Guided Hiking in the Selva Verde Reserve

Experience first hand the wonder of exploring a tropical rainforest. Enjoy a personalized and leisurely ramble through Selva Verde' s 500 acre private reserve with our knowledgeable naturalist guides. Learn more than just the names of rainforest plants and animals - discover their secret lives and fascinating natural histories. Be on the look out for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans, and poison dart frogs, and remember to bring your camera!

Time: 9.00 AM or 2.00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults $35, Children 6-11 $17.5, under 5 free

Sarapiquí River Cruise

Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sarapiquí, observing life in and along the banks of the river. You'll pass both forested and agricultural lands to observe the activities of the people and animals whose lives are influenced by the flow of the waters. The boat guides are some of the best wildlife spotters on the river, so be sure to bring your binoculars and camera! The boat departs from the lively Puerto Viejo dock. Guide is not included

Time: 9.00 AM or 2.00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adult $44 per person, Children 6-11 $25, under 5 free
Transportation: $55 (1-4 passengers)

Chocolate Tour - Discover Chocolate!

Discover how cacao seeds are transformed into one the world's favorite foods - chocolate! Visit a historical cacao plantation and learn about the natural and cultural history of cacao plant. Native to Central America, cacao was cultivated by Mayan, Aztec, and other Central American cultures before European explorers introduced it to the rest of the world.

Time: 8.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 1.00 PM, 3.00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults $37, Children $25
Transportation: $55 round trip (1-4 passengers)

White Water Rafting Adventure

The white water stretches of the Rio Sarapiquí are some of the most beautiful in Costa Rica. Enjoy high adventure and gentle floats as you navigate the river with our professional river guides. A preliminary safety orientation will prepare you for the challenges you'll face on the water. Keep an eye out for the diversity of wildlife seen at the river's edge in between Class I-III rapids. If you are a skilled rafter, we can arrange a more challenging excursion on Class III-IV rapids. Your rafting adventure ends at Selva Verde Lodge.

Time: 9.00 AM or 2.00 PM
Duration: 2 ½ hours
Cost: Adult $73 per person (minimun 2) Children $73
Transportation: Included

Horseback Riding

No experience is necessary for this relaxed ride through the forests and fields surrounding Selva Verde. Spot a variety of wildlife and enjoy the cultural landscape of the Sarapiquí. The ride is accompanied by a bilingual guide.

Time: 9.00 AM, 11.00 AM y 1.00 PM
Duration: 2 ½ hours
Cost: $40 per person
Transportation: included

Zip Line Canopy Tour

Enjoy the thrill of winging your way through the canopy of the rainforest! Our zip line adventure consists of 12 zip lines crisscrossing tropical rainforest, ornamental gardens, and the magnificent Rio Sarapiquí. Throughout your adventure, you will be accompanied by experienced guides, using specialized equipment of the highest quality.

Time: 9.00 AM or 2.00 PM
Duration: 2 ½ hours
Cost: Adult: $73 per person(minimun 2), Children: $73
Transportation: Included

Early Morning Bird Walk at Selva Verde

Grab your binoculars and join our naturalist guide for an early morning bird walk on the grounds of Selva Verde. Morning is a very active time for the birds, so you can count on sighting several of the stunning tropical species that inhabit Selva Verde. Every morning is different, but they are all exciting! Your guide has a keen eye and a high-powered scope, so you can get close up views of birds you might not otherwise notice. Binoculars can be rented at reception.

Time: Daily at 6.00 AM
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults $32, Children 6-11 $16, under 5 free

Night Hike at Selva Verde Reserve

Join Selva Verde’s naturalist guides for an exciting exploration of the rainforest at night! Bring your flashlight and search the grounds and surrounding trails for nocturnal wildlife – including tree frogs, leaf mimicking insects, and nocturnal mammals including kinkajous and bats!

Time: 7.00 PM
Duration: 2 hour
Cost: Adults $35, Children 6-11 $17.5, under 5 free

Night Hike With Selva Verde Naturalists

Join Selva Verde’s naturalist guides for an exciting exploration of the rainforest at night! Bring your flashlight and search the grounds and surrounding trails for nocturnal wildlife – including tree frogs, leaf mimicking insects, and nocturnal mammals including kinkajous and bats!

Time: 7:00 PM
Duration: 2 hour
Cost: Adults $35, Children 6-11 $17.5, under 5 free

Bat Tour

Did you know there are 113 species of bats in Costa Rica? Get to know the world of this important and often misunderstood mammal with a lecture on the lives and natural history of bats, followed by safe, close up observation of captured specimens. Learn about research methods while visiting the netting station where you will learn about the capture process. (Bats are captured and held for only two hours, and care is taken for their well being).

Time: 7:00 PM
Duration: 1 ½ hours
Cost: Adult: $38 Children (6-11 Years) $28
Transportation: $65 round trip (1-4 passengers)

Latin Dance Class

Dancing is the soul of Latin America! If you have ever wanted to learn Latin dancing then this is the class for you! Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia dancing styles are all lead by local dance instructors, step by step. You will practice with a partner and everyone can take turns showing off their new dance moves. This activity is great fun, perfect for families and friends, and for groups to kick off or end a tour.

Time: 7:oo or 7:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: Request price and availability at the frontdesk
25 person maximum per class

Chocolate Tour - Discover Chocolate!

Discover how cacao seeds are transformed into one the world's favorite foods - chocolate! Visit a historical cacao plantation and learn about the natural and cultural history of cacao plant. Native to Central America, cacao was cultivated by Mayan, Aztec, and other Central American cultures before European explorers introduced it to the rest of the world.

Time: 8.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 1.00 PM, 3.00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults $37, Children $25
Transportation: $55 round trip (1-4 passengers)

Horseback Riding

No experience is necessary for this relaxed ride through the forests and fields surrounding Selva Verde. Spot a variety of wildlife and enjoy the cultural landscape of the Sarapiquí. The ride is accompanied by a bilingual guide.

Time: 9.00 AM, 11.00 AM and 2.00 PM
Duration: 2 ½ hours
Cost: $40 per person
Transportation: included

Community Service Projects

The Sarapiquí Region is one of the poorest counties in Costa Rica. Much of the local work is plantation work, either banana or pineapple. To build stronger communities and support local schools, Selva Verde partners with the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center to link visitors interested in volunteering their time with projects where their assistance is needed.

Note: Projects must be arranged and scheduled 2 weeks in advance.

Time: Half day - 2 to 3 hours / Full day - 4 to 5 hours
Cost: Request price and availability at the frontdesk
Transportation: not included - cost determined by location of service project

Visit a local School

Visit a local elementary school or high school and compare and contrast the Costa Rica education system with your own. Enjoy a guided tour led by the director, a teacher, and/or students, a presentation and a question/answer session. One third of each participant fee will go directly to the participating school

Time: Morning and Afternoons
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Request price and availability at the frontdesk
Transportation: not included - cost determined by school location

Costa Rican Cooking Classes

This class taught by a local community member, will offer you the opportunity to learn how to make traditional Costa Rican dishes.  You will learn about each fresh ingredient, and everyone participates in the cooking process. The menu choices consist of frescos (fruit juices), empanadas rellenas  (turnovers filled with beans and cheese), tortillas (flat bread), patacones (fried green plantains) or picadillo de chayote (water squash).  Enjoy trying all of your culinary creations at the end of the class!

Price: Request price and availability at the frontdesk
Restrictions: 25 person max
Recommended time: Afternoons or evenings
Duration: 1 ½ - 2 hours