Tamarindo Sloths & Hot Springs: Private Tour with Lunch

See sloths and frogs in the rainforest, then soak in natural hot springs

A private tour from Tamarindo that pairs a guided hour at a sloth and frog sanctuary with a soak in the natural hot springs at the base of Miravalles Volcano. You'll watch wildlife in their habitat, apply volcanic mud as a skin treatment, enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch, and relax in mineral-rich waters before returning to your hotel. The eight-hour itinerary includes pickup, transport and all meals.

The experience

If you've just arrived in Tamarindo or have a free afternoon, this tour bundles two very different Costa Rican experiences into one day. You start at the Sloth and Frog Sanctuary near Bijagua, where you spend an hour observing the animals in their natural rainforest setting rather than in enclosures. The guide walks you through the habitat and explains the creatures you're seeing. From there, the tour moves to the hot springs at the base of Miravalles Volcano, where you can apply volcanic mud as a skin treatment before soaking in the warm mineral water. A waterslide sits at the springs if you want it.

Lunch happens at the sanctuary in Bijagua: a traditional Costa Rican casado, the local set meal of rice, beans, plantains and protein. The tour runs eight hours total, though the exact length shifts depending on where your hotel is in Guanacaste province. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a live guide who speaks English or Spanish. Bottled water comes with you for the day.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• a traditional Costa Rican lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• pickup from your Guanacaste hotel.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sweet Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private guide who adjusts pace to your group's interests, moving between wildlife spotting and hot springs without fixed timing constraints.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly will I see at the Sloth and Frog Sanctuary?

The sanctuary lets you observe sloths and frogs in their natural rainforest habitat for about an hour. The animals live freely in the trees and undergrowth rather than in cages, and your guide points out species and behavior as you walk through.

Are the hot springs at Miravalles Volcano natural, or are they a resort pool?

Miravalles hot springs are natural mineral-rich waters fed by the volcano itself. They sit at the base of the volcano and include a waterslide, but they're sourced from the geothermal activity underground, not a built facility.

What is a Costa Rican casado?

A casado is the traditional Costa Rican set lunch: a plate with rice, black beans, plantains, salad and a protein, usually chicken or fish. It's the everyday meal locals eat and is included in your tour at the sanctuary.

How much driving is involved, and will I be in the vehicle the whole time?

You spend roughly an hour at the sanctuary and another hour or more at the hot springs soaking and applying mud. The rest of the eight-hour day is driving and lunch, split between the two locations. The exact breakdown depends on your hotel pickup location in Guanacaste.

Can I bring my young children on this tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and the pace is relaxed: wildlife viewing and soaking rather than hiking or strenuous activity.