloth Trail is best?
Choosing a sloth trail in La Fortuna is really down to personal preference. All the sloth trails are similarly priced and many offer the option to do a self-guided walk rather than a guided tour too. Trails close to town are more convenient for those who have come by public transport or are hoping to walk from downtown.
We really enjoyed the Bogarin Trail and saw two sloths in the short time we spent there. Even though we didn’t have time to take a tour, the staff at the entrance were really helpful in telling us where sloths had been last seen.
There are a few more sloth trails in La Fortuna than those listed above but they’re only accessible by taking a tour and you cannot visit them on a self-guided tour. We’ve listed all the best sloth tours in La Fortuna later in this article.
Do you need a guide for the Sloth Trails in La Fortuna?
We had very limited time to do the main loop at the Bogarin Trail before another day tour and still managed to see 2 sloths on our own. They are actually incredibly hard to see and identify, especially if you’ve never been sloth spotting before. The way they sleep in the trees in little curled up balls really camouflages them and makes them difficult to see. You can definitely see plenty of wildlife on your own and a self-guided walk is a great option for practiced wildlife spotters. But if you have the time and budget, we’d definitely recommend taking a tour with a guide who will likely be better and faster at spotting sloths, has interesting commentary to share and normally has a telescope they can set up to allow you to better see the animals too.
Read next: Do you need a guide for Manuel Antonio National Park?
National Parks
Around 25% of Costa Rica’s landscape is protected as wildlife refuges, wetlands, protected conservation areas and national parks. There are 30 national parks in Costa Rica and these are generally some of the best places to see wildlife. Due to sloths’ preferred habitat, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Corcovado, Tortuguero and Arenal Volcano near La Fortuna are the best national parks to see sloths in Costa Rica.
5) Arenal Volcano National Park
Situated on the southern shore of Lake Arenal, Arenal Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal) is a large and biodiverse protected area. Home to Arenal Volcano, the most active volcano in Costa Rica, and the smaller Chato Volcano, this highly volcanic area near La Fortuna is also a great place to see sloths. The national park is part of a larger conservation area between the Tilarán and Guanacaste mountain ranges and is also popular with birders as almost all of the 850 species of Costa Rican birds can be found within the park. This, along with Monteverde, is also one of the only places in the world where you can see the endangered resplendent quetzal. Other animals you can see on a guided tour here include white-faced monkeys (capuchins), coati, snakes, deer and jaguars.
6) Monteverde National Park
Monteverde National Park is huge. The Monteverde Cloud Forest and Santa Elena Cloud Forest are home to high-altitude thick rainforest, which is a sloth’s preferred habitat. While being excellent sloth spotting locations, the cloud forests are about 3-4 hours’ drive from La Fortuna, which is quite a long way to go for a day trip. Instead, we’d recommend visiting Monteverde from La Fortuna for at least a few days to really explore all the area has to offer.
However, the eastern end of Monteverde National Park actually borders La Fortuna and is home to some much quieter reserves than the cloud forests. To the south of Lake Arenal, Monteverde National Park borders Arenal Volcano National Park, an excellent place to see sloths. And slightly further south you’ll find The Children’s Eternal Rainforest, a true sloth-spotting hidden gem.
Read next: The Ultimate Monteverde Itinerary: 34 Best Things To Do
7) The Children’s Eternal Rainforest
The Children’s Eternal Forest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños) is a large preserve of Cloud Forest in Monteverde National Park and one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. It was established in 1987 and is looked after by the non-profit Monteverde Conservation League. Initially created to counteract agricultural development, local scientists spread awareness of threats facing the forest through school presentations. The children who received these presentations raised enough funding to declare the area a protected area. Now The Children’s Eternal Forest is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica and particularly popular with wildlife lovers as it is home to rare and unique species like the resplendent quetzal. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is also one of the best places to see sloths near La Fortuna, as the cloud forest habitat here is favoured by the nocturnal Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth. The rainforest reserve is about an hour’s drive from La Fortuna (although it’s worth leaving longer for the journey as the mountain roads can be narrow and windy).
Read next: Where to see Quetzals in Costa Rica
Private Nature Reserves
Costa Rica has over 100 protected areas, including wildlife refuges, wetlands, mangroves, forests and conservation reserves. Many of these protected areas are private, but accessible to the public via an entrance fee or by booking a tour. These conservation areas have been established to protect the habitat and species within from industrial development. As such, private nature reserves can be some of the best places to see sloths in La Fortuna, as well as plenty of other wildlife. Taking a guided tour in one of these reserves is also an excellent way to maximise your chances of a sighting as the density of many species is higher in these protected areas.
8) Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is one of the best places in La Fortuna to see sloths. Located a 30 minute drive from La Fortuna town, this family-owned forest sanctuary is home to 250 hectare of private wet rainforest, six suspension bridges, an abundance of wildlife (including sloths!) and adventure activities. Through an ecotourism project called Los Puentes Colgantes del Arenal (The Arenal Hanging Bridges), the park has become a popular tourist attraction and is a great place to visit on a guided tour in combination with Arenal Volcano. The 2 mile (3km) interpretive trail through the reserve can be done on your own or on a guided walk of the park. Located at 600 metres (1968.5ft) above sea level, Mistico Park is a great place to see animals including sloths, monkeys, toucans, frogs, snakes, lizards, tapirs and even the occasional puma or jaguar.
9) Danaus Ecology Park and Butterfly Garden
A small but biodiverse park situated a short drive from La Fortuna, Danaus Eco-centre (Ecocentro Danaus) is a private wildlife reserve and a great place to see wildlife near La Fortuna. Popular with families, the park features jungle trails, frog pods, a butterfly garden and is one of the best parks to see sloths in La Fortuna. The natural sanctuary can be explored with a guide or on your own and is a great place to learn about local species if you’re seeking a bit of education to complement your wildlife spotting.
10) Arenal Mundo Adventure Park
Located to the south of La Fortuna town, Arenal Mundo Adventure Park (Parque Arenal Mundo Aventura) is an ecological park with an adventurous twist. Offering zip lines, horseback riding and wagon rides, as well as guided wildlife day tours and birdwatching, the park combines adrenaline activities with eco-tourism. Taking a Canopy Tour is the best way to experience the park, which is also home to the Maleku Cultural Village too. Self-guided hikes can allow you to explore the area on your own, while hiring a professional guide is a great way to maximise your chances of spotting wildlife. Animals you could see in the park include sloths, armadillos and monkeys, as well as birds, butterflies and frogs. A large portion of the property has been reforested and about 90% is actually off-limits to tourists, to conserve the species within.
11) Arenal Sanctuary Reserve
Located on the northeastern perimeter of La Fortuna, Arenal Sanctuary Reserve (Reserva Santuario del Arenal) features a protected wooded area close to the Danta River. This is perfect sloth-spotting territory and a popular place for night walks with a local guide. With around 0.7 miles (1.2km) of flat trails, this reserve is great for seeing both kinds of sloths, as well as other animals like agoutis, frogs, toucans, motmots and armadillos.
12) Arenal Ecogarden
Only about 10 minutes’ drive from La Fortuna, Arenal Ecogarden is a family project that runs small-group tours. Offering guided sloth tours, as well as night walks, cooking classes and medicinal plant tours, Arenal Ecogarden is a true eco-tourism experience. They also offer rainforest cabins if you’d like to stay the night too.
How to see sloths in La Fortuna for free
You may be wondering where to see sloths for free in La Fortuna. It’s not always necessary to pay to enter a private reserve to see wildlife. There is still ample opportunity to get lucky and stumble across a sloth in the wild around La Fortuna. Sloths’ favourite tree is the Cecropia tree, which can grow very fast and very tall. They appear white in colour with thin trunks and large green leaves and long yellow fruits. These trees are found all around La Fortuna, in forests and even line many of the main roads. We’ve listed some great free places to see sloths in La Fortuna below.
Free Public Reserves
We’ve just listed a lot of great reserves and parks where your chances of seeing a sloth in La Fortuna are high. But they do all require an entrance fee, which can be something to consider when backpacking on a budget. You may be wondering where to look for sloths for free in La Fortuna. It’s not impossible to see sloths without paying to enter a private reserve – it just might take more patience or luck. Below we’ve listed the best ways and places to see sloth in La Fortuna for free!
13) Rio Danta Biological Corridor
A hidden gem in La Fortuna, Rio Danta Biological Corridor (Corredor Biológico Río Danta) is a free reserve on the eastern end of La Fortuna town and one of the best places to see sloths in La Fortuna for free. Featuring a short trail which navigates through a perfect sloth habitat, the biological corridor is also home to insects, reptiles and birds. To get to the Rio Danta Biological Corridor, simply follow the C.468 and Av.351 northeast out of town and park on Cam. a Agua Azul. There are paths into the forest on both sides. The west side of the reserve is currently closed but you can still access the area from the east side of the road.
14) By the side of the road
C.468 and Av.351 roads are both excellent locations for sloth spotting for free in La Fortuna. Lined with thick rainforest, it’s quite possible to see sloths in the treetops from your car. Although, most of the time you’re more likely to become aware of a sloth when you see a group of cars parked up by the side of the road and other people already staring upwards. If stopping to see a sloth by the side of the road, first make sure it’s safe and then find a good place to pull off the road. Other areas where you may see a sloth in the trees are on the main road between La Fortuna and Mistico Hanging Bridges, especially around Arenal Natura Ecological Park. Look for stopped buses here as this is a popular route for tours and guides will often stop to show visitors sloths.
The best La Fortuna Sloth Tours
If you’re looking for a typical La Fortuna sloth tour, we’d recommend taking a guided walk at one of the Sloth Trails. Of course, it’s possible to still see sloths on your own, but nothing beats the expertise, practice and quick eye of a licensed professional. And you’ll learn a lot about the species and their habitat too. Here are some great guided sloth tours:
15) On a Sloth Tour
Other La Fortuna sloth tours can offer round-trip transportation, as well as snacks or meals. Here are some of the best sloth tours in La Fortuna:
- La Fortuna Waterfall, Volcano and Hanging Bridges Combo
- Sloths Observation plus Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Experience
- Arenal Volcano Night Walk
- Danaus Ecological Park and Butterfly Garden Tour
- Arenal Mundo Natural History Walk
- Ecogarden Arenal Sloth Tour
16) Sloth Tour Safari
On this aptly named Sloth Tour you will have the opportunity to see both kinds of sloth, as well as other plenty of other animals. The guided safari tour runs in the morning, where breakfast is included, and in the afternoon, where you get snacks. Sloth Tour are so confident they will find a sloth for you to observe, they offer a full refund if you’re unsuccessful – but that’s unlikely.
17) Peñas Blancas River Float
Not to be confused with the Nicaragua-Costa Rica border crossing, Rio Peñas Blancas is actually a river near La Fortuna. While not technically a reserve, the river is a popular place for taking a wildlife spotting safari river float ride. Tours typically wind down the river, through the Tilaran Mountain Range, with plenty of time to spot animals. Most of the journey down the river is smooth and relaxing but there are some stretches of rapids which are fun to traverse. Rafting is far quieter than a traditional motorboat tour, which means you’ll likely see a lot of wildlife, including sloths wild monkeys and birds, as well as caiman and other reptiles. The guide will paddle for you so you can fully immerse yourself in the surroundings and snap away freely on your camera. The Peñas Blancas River is less than 30 minutes’ drive from La Fortuna and guided Rio Peñas Blancas tours often include round-trip transportation too.
Ethical Sanctuaries
There are several sloth sanctuaries in and around La Fortuna. The term sanctuary can be used to refer to a protected area, such as La Fortuna’s sloth trails. It can also be used to refer to wildlife refuge centres where animals are kept in captivity. Many tourists are enticed by visiting a sanctuary where sloths are held in captivity as it guarantees an animal sighting that is down to luck or may take time and patience in the wild. But there are a few things to be aware of before visiting one.
It’s important to always do your research when visiting a wildlife sanctuary as it’s a label that can be used to cover up unethical animal tourism. Sanctuaries that offer interaction with animals, for example holding or hugging a sloth, are almost always more interested in money from tourism than the animals’ welfare. In many cases, the animals in these types of sanctuaries aren’t actually being rehabilitated but are kept in captivity for tourism. They are also almost never released back into the wild or given the appropriate care they need. Touching or holding a sloth in Costa Rica is illegal as it can cause stress and mess with the complex ecosystem of algae that lives on their fur.
Ethical sanctuaries will always have an emphasis on education. They will take in sick or injured animals and only keep them in captivity for the length it takes to rehabilitate the animal, or if there are circumstances where the animal can never be released safely into the wild. We’d recommend reading the operator’s website, looking for a focus on education and conservation of the species. Reading reviews, especially the bad ones, can also be a great way to determine whether a sanctuary is actually ethical. Below we’ve listed a few sanctuaries we’ve researched and the initiatives they have that benefit sloth conservation.
18) Proyecto Asis Wildlife Sanctuary
Proyecto Asis Wildlife Sanctuary is a private reserve and animal rescue centre where sloths can be observed in the wild on daily educational tours. A volunteering element can be undertaken which involves food preparation and observation of feeding.
19) La Paz Waterfall Gardens
La Paz Waterfall Gardens has a small wildlife refuge that houses animals that have been entrusted to the establishment by the Costa Rican Wildlife Ministry (MINAET) for long-term care. Many of the animals here were previously held illegally as pets and confiscated.
20) The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal Hotel
The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal is a luxury hotel with an onsite animal sanctuary, this is one of the best places to stay to see sloths in La Fortuna. The animals here have been confiscated from poachers or donated by other private reserves and rescue centres. You can see these local animals in their natural habitats on a Wildlife Sanctuary Tour.
Read next: Let’s Talk About Ethical Wildlife Tourism
Where else can you see sloths in Costa Rica?
La Fortuna is one of the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica, but it’s not the only area that’s great for spotting these adorable creatures. If you have longer to explore this biodiverse country and would like to see more sloths, we’d recommend heading to Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Corcovado, Tortuguero, Caño Negro or Cahuita.
Tips for sloth spotting in La Fortuna
As we’ve mentioned, sometimes sloths can be very hard to spot on your own. Here are our top sloth spotting tips:
- Visit high-altitude rainforest areas.
- Look where cecropia trees grow.
- Look high up in the canopy – but be aware of your surroundings so you’re safe.
- Use your ears and listen for sounds in the treetops.
- Walk slowly and stop often.
- Be as quiet as possible.
- Take a good pair of binoculars.
- Use a long or zoom lens on your camera.
And if you do see a sloth there are certain rules you need to abide by:
- Keep your distance – getting too close can cause stress.
- Never touch a sloth – this will disrupt the delicate ecosystem of algae that lives in their fur and can cause stress.
- Never pay to hug a sloth – “sanctuaries” that profit from allowing you to touch, hold or hug a sloth are prioritising money over sloth welfare, which is animal exploitation.
- If you see an injured sloth call the nearest wildlife refuge, or The Sloth Institute if you are near Manuel Antonio: +506-8775-6847.
Read next: The Best Wildlife Photography Camera Settings
Other wildlife you can see in La Fortuna
Costa Rica is a wildlife lover’s paradise. There are so many species you can see in La Fortuna besides sloths including monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, coati, agouti, deer, snakes, frogs and squirrels. Big animals like puma, jaguars and caiman are rarer but sightings are still possible. Birds in La Fortuna include toucans, scarlet macaws, motmots, hummingbirds, and in some areas even the resplendent quetzal.
Other things to do in La Fortuna
There are so many fun activities to do in La Fortuna that don’t involve wildlife. Here are some of the best things to do in La Fortuna:
- Day trip to Rio Celeste
- Arenal Volcano National Park
- Rainforest Night Walk
- La Fortuna Waterfall
- La Fortuna Hot Springs
- Coffee & Chocolate Tour
- Canyoning & Waterfall Rappelling
- Ziplining
- Waterfall Jumping & Extreme Canyoning
- Costa Rican Cooking Class
Where to stay in La Fortuna
There’s a large variety of accommodation in La Fortuna from budget hostels to luxury hotels. Here are some of the best places to stay in La Fortuna:
Budget: Selina La Fortuna
Mid-range: Hotel El Silencio del Campo
Volcano Views: Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs
In a rainforest: Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
Luxury + Wildlife Sanctuary: The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
Read next:
Everything you need to know before visiting Manuel Antonio National Park
Do you need a guide for Manuel Antonio National Park?
Where to see Quetzals in Costa Rica
Let’s Talk About Ethical Wildlife Tourism
Road-tripping Costa Rica in a 4×4 Camper Car with Nomad America
The Best Wildlife Photography Camera Settings
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