Perfect for nature lovers and curious kids, this gentle nature walk introduces you to the plants and animals of a private ecological park just outside La Fortuna. You’ll have the chance to spot tree frogs, caimans, monkeys, sloths, and a wide variety of birds as you follow your guide along groomed trails surrounded by secondary forest. Stop at botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, and a wetlands area that serves as a bird nesting site, then finish the experience with a visit to a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous traditions and environmental practices.

Begin your morning with a pick-up at your accommodations in La Fortuna, and head just outside town to Ecocentro Danaus, a lush, 7-acre (3 ha) private nature reserve. Here, you’ll meet your expert guide and start the 0.5-mile (800 m) 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 several stops along the route, including at a botanical garden with 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 walk, you’ll stop in a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous ways of life and the tribe’s environmental practices. Spend about 10 minutes in the cultural center, depending on your interest level, then finish the excursion with a snack of fresh fruit and the chance to purchase souvenirs at the park’s shop. When you’re ready, your driver will transport you back to your La Fortuna hotel.