Avellanas Wildlife Walk
Discover the secrets of the Coastal Forests of Avellanas Beach
Walk through 4 different ecosystems: forest edge, mangroves, estuary, and intertidal beach
Join us for a 2.5-hour walk through the forests and paths of Avellanas, discovering the amazing wildlife and unique plants of our coastal neighborhood. We’ll explore a 2-mile loop, revealing hidden trails and spots unfamiliar even to locals. Expect sightings of vocal monkeys, colorful tropical birds, and tiny crustaceans nestled between the tides.
Highlights:
- Walk through 4 different ecosystems: forest edge, mangroves, estuary, and intertidal beach.
- Spot fascinating wildlife that lives in the area.
- Learn the story behind Avellanas' iconic landmark bridge.
- Discover why the mangrove forests are one the richest ecosystems of planet earth.
- Help protect these habitats with a quick trail clean-up during our tour.
Inclusions:
- Biologist or Naturalist Guide
- Optical Equipment (Spotting Scope or Binoculars).
- Full Access to the Avellanas Mangrove Bridge and Parking Lot.
- $2pp donation to the Mangrove Consevation Program.
- 1% of sales donated to the NGO Funga Conservation
-Transportation available as add-on service (subject to availability)
Group Tour
Start Time: 8am. or 3pm everyday.
Group Size: Up to 7 participants.
Pricing:
1 participant: $70pp
2 participants: $60pp
3 participants: $55pp
4 participants: $50pp
5 participants: $47.5pp
6 or more participants: $45pp
Children (3-12 years): $35 per kid (children are not included in the Group Size for calculation).
Group Size: Up to 7 participants.
Pricing:
1 participant: $70pp
2 participants: $60pp
3 participants: $55pp
4 participants: $50pp
5 participants: $47.5pp
6 or more participants: $45pp
Children (3-12 years): $35 per kid (children are not included in the Group Size for calculation).
Private Tour
Flexible Start Time: Choose between 6 AM and 3:30 PM.
Pricing (per group including kids):1–2 participants: $150
3 participants: $200
4 participants: $240
5 participants: $280
6 participans: $305
7 or more, enjoy $45pp group rate
Note: For groups with fewer than 7 participants, children are counted as adults when determining the group size.
Pricing (per group including kids):1–2 participants: $150
3 participants: $200
4 participants: $240
5 participants: $280
6 participans: $305
7 or more, enjoy $45pp group rate
Note: For groups with fewer than 7 participants, children are counted as adults when determining the group size.
Meeting Point: Restaurant of Cabinas Las Olas
Sample Itinerary (times can change)
- 3:00 PM: Begin exploring the Tropical Dry Forest, spotting birds, mammals, and reptiles.
- 3:30 PM: Walk along Avellanas’ main road—a surprising wildlife corridor!
- 4:00 PM: Enter the Mangrove Forest and estuary, where freshwater meets saltwater, creating a rich habitat for diverse wildlife.
- 4:30 PM: Cross the estuary where the rivers meet the ocean.
*during high tide hours we can get wet all the way to the waist. - 5:00 PM: Walk the beach discovering shellfish and sand dollars in the intertidal zone.
- 5:30 PM: Finish the walk reaching the iconic Rochelles Mangrove Bridge, a symbol of conservation.
What to bring to the Tour:
- Sun Protection
- Strap Sandals (Teva´s, Chaco´s, Keen´s, etc. We may walk in muddy trails)
- Swimwear or Light Clothes
- Reusable Bottle of Water
- Insect Repellent
Important Details:
- Starting Time in Private Tour: can be set at convenience of guest (although set it at 8am by default)
- Best hours at early morning or late afternoon
- Some days we might have to ajust the tour because of high tides
Avellanas Wildlife Walk
Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate (2 miles / 3.2 km). Duration: 2.5-3 hours.
Posted on Tripadvisor 
fe_pena
25/11/2024
Nice time Sara was amazing and I learned a lot from her.The weather was bad but she managed to show me a lot. I do recommend this tour.
Posted on Tripadvisor
Anitha M
11/11/2024
Amazing experience! Guide was very patient and knowledgeable! The guide was so knowledgeable and passionate about animals and nature and that is so inspiring! We were able to watch many beautiful birds. I did the tour with my 10 year old and she absolutely loved it
Posted on Tripadvisor
Jenn D
09/11/2024
Greta tour, very knowledgeable guide! This was a great tour. It was a slow pace and we saw lots of of beautiful birds. Our guide, Sara, was very knowledgeable and her passion for nature was evident. I really enjoyed this tour and highly recommend it. We saw tons of birds, and 3 teeny sloths. The university grounds are beautiful! Sara had a spotting scope, so we got amazing views of all the animals. This tour is great for all ages and most fitness levels. It wasn’t strenuous and there were lots of areas to sit and observe!
Posted on Tripadvisor
Sara A
03/11/2024
Costa Rica's natural wonders right in San Jose! We loved our tour of the natural wonders on the UCR campus with Sara. What a hidden gem right in the heart of San Jose! Sara was friendly and highly knowledgeable about the colorful array of plants, birds, insects and fungi visible throughout our walk, and she has a knack for spotting sloths (we saw five). Thank you to Oropopo Experience for your science-informed dedication to the well being of the natural world.
Posted on Tripadvisor
Katie
01/11/2024
Not to miss The walking tour was amazing! Our tour guide had a lot of knowledge and was very passionate about all animals and wildlife. We managed to see 3 sloths in total and have great photos.
Posted on Tripadvisor
Erik S
01/11/2024
Witness Nature’s Urban Resilience What a fun, informative tour. Loved the passion, knowledge, and friendliness of the tour guide. Saw many birds, plants, insects, and three sloths! Amazing this is right in the city, even if you plan on venturing out of San Jose, don’t miss this tour and the resilience of nature.
Posted on Tripadvisor
Malina N
01/11/2024
100% recommended it was a really great experience. we were very lucky to have the opportunity to observe wild sloths in motion, many birds (hummingbirds!) and butterflies. Raquel was a wonderful guide. highly recommended!
Posted on Tripadvisor
Anderson17
31/10/2024
Birds bees butterflies and sloths Fantastic tour -lots of interesting wildlife. Bees were fascinating from tiny ones huge ones and gorgeous blue ones. Amazing 4 sloths in university grounds. Melissa was an excellent enthusiastic well informed guide. Would thoroughly recommend this trip.
Posted on Tripadvisor
Jen L
31/10/2024
Book this tour now… you really do see sloths in the city! This was probably the best tour I did in San Jose. Yendry was very knowledgeable and I got to see two different types of sloths, lead cutting ants in action as well as other wildlife all in the city!!!!
Posted on Tripadvisor
Janet O
29/10/2024
Experience nature in the city! Wonderful experience seeing nature in the city. Very knowledgeable guide and we learned so much. If you’re in San Jose and looking for something fun to do, it’s worth it!