Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus, Arenal/La Fortuna

4.3 (10 reviews)
Spot wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and butterflies, on this relaxing nature walk

Overview

A bilingual guide will lead you on a nature walk through the Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus on this half-day tour. You'll have the chance to spot tree frogs, caimans, monkeys, sloths, and a wide variety of birds as you follow your guide on a nature trail. Stop at botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, and a wetlands area that serves as a bird nesting site. Finish the tour with a visit to a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous traditions and environmental practices.

 

Highlights

  • Enjoy a relaxing nature walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus
  • Spot monkeys, sloths, caimans, and tree frogs in the wild
  • View more than 40 species of butterflies at the park's butterfly garden
  • Learn about Indigenous environmental practices at a Maleku cultural center

Know before you go

Duration
3 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
A tropical fruit snack is included

What you'll do

Begin the tour with a pick-up at your accommodations in La Fortuna. You'll start the 0.5-mile (800-meter) hike on a circuit trail that leads through the rainforest, keeping your eyes open for turtles, snakes, colorful birds, monkeys, sloths, and more. The small reserve was saved from exploitation by conservationists, and now the secondary rainforest that encompasses the area regenerates naturally, making the park an exemplary model of sustainable tourism. This easy hike is ideal for travelers of all ages, including older travelers and families with small children.

You'll make a stop at a botanical garden along the route. It boasts more than 600 varieties of plants, a butterfly garden home to more than 40 species, and areas designated explicitly for frog reproduction. The park also features spaces dedicated to cultivating medicinal plants and wetlands that serve as nesting sites for exotic birds. Take breaks at observation points along the trail to look for alligators, sloths, basilisk lizards, and other animals.

Nearing the end of the tour, you'll stop in a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous ways of life and the tribe's environmental practices. You'll spend about ten minutes in the cultural center, depending on your interest level. Finish the excursion with a snack of fresh fruit and the chance to purchase souvenirs at the park's shop.

Start times

  • Daily
    8:00 am, 1:00 pm

What's included

  • Bilingual guide
  • Entrance fee
  • Snack
  • Bottled water

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Traveler reviews

10 total ratings, 6 with reviews
4.3
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.4
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.4
Transport
5.0
Larry
Larry R.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 30, 2024
Excellent guide. Interesting place. Rained all morning! Read more

Excellent guide. Interesting place. Rained all morning!

Tips for future travelers

Worth visiting!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nikki
Nikki S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2024

Could’ve been done as a self guided experience

Tyler
Tyler S.
Mexico | Reviewed on Jan 25, 2024
The bird were great. The guide didn't speak English very well and was difficult to understand. Didn't love the experience but didn't regret it either. Read more

The bird were great. The guide didn't speak English very well and was difficult to understand. Didn't love the experience but didn't regret it either.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Driver took the time to show us a sloth on the way home.
Paul
Paul C.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2023
The butterfly garden was really good as were sightings of frog - our first ones. BUT this garden seemed a little over managed really - compared to others, water features etc.. are not natural.. We had a good guide but it certainly was not a 3 hour trip - well it was when we re walked it on our own. Possibly the least impressive of all our activities. Read more

The butterfly garden was really good as were sightings of frog - our first ones. BUT this garden seemed a little over managed really - compared to others, water features etc.. are not natural.. We had a good guide but it certainly was not a 3 hour trip - well it was when we re walked it on our own. Possibly the least impressive of all our activities.

Tips for future travelers

Possibly look at the Bogarin Trail in La Fortuna - more wild life and more natural - infact reinstated land with a plan that has started to join it to more forest.

Quality of Experience
It was really not the best of experiences, great frog sitings and butterfly garden good but it did feel more managed than natural.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Good guide- very infromative.
Transport
Self driven
A
Allison H.
Hong Kong SAR China | Reviewed on Jan 26, 2023
Joe was very knowledgeable and informative. Read more

Joe was very knowledgeable and informative.

Tips for future travelers

Bring some insect spray

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
J
Jenelle B.
Santa Monica, CA | Reviewed on Aug 09, 2022
Very enjoyable, basically private tour at the Ecological park. Karina of Ecoterra Tours was very knowledgeable of the local fauna and flora. The butterfly enclosure had been damaged and all of the butterflies had to be released but we saw many other animals on the tour. The Maleku presentation was interesting. Read more

Very enjoyable, basically private tour at the Ecological park. Karina of Ecoterra Tours was very knowledgeable of the local fauna and flora. The butterfly enclosure had been damaged and all of the butterflies had to be released but we saw many other animals on the tour. The Maleku presentation was interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

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Itineraries with Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus