Sloth & Wildlife Encounter in the Tenorio rainforest
Two unhurried hours on foot with a naturalist and a spotting scope, in a private reserve north of the dry Guanacaste coast, Costa Rica. It joins one of our private days — the forest sets the pace.
Spotting scope in hand — we bring the canopy down to eye level
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Quick answer
The Sloth & Wildlife Encounter is an unhurried two-hour walk with a naturalist guide through a private rainforest reserve between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes, north of the Guanacaste coast, Costa Rica — where three- and two-toed sloths live, along with monkeys, toucans and red-eyed tree frogs. It runs inside our Sloth & Waterfall Combo or as an add-on to other days — from $80 per person.
2-hour walkPrivate reserveNaturalist guideAdd-on from $80 pp
Last verified September 2026 by Miller Contreras, naturalist guide
Duration
2 hours
Style
Private
Guide
Naturalist
Level
Easy
Type
Add-on
Guiding
20+ yrs
Nature · Guanacaste, Costa Rica
A Private Sloth Walk in the Tenorio Rainforest, Costa Rica
Step into a private rainforest reserve set in the biological corridor between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes, guided by a naturalist who knows exactly where to look. The reserve sits north of the coast because it has to: Guanacaste is dry forest, and sloths need wet. On this unhurried two-hour walk you'll search the canopy for three- and two-toed sloths and keep an eye out for monkeys, toucans, red-eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, and the small reptiles most visitors walk right past. We find sloths on every single visit — what we can't promise is that they'll be awake. Your guide reads the forest for you — the calls, the movement, the tracks — and carries a spotting scope so you can see and photograph animals high in the canopy. No crowds, no rush: just you, the forest, and someone who can name everything in it.
Available as an add-on
Where does it fit in your day?
The Sloth & Wildlife Encounter isn't sold on its own — it joins one of our private days, and the price depends on the day it joins. From $80 per person.
Sloth & Waterfall Rainforest Combo
The full rainforest day, with a swim at the Llanos de Cortés waterfall.
Taken in the Tenorio rainforest, Costa Rica. Drag to explore.
Three-toed slothHanging in the canopy of the Tenorio rainforest
Through the scopeYour naturalist brings the canopy down to eye level
Red-eyed tree frogCosta Rica's living emblem, near Tenorio
Keel-billed toucanPerched in the Tenorio rainforest
On the trailScanning the canopy on the sloth walk
Camera readyPhotographing wildlife along the rainforest trail
Why book with us
Book direct with the operator
We run these tours ourselves. No middleman, no reseller.
Private from two people on most experiences — no strangers in your van.
The price you see is the price you pay: taxes and door-to-door pickup included.
In the reserve
What will you see on the sloth walk?
Sloths are the reason we go. Everything else is the rainforest being itself — and your naturalist knows where to look.
Sloths
The reason we go
Three- and two-toed. They live in the reserve year-round.
Monkeys
Keep an eye out
Capuchins and howlers move through the canopy — listen for them.
Toucans
Keep an eye out
Watch the high branches and the fruiting trees.
Frogs
Under the leaves
Red-eyed tree frogs and poison dart frogs, easy to walk right past.
On the walk
Guided canopy search for three- and two-toed sloths
Monkeys, toucans, red-eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, and reptiles in the wild
A naturalist who reads the forest — calls, tracks, and movement
Spotting scopes and binoculars for close-up views and photos
A small, private walk through a protected biological corridor
Before you go
What should you know before you go?
Duration
2 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Style
Private
Type
Add-on
Best for
Families
What to bring
Closed shoes
Water
A light rain layer
Your camera
Age & fitness
Easy 2-hour walk — good for families and all fitness levels.
Rain & weather
We see them year-round; in heavy tropical-storm rains they hide more.
Wild animals
Sloths are wild animals — no holding or touching. Admission ticket included.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
On our reserve we find sloths on every visit; they live here year-round. The one thing we can't promise is that they'll be awake — sloths sleep most of the day. That's why our guides carry spotting scopes to locate them high in the canopy.
In a private rainforest reserve inside the biological corridor between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes — one of Guanacaste's richest pockets of wildlife, and far quieter than the better-known parks.
No. These are wild, free-living animals in their natural habitat. The reward is seeing them behave naturally — and with our scopes you'll get close-up views and photos without disturbing them.
Monkeys, toucans, red-eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, and a variety of reptiles and birds. Your naturalist will point out species most visitors walk straight past.
Twenty-four hours before your tour begins, counted from the start time and not the day. Cancel before that and you get a full refund.
Yes, you can come year-round. In heavy tropical-storm rains the wildlife stays more hidden, but our guides know where to look and come equipped with scopes and binoculars to make sightings easier.
In their words
What guests take home
★★★★★ 5.0
“We took this tour with Miller as our guide. He was so much fun, so accommodating and informative… I told him that seeing a sloth was one of my main objectives for the day and boy did he deliver! We saw several. I even forgot how many… Do yourself a favor and ask for Miller!”
Ppamelalowe1967Guided by MillerTripadvisor · Verified review
More than 300 five-star reviews on Tripadvisor
Ready for your private wildlife experience?
Tell us your group's pace and we'll build the private day around it. Our guides’ eBird lists are public — you can read them before you write.
By the Guanadreams team Led by Miller Contreras — naturalist guide, born and raised in Guanacaste, Costa Rica · 30+ years in tourism and 20+ years guiding
