Guanacaste Buggy Tour & Sloth Sanctuary Day Trip

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/50

Duration4h–6h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Wildlife Encounters & Off-Road Adventure from Playa Matapalo

You’ll ride off-road buggies through Guanacaste’s rugged mountains with a local guide, visit Costa Rica’s largest sloth sanctuary to meet rescued wildlife, and cool off with swims at three unique beaches. Expect muddy shoes, laughter, and moments of quiet awe you’ll remember long after the trip.

4h–6h

Step-by-step itinerary

Buggy Adventure and Sloth Sanctuary

Off-road buggy tour through Guanacaste mountains and beaches
Visit Eco Park Sloth rescue refuge and animal sanctuary

The Experience

I didn’t expect the first thing I’d notice was the dust — it gets everywhere, even in your teeth if you smile too much (which I did). Our guide, Diego, handed us bandanas with a grin and said, “Trust me, you’ll want this.” He was right. The buggy felt like a toy at first but then we hit the mountain trails behind Playa Matapalo and suddenly I was gripping the wheel for real. There’s something about bouncing over potholes with the wind full of green smells — wet leaves, earth after last night’s rain — that makes you feel like a kid again.

The animal sanctuary stop was quieter than I thought it’d be. Not silent — there were parrots squabbling somewhere above us and a sloth blinking slowly in a tree like he’d just woken up from a dream. The staff here actually know every animal by name. One woman (I think her name was Mariela?) told us how they rescued an ocelot last month — she showed me its favorite shady spot. I tried to get a photo of a toucan but it kept hopping away; honestly, I gave up and just watched it for a while instead. There’s something calming about seeing animals up close without glass between you.

Afterwards we piled back into the buggies — my shoes still muddy from the sanctuary paths — and Diego led us down toward three different beaches. Each one had its own mood: one busy with families, another almost empty except for some fishermen fixing nets. We swam at the last stop; saltwater always feels different after sweating through mountain trails all morning. On the way back, Diego pointed out some wild monkeys in the trees and joked that they’re better drivers than most tourists (he might be right). My arms are still sore from steering but honestly, I’d do it again tomorrow if I could.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Guanacaste, bottled water throughout the adventure, entry to Costa Rica’s largest animal sanctuary with expert local guides sharing stories about each rescue animal—and plenty of time to swim or relax at three different beaches before heading back home.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Guanadreams CR