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:
- Optical Equipment (Spotting Scope or Binoculars).
- Full Access to the Avellanas Mangrove Bridge.
- $2pp donation to the Mangrove Consevation Program.
- 1% go to the ONG Funga Conservation.
-Transportation can be coordinated as an Add-On.
Group Tour
Group Size: Up to 7 participants.
Pricing:
1 participant: $60 per person
2–3 participants: $50 per person
4–5 participants: $45 per person
6–7 participants: $42.5 per person
Children (2-12 years): $32.5 per kid (children are not included in the Group Size for calculation).
Private Tour
(We recommend avoiding one hour before and after high tide, as well as the midday heat.)Pricing (per group including kids):1–2 participants: $150
3 participants: $200
4 participants: $225
5 participants: $250
6 or more, enjoy $45pp group rateNote: 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
- 7:00 AM: Begin exploring the Tropical Dry Forest, spotting birds, mammals, and reptiles.
- 7:30 AM: Walk along Avellanas’ main road—a surprising wildlife corridor!
- 8:00 AM: Enter the Mangrove Forest and estuary, where freshwater meets saltwater, creating a rich habitat for diverse wildlife.
- 8:30 AM: Cross the estuary where the rivers meet the ocean.
*during high tide hours we can get wet all the way to the waist. - 9:00 AM: Walk the beach discovering shellfish and sand dollars in the intertidal zone.
- 9:30 AM: 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.
- Best at early morning or late afternoon (avoid 1 hour ahead and 1 houer after hide tide).
- Difficulty Level: easy to intermediate (2 miles or 3.2 kms).
- 2.5 hours of duration in total.
- Insect Repellent
Avellanas Wildlife Walk
Difficulty Level: Easy to intermediate (2 miles / 3.2 km). Duration: 2.5 hours.
EXCELLENT Based on 615 reviews fe_pena25/11/2024 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. Anitha M11/11/2024 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 Jenn D09/11/2024 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! Sara A03/11/2024 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. Katie01/11/2024 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. Erik S01/11/2024 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. Malina N01/11/2024 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! Anderson1731/10/2024 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. Jen L31/10/2024 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!!!! Janet O29/10/2024 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!