Arenal Observatory
& Caño Negro
Day 1
San José - Arenal
Scenic drive to Arenal Volcano, stopping en route at La Paz Waterfall Gardens for a close up view of 5 different waterfalls. Continue to Arenal Observatory Lodge. From the Observatory, you have an impressive view of the “giant which rumbles” and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava. The Observatory is the only lodge situated within the Arenal Volcano National Park, which encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife. LD
Day 2
Caño Negro, Wildlife Refuge
Full day trip to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Drive through farms and citrus groves to the town of Los Chiles, where you board a riverboat for an exciting trip down the Rio Frio to the refuge of Caño Negro. This reserve is home and habitat to hundreds of species of wildlife and is an important stopping off point for many migrating species of birds. The Caño Negro contains Costa Rica's largest colony of the neo-tropical cormorant, and the country's only group of Nicaraguan grackle. You usually see northern jacana, wood stork and jabirus, as well as spider and howler monkeys. Large mammals are here, but are rarely spotted. If you are particularly lucky, the possibilities include pumas, jaguars, and tapirs. BLD
Day 3
Arenal - San José
This morning enjoy a hike to a nearby waterfall and a close-up view of a lava flow before returning to San José. B
