Ecocentro Danaus Dagpas voor Zelfstandige Toegang 7.15u - 17.00u

We had an amazing and very educational visit to Ecocentro today. Everyone discovered and learned so much because of our wonderful guide, Paz. Without his help, we would have walked past pretty much everything he pointed out to us. The kids were amazed by the experience. We all learned so much about biodiversity, sustainability and ecology. Well worth the time - would highly recommend!

It was wonderful, start to finish. Before we even got started we saw beautiful birds at the bird feeders. Then we looked up and saw a 3 toed sloth up in the tree right at the entrance. We enjoyed walking the path, admiring the beautiful flowers and foliage. We loved the butterfly enclosure also. Butterflies landed on us! We walked in the rain in the rainforest! We also saw a lizard and then several turtles swimming in the little stream. At the end we sat down to look at the sloth again. He was still in the same place, and suddenly he began to eat and then climb higher into the tree! It was so exciting to watch!

Beautiful and peaceful nature reserve, a short and accessible walk with plenty of wildlife including sloths, toucans, frogs and all sorts of birds. The staff were wonderful and helpful, they showed us the sloths and toucan using their telescope and took our daughter on an impromptu frog finding tour.

Wow. What can I say?? Ecocentro Danaus is an incredible private preserve, more than 50 years in the making — a true labor of love for conservation and education. It’s not just a walk through nature, it’s a living classroom where every step reveals something extraordinary. We had the privilege of exploring with Elias Peña, an exceptional guide whose deep knowledge of birding, wildlife, and native plants is matched only by his kindness and enthusiasm. What sets Elias apart is his remarkable gift for photography — his awareness of light, movement, and composition is phenomenal, and he shares tips generously with photographers of all levels. His ability to anticipate behavior in the birds and wildlife made the experience even more special. The variety of birds, plants, and flowers here is breathtaking. In just one visit, we observed: • Black-cheeked Woodpecker launching from a branch in full flight • Broad-billed Motmot, perched regally with its signature racket tail • Spectacled Owl, wide-eyed and unforgettable • Collared Aracari, colorful and mischievous with its oversized bill • Green Basilisk Lizard, the famous “Jesus Christ Lizard” known for running on water • Boat-billed Heron, poised dramatically over mirrored waters • Torch Ginger, glowing like jungle fire in bloom • Green Honeycreeper (female), caught mid-flight with a flash of yellow wings And that’s just the beginning — everywhere you look, there is life and beauty waiting to be discovered. This was a five-star experience from start to finish (and Elias is worth 11 stars). If you are in La Fortuna, I cannot recommend Ecocentro Danaus highly enough. Whether you are a birder, photographer, nature lover, or simply curious, you’ll leave inspired and deeply grateful for places like this that protect and celebrate Costa Rica’s natural wonders.

We enjoyed our walk through the nature reserve. Since we were self-guided we didn’t spot as much wildlife as I think we would have with a tour guide, so if you want to see a ton of wildlife, I recommend a guided tour who can spot animals more easily. We still saw two basilisks, herons, and many butterflies and birds! It was a great place to visit.

Very nice place to see frogs, sloths and butterflies. Guide was remarkable, knowledgeable, and well organized. Easy to find and the pineapple at the end was delicious

The folks that run the Ecocentro Danaus are wonderful people doing a wonderful thing for their environment. You will not be disappointed when you visit!!

Filled with beauty on every turn. Birds, butterflies, reptiles, sloth. It is wonderful to meander along the trails and see what you can spot along the way. Beautifully maintained. Wish we would have time to come back for a night tour. We did those in a couple of other locations in Costa RIca, and I have really come to appreciate those. Doing a night tour at this location must be spectacular.

We visited this garden alone with my husband and met a couple of birds in his nest with the babies. lots of birds in this park. On the way out we met the guide - adorable - who gave us her time leaving her work and showing us the sloth perched in a tree and the mini red frogs well hidden under foliage.... Beautiful moments of relaxation and soothing discoveries. What to do

Exceptional!!!! I highly recommend this visit with an excellent guide passionate and very pedagogue! We speak little English but he speaks slowly with gestures too! We've got it all figured out! We left with unforgettable memories full of heads and exceptional photos, many made by the guide who took them with our phone! He's very good at it! Go there!!!