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 walk the trail without a guide or join a guided tour and explore the incredible wildlife of La Fortuna.
This ultimate guide to the Bogarin Trail includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect on your 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 Trail Sloth Guided Tour
- Bogarin Trail Self-Guided Entrance Fee & Opening Hours
- Bogarin Trail on your own
- What to Pack
- Tips for Visiting
- Where to Stay in La Fortuna
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Where is Bogarin Trail?
The trail is just a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the center of La Fortuna, Costa Rica.
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 2.5-5 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.
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.
If you are already in La Fortuna, you can easily get to the Bogarin Trail by car or walking.
See also → How to Renting a Car in Costa Rica
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 the 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.
Make the most of your visit and arrive as early as possible!
Recommended post → Things to Do in La Fortuna
Bogarin Trail Sloth Guided Tour
For the best experience, join a sloth watching guided tour. The tour lasts about 2 hours and includes the entrance fee and a guide. The guided tour costs 45 USD for adults and 30 USD for children (3-12 years old). The guided tours are available daily at 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, and 4 PM.
Book a Sloth Watching Guided Tour 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 the guided tour, you can get information about the wildlife and plants, and the leader will show you animals you may not have noticed. Telescopes make it easy to spot hiding animals and take better photos with your phone.
TIP
You can also join a night walk at 5 PM for 60 USD.
Bogarin Trail Self-Guided Entrance Fee & Opening Hours
The trail is open daily from 7 AM to 4 PM. The self-guided trail costs 20 USD for adults and children (3-12 years old). Free admission for children under 3 years.
Bogarin Trail on your own
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.
Read our → Costa Rica Itinerary
What to Pack
- Osprey Small Backpack: A very lightweight, versatile, and durable backpack, perfect for day hikes.
- Light Raincoat: Packable, lightweight, and waterproof raincoat with hood perfect for travel and hiking.
- Sunscreen: You don’t have to worry about sun damage with this reef-friendly UVA/UVB sunscreen.
- Hiking shoes or boots & socks
- Hat and sunglasses
- Mosquito repellent
- Camera gear
- Extra water
- Local money
- Binoculars or zoom lens
Tips for Visiting
- 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 National Park, 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. 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
- Luxury: Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa or Nayara Gardens
- Mid-Range: Los Lagos Spa & Thermal Resort Experience
- Budget: Arenal Xilopalo
We have a detailed post on the best areas and hotels in La Fortuna.
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 comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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