Caño Negro Boat Safari

The Caño Negro wildlife refuge was declared in 1991 as one of the RAMSAR sites of world importance for the preservation of ecosystems and aquifers, also declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2007. The biodiversity of this site has attracted the attention of tourists and conservationists for more than 35 years, it is possible to observe in this wetlands endangered species such as the Jabirú bird (Jabiru mycteria) up to 4.2 feet (120 cm) tall and with a wingspan (wings spread) of up to 9 feet (3 meters), besides, almost extinct fish such as the Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and the prehistoric Gaspar Fish (Atractosteus tropicus). Due to its importance as a source of food and nesting, it is one of the best places in Costa Rica for bird watching.
Our tour begins by embarking in Guatuso, a rural town, from where we navigate the riverbed to the Caño Negro Refuge, where an experienced guide will show you various species such as sloths, three types of monkeys, caimans, lizards, bats, birds, and a variety of flora typical of wetlands. 

If you are looking for a place to make good use of your cameras and binoculars this is the best, dedicate yourself solely to watching while the boat slowly navigates the calm waters of this wetland of life.

At the end of this profitable boat safari tour, our last stop will be at the house of Don Abelino and Doña Wendy where we will share a traditional lunch to learn more about the culture and especially Costa Rican gastronomy. 

Caño Negro by Rio Frio vs Caño Negro by Los Chiles

The main tributary of the Caño Negro wetland is the Rio Frio, which crosses it right through the heart of the reserve, for this reason, there are two different ways to reach it, one is starting in Los Chiles, very close to the border with Nicaragua going up the river, and the second one is starting in the upper part of the Rio Frio in the town of Guatuso and descending until reaching the same point. Jacamar Tours offers you both experiences, the main reason that led us to operate this new option to visit the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is very simple, our goal is to offer high-quality tours that avoid the massive visitation of attractions, this new route has fewer boat traffic and less flow of tourists, allowing us to access more private natural scenarios and avoid impacting the ecosystems with a limited amount of people.