Bijagua Rainforest: Sloth & Frog Tour with Coffee, Chocolate & Llanos del Cortes Waterfall

Summary

Rainforest wildlife meets coffee & chocolate making near Bijagua

You’ll wander through Bijagua’s rainforest searching for sloths and frogs with a local guide who knows every sound in the trees. Taste fresh-roasted coffee and hand-made chocolate, then share lunch with your group before cooling off at Llanos del Cortes waterfall. Expect earthy scents, laughter over language slips, and moments that stick with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

We tumbled out of the van in Bijagua just as the air started to smell like wet earth — you know that mossy, almost sweet scent? Our guide, Daniel, grinned and pointed up before I’d even finished stretching my legs. There was a sloth curled into a ball way up in the branches. He said they’re always here, not like the “maybe you’ll see one” thing at other places. I squinted for ages before I finally saw it move (barely). The forest was alive with these weird chirps and a kind of sticky heat — my shirt clung to my back but I didn’t care. Daniel found a tiny red-eyed frog under a leaf and let us hold it for a second (it felt cool and lighter than I expected). He told us about tapirs too, but we didn’t spot one — apparently it’s luck of the draw.

After all the animal excitement, we headed over to this open-air kitchen where the smell of roasting coffee hit me first. It was strong but not bitter — more nutty? We ground beans by hand (harder than it looks), then tried making chocolate from scratch. My attempt looked nothing like what you buy at home, but tasted so much richer. Daniel laughed when I tried to say “cacao” with the right accent — definitely butchered it. Lunch was casado: rice, beans, plantains, some kind of stewed meat — honestly I ate too fast to remember what else was on my plate.

The last stop was Llanos del Cortes waterfall. The water thundered down into this blue-green pool that looked fake at first glance. Some people swam but I just sat on a rock with my feet in because the spray felt cold after all that rainforest heat. Someone nearby played music on their phone — not exactly nature sounds, but somehow it fit the mood. If you go during September or October you might not get to swim (rainy season), but even standing there is something else. I keep thinking about how quiet it got between bursts of laughter from our group — you don’t get that kind of silence back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Rainforest wildlife and cultural tour

• Pick up at 7:00am
• Travel to Bijagua rainforest
• See sloths, frogs, birds, and butterflies
• Learn about coffee and chocolate history
• Make your own coffee and chocolate
• Taste typical casado lunch
• Visit Llanos del Cortes waterfall
• Return and drop off at 3:00pm

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Tamarindo to Bijagua?

The drive takes around 2 hours 40 minutes each way if starting from Tamarindo.

Is swimming allowed at Llanos del Cortes waterfall?

You can usually swim except during September and October when heavy rain may make it unsafe.

Are sloths guaranteed on this tour?

Yes, sloths are 100% guaranteed since they stay in their natural habitat along the route.

What does lunch include?

The included lunch is a traditional casado meal with rice, beans, plantains, meat or fish, and salad.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

Yes, all areas are wheelchair accessible and specialized infant seats are available.

Are bottled water and towels provided?

Bottled water and bath towels are included as part of your day trip experience.

Do we get to make our own coffee and chocolate?

Yes, there’s a hands-on activity where you make both coffee and chocolate from scratch.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water throughout the tour, all entry fees for wildlife viewing and Llanos del Cortes waterfall access, plus towels for drying off after swimming or wading. A traditional Costa Rican casado lunch is served along with your own handmade coffee and chocolate tasting before heading back in the afternoon.