The kid hid in the fur of the mother sloth, while she moved along the branch in the typical pace. We were watching them move as the long and strong three-toes clamped on the branches. How do they just move, sleep, eat like that and do not fall! The Bogarin Trail offered many such encounters with sloths and their varied behaviors.
The secondary rainforest at Bogarin Trail is home to several species of birds, mammals, and amphibians and all of that is a whisker away from the town of La Fortuna. This makes it a wildlife haven that may end up being your best spot for finding sloths in Costa Rica.
The guide is updated in March, 2023.
Read our detailed guide to La Fortuna and Arenal – Volcano, Waterfalls, Hot Springs, Nature Tours and more
How to reach Bogarin Trail
Bogarin Trail is located close to the La Fortuna town center and about 600 m from the La Fortuna Park or the main church of the town, Parroquia San Juan Bosco.
As you pass the church, after around 600 m towards the Arenal volcano, a short alley on the right, leads you to the entrance of the Bogarin Trail. The entrance is hidden just a few metres off the main road facing the volcano. You will see a sign board at the entrance of the road.
You can also find Bogarin Trail on Google Maps and Waze.
Entrance Fee and Other Costs of Bogarin Trail
They only accept cash, so make sure you are carrying enough for the entrance and/or guide.
For Foreign Nationals:
- Entrance + Self-guided tour: 10,000 CRC (~ 20 USD)
- Regular guided tour: 27,000 CRC (~ 50 USD for over 12 years old), 20,000 CRC (~ 40 USD) for 3-12 years old, free for children under 3 years
- Private guided tour: Enquire online/onsite for price
For Citizens and Residents:
- Entrance + Self-guided tour: 3,000 CRC
- Regular guided tour: 15,000 CRC
The price for guided tours includes a general entrance fee and a bilingual guide (English + Spanish). You can choose from the following time slots for a guided tour: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. The tours usually last for about 2 hours.
We recommend the guided tour. Why? Read on to find out.
At Bogarin Trail, you can also do a guided night walk for 36,000 CRC (~ 65 USD). This tour starts at 5:00 pm.
The Namesake: The Man behind the Bogarin Trail
The owner, Giovanni Bogarin, narrated to us his story of ‘creating’ this secondary forest. The original owner got disinterested in this farm land as it was more of a swamp, which is not suitable for a farm.
Giovanni took the opportunity and let the nature take its own course to turn this piece of land into a home for birds and animals. He recalled that as the forest continued to establish its kingdom, the sloths and the birds found their way to this place.
Giovanni is passionate about his work and what he has built over the years. Upon our arrival, he offered us coffee and engaged in discussions about the property, the history, the species and the types of visitors he gets. We ended up discussing so much more about Costa Rica as well, including politics!
The Bogarin Trail
The Entrance Area
Before even going into the trail, the entrance area captivates with multiple species of birds. There is a feeder near the entrance and a small wetland which attract the birds. We spent a considerable amount of time photographing in this area before starting our walk on the trail.
Couple of Russet-naped Wood Rails were searching for food around the wetlands, while male and female red-legged honeycreepers, multiple species of tanagers visited the feeder and nearby perches. We spotted an Amazon Kingfisher as well in the nearby perch.
The Trail
There is one large circular trail with a couple of detours. These are mostly flat and that is why you can relax and concentrate on the wildlife. The main trail is well-marked and about 2 km (1.25 miles) long with occasional sitting areas spread across the trail.
The Sloths
William, Giovanni’s brother, guided us on most parts of the trail to help us find the sloths. We saw 7 of them! Couple of them were mommy sloths with their babies. Seeing this maternal bond reminded us of the humpback whales with their babies.
Sometimes the sloths were high up near the forest canopy and some were hanging from the middle branches of the trees. We also one one tucked inside dense leaves with just the face visible from the trail, sleeping!
The sloths were definitely the highlight of our walk as we saw them in their various natural behaviors in just the 2 hours that we spent on the property.
It could be difficult to spot some of them unless William showed us and helped take some pictures using his telescope.
The Birds
Apart from the sloths, we spotted several birds on the property. There were several jacamars on the trail. We also saw antshrikes, rufous motmots, woodcreepers, Baltimore orioles, squirrel cuckoos, honeycreepers, yellow-billed cacique and several species of hummingbirds.
There is a small pond halfway through the trail. The trees surrounding the pond is home to aquatic birds like the boat-billed herons and night herons.
The Frog Pond
The Bogarin Trail also has a small frog pond where you can find Costa Rica’s iconic red-eyed tree frog. They are nocturnal, so they hide below the leaves and sleep during the day. If they feel threatened they flash their bright red eye and blue-while long limbs as a defense mechanism. William helped us spot one!
Tips to make the most of your visit to Bogarin Trail
Hire a guide
Most of the birds and animals are difficult to spot. If you are visiting to spot the sloths, the guides will definitely be able to help with their expertise. They know the favorite spots of the sloths even if they hide well between the thick vegetation. They carry the telescope which helps in spotting hidden sloths and take photos/videos in your cellphone cameras.
Go early
Try visiting the trail early in the morning. You will find most of the activities in the morning hours and that increase the chances of spotting the wildlife.
Wear closed walking shoes
Though the trail is flat, it can be slippery in certain sections of the trail, particularly if you are visiting after a shower.
Do not forget your camera
Get a telescopic zoom lens or a camera with a good zoom as the chances of spotting wildlife is high.
Final Thoughts on Bogarin Trail
Bogarin Trail can be an awesome half day addition to your La Fortuna/ Arenal itinerary. It provides an amazing glimpse of the wildlife treasure that Costa Rica holds.
The proximity to the town and nearby hotels/resorts, while still hidden in a tropical rainforest environment filled with sloths, tropical birds and frogs, makes Bogarin Trail a must-do activity in the area.
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Excellent detailing. Awesome photography. Tips worthy for tourists. Admire your survey of locations.
Thank you! 🙂
The Bogarin Trail looks to be a must-visit if you are anywhere near the town of La Fortuna. They really have created a special opportunity here for people to appreciate birds and animals in their natural habitat. Your photos are really quite stunning, focussing so well on each subject. I would love to visit when in the neighborhood of Central America.
Thank you Nicole. Yes, it is a must do in La Fortuna for people who love to observe wildlife and birds.
I’m a sucker for spotting wildlife in the wild, and I’d go crazy in a place like this! The birds are certainly beautiful, and the amphibians are cute, but those SLOTHS! <3
You would love this place then Sage 🙂
Oh my gosh, I love this so much! I would love to see all of these animals in their natural habitat! Thanks for adding another destination to my list!
Thanks Michelle 🙂
Costa Rica is a natural paradise – and I really appreciated how locals preserve all those natural treasures they have – very different from other Central American countries. The birds in your pictures are just amazing – however, the sloths are the strongest suit. I went to a lagoon in Peru to see them – but unfortunately, we didn’t get to see them – although they aren’t too fast to spot 😀
Hi Renata. The chances of sloth sighting are very high in Costa Rica, and it is so much fun to observe the behavior of these cute animals.
Costa Rica is on my dream list because I love wildlife. I love to photograph birds. That’s why I would love to use your tips and add a post to my list. Great photos!
Thanks Agnieszka. Hope you get to visit Costa Rica soon 🙂
Hi! My husband and I are looking to take a family trip to Costa Rica. From your opinion, do you think it would be appropriate to take a 2 and 3 year old? Also, silly question but I’m terrified of tarantulas, did you see any or many? Thank you!
Hi Natalie.
Costa Rica is very kid-friendly, so you can definitely plan a family trip with 2 and 3 year old kids, just choose your activities accordingly.
You don’t need to be worried about tarantulas 🙂 We have seen a few here in Costa Rica, but only during guided night walks in forests.
Hope you have a great trip! Pura vida!