Experiences
Rainforest After Dark Experience
Location: Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge
Duration: 3 hours
Cost: $40 per person + entrance fee (minimum 2 people per tour)
Included: Rubber boots and flashlights
At night, the rainforest transforms into a magical and mysterious kingdom that is full of strange and wonderful creatures. Learn about the denizens of the night, their special adaptations, and how they provide to the overall health of the ecosystem. In addition to searching for wildlife, we learn about the importance of biological corridors and how reforestation projects in Costa Rica have helped increase biodiversity and contributed to the country’s green reputation. As always, we can't promise to see any specific animal, but the species often encountered include Two- and Three-toed Sloths, Kinkajous, Collard Peccaries, and during the wet season, Spectacled Caimans and the Red-eyed Tree Frog. However, wildlife is unpredictable and now knowing what we’re going to see is part of the excitement!
The Rainforest Experience
at Hacienda Barú
Location: Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge
Duration: 3 hours
Cost: $40 per person + entrance fee (minimum 2 people per tour)
Included: Rubber boots (during rainy season)
Explore Costa Rica’s South Pacific lowland tropical rainforest and discover the animals and plants that call it home. We will learn about the natural history of the area, the special adaptations of the plants and animals we see, and how they serve a role in the larger ecosystem. The goal is not just to provide a fun and interesting adventure, but also to educate about the environments we live in. Although we can't promise to see any specific animal, some of the common sightings include Two- and Three-toed Sloths, White-faced Capuchin Monkeys, Coatis, Collard Peccaries, and the Great Curassow. It is wildlife though, so we never know what is going to present itself to us on any given day.
The Oso Perezoso Experience
The Oso Perezoso Experience is a combination of experiences organized over the course of 1 to 2 weeks. In collaboration with Life Power Yoga, it is a package that combines both nature and wellness, along with cultural immersion, which can include, but are not limited to the following activities: nature walks, visiting national parks, daily yoga, zipling, visiting an indigenous village, surfing, learning how chocolate is made, as well as cooking and salsa classes, among others.
The first Oso Perezoso Experience took place in July of 2024 in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge served as the home base, while participants went on daily excursions to the different places in the region, including a day trip to the Sirena Ranger Station in Corcovado National Park, a place dubbed by National Geographic, “the most biologically intense place on earth.”
The name of the experience is derived from the Spanish work for a sloth “perezoso,” often nicknamed “oso perezoso” or “lazy bear.” The sloth represents both the wild and the peaceful. In a fast-paced world, its sedentary lifestyle reminds us to slow down and enjoy life. The sloth doesn’t rely on speed to avoid predation, but rather uses the algae in its coat to blend in with the greenery of the rainforest, which shows us the importance of being in harmony with nature. We can all learn a thing or two from the sloth ;)
While the Oso Perezoso Experience will take place in the South Pacific of Costa Rica every year, additional future trips will include locations in and around Costa Rica, as well as international destinations. Plans are in the works for Peru in 2025, centered around Cusco and the Amazon. Stay tuned for more information!