Bogarin Trail: Best Place to See Sloths in La Fortuna
Wondering how to visit the Bogarin Trail in La Fortuna, Costa Rica? Bogarin Trail is the best place to see sloths in La Fortuna, so you can’t miss it on your Costa Rica Itinerary.
You can visit the Bogarin Trail without a guide or join a guided tour and see the incredible wildlife of Costa Rica.
This ultimate guide to the Bogarin Trail includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect on the tour, and tips for visiting.
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- Bogarin Trail: Best Place to See Sloths in La Fortuna
- Where is Bogarin Trail
- How to Get to the Bogarin Trail
- When to Walk on the Bogarin Sloth Trail
- Bogarin Sloth Trail Tours
- Bogarin Trail Opening Hours
- Bogarin Trail Entrance Fee
- Bogarin Trail Self-Guided Tour
- What to Pack
- Tips for Visiting Bogarin Trail
- Where to Stay in La Fortuna
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Where is Bogarin Trail
The Bogarin Trail is just a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the center of La Fortuna.
How to Get to the Bogarin Trail
To get to the Bogarin Trail, you first need to get to La Fortuna, Costa Rica. The distance between La Fortuna and San Jose is about 130 km, which is 3-5 hours, depending on traffic and mode of transport.
We have a detailed post on how to get from San Jose to La Fortuna with all the information you need.
The easiest way to get from San Jose to La Fortuna is by car. You can easily rent a car at San Jose International Airport. Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.
The best way to explore Costa Rica is by renting a car. Although public transport is cheap, travel time is long, and some places are not accessible by bus. Renting a car in Costa Rica provides the freedom to explore at your own pace and visit hidden gems or get off the beaten path.
During our travels, we always use Discover Cars for car rentals. Because they always offer the best deals and provide free cancellation 48 hours before your reservation.
Recommended post → How to Renting a Car in Costa Rica
If you are already in La Fortuna, you can easily get to the Bogarin Trail by car or walking.
When to Walk on the Bogarin Sloth Trail
The tropical weather makes La Fortuna lush and green all year round, the perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
The best time to visit Bogarin Trail is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. But these months are the busiest time to visit Costa Rica, so we suggest booking tours and accommodation in advance!
It’s good to know that La Fortuna is one of the wettest places in Costa Rica! The weather is always humid, so tropical rains can occur anytime. The rainy season in La Fortuna is from May to November, and the wettest months are usually September and October.
TIP
Make the most of your visit and arrive as early as possible!
Bogarin Sloth Trail Tours
For the best experience, join a sloth watching guided tour. A 2-hour guided tour starts from 47 USD for adults and 32 USD for children. The guided tours are available daily at 8 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM.
Check Bogarin Trail tour prices and availability HERE.
You can save money without a guide. But if you want to be sure of seeing the animals, we recommend joining a guided tour.
On a group tour, you can get information about the wildlife and plants, and the leader will show you animals you may not have noticed. With the telescope, you can easily see the hiding animals and take better photos with your phone.
Good to know
You can also join a night walk at 5 PM for 62 USD.
Bogarin Trail Opening Hours
The trail is open daily from 7 AM to 5 PM.
Bogarin Trail Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to the Bogarin Trail is 8500 CRC (16 USD) for a self-guided tour. Free admission for children under 4 years.
Bogarin Trail Self-Guided Tour
There are many places to see sloths in La Fortuna, but if you want more chances, you should visit the Bogarin Trail and discover at your own pace.
The Bogarin Trail is a flat trail of about 2.5 km long, which makes it an ideal activity for families and couples in La Fortuna. Our tour took about 2-3 hours with photo stops. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. During the tour, you can see a variety of wildlife, such as sloths, squirrels, toucans, basilisks, and frogs. It is also a good place for birdwatching in La Fortuna.
In Costa Rica, you can see two-fingered and three-fingered sloths, which can be active at night and during the day. But since they spend 90 percent of their time motionless, spotting a “fluffy ball” on the top of a tree is no easy task.
Important note
Do not touch trees or leaves as they may have snakes, poison dart frogs, or spiders on them.
Recommended post → Best Things to Do in La Fortuna
What to Pack
- Small backpack
- Light raincoat
- Hiking shoes or boots & socks
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito repellent
- Camera gear
- Extra water
- Local money
- Binoculars or zoom lens
Tips for Visiting Bogarin Trail
- Arrive as early as possible.
- Don’t take unnecessary things with you.
- As unexpected rain can happen at any time, bring a light raincoat.
- Wear closed hiking shoes and lightweight, quick-dry clothes, as the weather is always warm and humid.
- Allow enough time to walk, as muddy and slippery trails can make the tour take longer.
- Don’t leave off the trail and feed/touch the animals!
- The best places to see sloths in Costa Rica are Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, La Fortuna, the Jaguar Rescue Center, and Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Be patient, and don’t be loud when you walk the paths.
- Always be ready to take photos, as you will see lots of wildlife in the trees and along the trails.
Where to Stay in La Fortuna
We recommend staying in La Fortuna for at least 3-4 days to allow enough time to visit the best places in La Fortuna.
When you have a car, we suggest booking your hotel outside La Fortuna with a stunning view of the Arenal Volcano.
If you don’t have a rental car or are looking for budget accommodation, you should stay in the town center. Because you’ll be close to restaurants and can easily book tours or shuttles to attractions.
Although La Fortuna is a small town, the accommodation options are available for all budgets.
Best hotels in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- Luxury: Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa or Baldi Hot Springs Hotel & Spa
- Mid-Range: Los Lagos Spa & Thermal Resort Experience
- Budget: Arenal Waterfall Lodge
We hope you found our guide to the Bogarin Trail useful and will inspire you to visit Costa Rica. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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