Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro
An internationally important wetland near the Nicaraguan border. A boat trip along the Río Frío reveals caimans, monkeys, iguanas and abundant waterbirds.
Caño Negro is a wetland of international importance listed under the Ramsar Convention. It consists of seasonal lakes and swamps formed when the Río Frío floods, and is an important wintering ground for migratory birds in Central America. Visitors can see more than two hundred bird species, including egrets, storks, spoonbills and kingfishers, as well as caimans, howler monkeys, spider monkeys and sloths. The main way to explore is a boat trip of about 2 hours (around USD 30–60), and many day tours include lunch. It is about 1.5–2 hours by car from La Fortuna, so an early start is recommended.
Opening hours
Boat trips about 7:00 am–4:00 pm
Nearby sights
- Río Celeste Waterfall (Tenorio Volcano National Park)
- Venado Caves
- Lake Arenal
- Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
- El Chollín Free Hot Springs
- Tabacón Hot Springs
- Baldi Hot Springs
- EcoTermales Hot Springs