Sloth Discovery, Río Celeste & Coffee–Cacao Journey

Sloths live in the canopy above the trails, not in enclosures or on the ground.

This 8-hour tour from Bijagua combines wildlife spotting in the Tenorio Volcano area with a swim in the turquoise Río Celeste River and a coffee-cacao farm experience. You'll walk through rainforest with a bilingual guide to find sloths, toucans and red-eyed tree frogs in their natural habitat, swim in the river, eat lunch at a restaurant with a butterfly garden, and learn how coffee and cacao are grown and harvested. Air-conditioned transport, park entry and all meals are included; bring a swimsuit and towel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife, river swim, and cultural tasting

• Swim in Río Celeste River
• Walk Tenorio Volcano area
• Spot sloths and wildlife
• Lunch at butterfly garden
• Admire blue morpho butterflies
• Experience coffee and cacao tour
• Taste fresh coffee and cacao

The Experience

Bijagua is the starting point for this day, a small village in the Tenorio Volcano area where the private reserve sits. The morning begins with a guided walk through rainforest to spot sloths in the canopy—the animals move slowly and stay high, so patience and a good guide make the difference between a sighting and an empty search. Along the same trails you'll see toucans, red-eyed tree frogs and other wildlife the forest holds. The bilingual guide narrates what you're looking at and why it matters to the ecosystem.

After the walk comes a swim in the Río Celeste River itself—the water is turquoise and cold, fed by mineral springs, and you'll float in it surrounded by rainforest walls. This is not the waterfall; it's the river upstream where the color is most vivid and the water is swimmable. Bring a towel and a swimsuit; the air-conditioned vehicle waits while you dry off.

Lunch happens at a local restaurant with a butterfly garden on the grounds, where blue morpho butterflies drift between the tables. The meal is typical Costa Rican food; vegetarian options are available if you request one when you book. The final stretch of the day is the coffee-cacao experience—you'll see how both crops grow, learn the harvest and processing steps, taste fresh coffee and sample cacao, and understand why these plants matter to the region's culture and economy. The whole day runs eight hours from pickup to return, with a professional bilingual guide (English or French) and all park entry fees built in.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport from your pickup point.
• entry to the Tenorio Volcano private reserve and all parks and sites.
• a guided walk to spot sloths, toucans and other wildlife.
• a swim in the Río Celeste River.
• lunch at a local restaurant with a butterfly garden.
• the coffee-cacao farm experience with tastings.
• a professional bilingual guide.
• all taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Costour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see sloths in their natural rainforest habitat rather than in captivity—the private reserve and the guide's knowledge are what make that possible. The swim in Río Celeste and the coffee-cacao farm round out the day with two different kinds of immersion, so you're not standing in one place the whole time.

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Top questions

What wildlife will I actually see on the Tenorio Volcano walk?

Sloths are the main draw—they live in the canopy and move slowly, so spotting them depends on the guide's skill and your patience. Toucans, red-eyed tree frogs and other rainforest animals are also present. The guide will point out what's there and explain the ecosystem as you walk.

Is the Río Celeste swim safe, and how cold is the water?

The Río Celeste River is swimmable and fed by mineral springs, so the water is cold. Bring a swimsuit and towel; the vehicle waits nearby while you dry off. The river itself is the turquoise stretch upstream, not the waterfall.

What does the coffee-cacao experience actually involve?

You'll walk through the crops, see how coffee and cacao are grown and harvested, learn the processing steps, taste fresh coffee and sample cacao. The experience teaches you how these plants are transformed and why they're culturally important to Costa Rica.

Does the tour include lunch, and are there vegetarian options?

Lunch at a local restaurant with a butterfly garden is included. Typical Costa Rican food is served; vegetarian options are available if you request one at the time of booking.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide is bilingual in English and French, so you'll get narration in whichever language you need.