A full day at the Jaguar Rescue Center with Cahuita National Park
Description
This full-day tour takes you to two of the region’s top highlights: the Jaguar Rescue Center and Cahuita National Park — a perfect mix of conservation, education, and nature exploration. Jaguar Rescue Center Visit Start your adventure at the renowned Jaguar Rescue Center near Puerto Viejo. Although it doesn’t house jaguars year-round, the center rescues and rehabilitates a wide range of local wildlife, including: · Sloths, monkeys, toucans, ocelots, parrots, and more · Insightful guided tour with expert wildlife caretakers · Learn about animal rescue efforts, rehabilitation, and rewilding Cahuita National Park Guided Walk Next, head to Cahuita National Park, a coastal rainforest reserve famous for its flat trails, white-sand beaches, and abundant wildlife. · Easy walk along the beachside trail · Spot howler monkeys, capuchins, iguanas, raccoons, and sloths in the wild · Learn about local flora, fauna, and Afro-Caribbean culture from your guide
Tour Options
Itinerary
Take in the highlights of Costa Rica’s Caribbean region during a drive through coastal towns rich in culture and history. As you travel, your guide will provide an introduction to Costa Rica, its diverse geography, cultural roots, and development as a peaceful, nature-oriented country. You'll also gain insight into the province of Limón, shaped by Afro-Caribbean heritage, maritime trade, and the legacy of immigrant communities that continue to define the region’s identity today.
Make a stop at a local fruit stand to explore some of Costa Rica’s most iconic tropical treats. Savor sweet pineapple, juicy papaya, mini bananas, crispy platanitos, refreshing watermelon, and freshly cut coconut. You’ll also have the opportunity to try smooth Costa Rican coffee, renowned worldwide for its quality and rich flavor. Right next to the fruit stand, there’s also a small souvenir shop with handmade crafts and local products. You’ll find great gift ideas, including magnets, wooden carvings, and bags of Costa Rica’s famous high-quality coffee, known worldwide for its smooth flavor and rich aroma.
Is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and care of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife. During your guided visit, you'll observe animals like sloths, monkeys, reptiles, birds, and amphibians in recovery, while learning about the center’s mission to return as many of them as possible to the wild. The facility also cares for animals that, due to health or behavioral conditions, cannot be released and are given lifelong sanctuary in natural surroundings. The center supports conservation, research, and environmental education, and your visit directly contributes to this important work. A meaningful and inspiring stop for wildlife lovers.
This scenic 2-kilometer trail takes you on a guided walk through lush secondary forest, offering the chance to experience Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity up close. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful landscapes and a variety of tropical flora and fauna. The trail is especially known for its frog species, including the striking red dart frog (Oophaga pumilio), as well as common sightings of howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, and both species of Costa Rican sloths (two- and three-toed). Bird lovers can spot toucans, oropendolas, tanagers, hummingbirds, great kiskadees, and more. Squirrels, butterflies, and other fascinating creatures also fill this vibrant ecosystem.
We’ll stop at a relaxed local restaurant where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious Caribbean-style lunch. Try traditional dishes like coconut rice and beans, grilled fish with lime, chicken in rich Caribbean sauce, or crispy patacones, all prepared with regional flavors. Pair your meal with a fresh fruit juice or a cold local beer. Please note: lunch is not included in the tour price, and this stop is optional.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your tour begins inside the pier, where our guides will be waiting for you with a sign displaying your name. Look for our red shirts for easy identification. We offer pickup right inside the pier, so there’s no need to walk outside the facilities. Timing: Tours are scheduled 30 minutes after your ship docks, with the earliest tour starting at 8:00 AM. As the best local tour operator, we guarantee your return to the cruise ship
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(22)
José was the best tour guide ever, in several years ago, the tour was excellent five stars for everything, the van with full AC and very comfortable seat, a lot of wildlife and very wonderful day ❤️❤️
Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. We are truly delighted to hear that José made such a lasting impression and that, even years later, you still remember the tour as an excellent experience. It is wonderful to know that everything met your expectations, from the comfort of the air-conditioned van to the wildlife sightings and the overall quality of the day. Your five-star feedback means a great deal to our entire team. We sincerely appreciate your kind words and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again for another memorable experience in the future.
Our tour guide Rosa was excellent, and the van and driver were also excellent. The transportation was very comfortable and air-conditioned. My family was a bit letdown by the fact that the Jaguar center had nothing to do with Jaguars. Instead, we spent most of our time looking at macaws. Also, the rainforest hike was really along the parallel trail to a beach, but you do see some slots and monkeys along the way. Please make sure to bring snacks because it is a very long excursion and we were all famished by the time we got to the plantation portion. There is a lot of traffic along the route so they had to cut out the restaurant altogether.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, and we are glad to hear you enjoyed the guide, driver, and transportation. Regarding the Jaguar Rescue Center, its name comes from its early beginnings when a jaguar was part of the project. Although that jaguar has since passed, the center has kept its original name and continues to focus on the rescue, rehabilitation, and protection of Costa Rican wildlife, which is the core of its mission today. The rainforest walk is indeed considered a tropical humid rainforest, even though sections of the trail run parallel to the beach. This ecosystem fully qualifies as rainforest and offers opportunities to observe native wildlife such as sloths and monkeys, along with rich tropical vegetation. On the day of your tour, heavy traffic conditions required us to adjust the itinerary and remove the restaurant stop. This decision was made solely to ensure a safe and punctual return to the cruise ship, which is always our highest priority. Traffic is unfortunately beyond our control, and we prefer our guests to return calmly and on time rather than risk missing their ship or feeling rushed during a meal. We truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us provide clarity for future guests and continue improving the overall experience.
We had a very nice experience, on the boat ride we saw many animals and had a contact with the nature. The tour guide Eme was very knowledgeable, she gave us an unforgettable tour, she showed us the interesting places of Port Limon. I really recommend Syltravel if you want to learn about Costa Rica and had a great experience.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the boat ride and the opportunity to observe wildlife while connecting with nature. It is gratifying to know that Eme’s knowledge and passion helped make your tour memorable and that she was able to showcase the most interesting highlights of Port Limón. Your recommendation means a great deal to our team. At Syl Travel, our goal is to provide authentic, educational, and enjoyable experiences that allow our guests to truly learn about and appreciate Costa Rica truly. We truly appreciate your trust and hope to welcome you again on a future visit.
We were picked up on time directly from the cruise ship. Our guide was Rachel and the driver Alex. Since it rained, we were very grateful to Rachel for bringing umbrellas. First we went to the park. Rachel was always looking for animals, which was quite a challenge in the bad weather. In the end, we saw a snake, sloth, monkeys and raccoons hidden somewhat. Afterwards we went to the Rescue Center, which will pick up wounded animals and release them if possible. Rachel also explained a lot about the culture and the country. We thank both for a wonderful trip.
Vielen Dank für dein tolles Feedback! 😊 Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Rachel und Alex euren Ausflug trotz des Regens zu einem besonderen Erlebnis gemacht haben. Wir wissen, dass das Wetter manchmal eine Herausforderung sein kann, aber es klingt, als hätte Rachel mit ihrem geschulten Blick und ihrer Expertise das Beste daraus gemacht. Schön, dass ihr dennoch einige Tiere entdecken konntet und das Rescue Center besuchen konntet – diese Orte leisten wirklich wertvolle Arbeit! Wir geben dein Lob gerne an Rachel und Alex weiter und hoffen, euch in Zukunft wieder auf einer Tour begrüßen zu dürfen. 🌿🐒✨ Liebe Grüße,
Tour operator did not pick us up at the dedicated pick up location. We tried reaching out and so did Viator and they could not get in touch of the operator. We requested a full refund.
We are sorry for your inconvenience, but we want to clarify the facts. We carefully organize each of our reservations days in advance to avoid any issues. On the day of your tour, our guide and driver were waiting at the meeting point for an hour and a half, with the vehicle ready and the tickets already purchased. The meeting point is very easy to find: we are right outside the cruise ship, wearing red shirts (the only ones in the area), and our guides hold signs with the passengers’ names. Additionally, if a traveler happens to pass the meeting point, other tour operators in the area know us well and always help direct guests to our team. On that same day, we had 10 reservations, and none of them had any trouble finding us. In all the years we have been operating, we have never encountered a situation like this, as our logistics are designed to ensure that all passengers can easily locate their tour. We also tried contacting you, but we never received a response. Since everything was prepared for your tour, and we waited well beyond the 30-minute grace period, we cannot offer a full refund, as this goes against Viator’s policies and our company’s terms. We regret any misunderstanding and remain committed to providing a professional and well-organized service.
We had an incredible experience touring Cahuita National Park and the Jaguar Rescue Center with our guide, Katherine, and our driver, GiGi. Katherine was a fantastic host—warm, friendly, and knowledgeable. She shared so much about life in Costa Rica in a way that felt natural and engaging, Her passion for the country, its wildlife, and culture really shone through, making the experience even more special. GiGi was a wonderful driver—safe, professional, and always pleasant. Together, they made our day unforgettable. If you’re looking for a well-organized, fun, and insightful tour, we highly recommend Katherine and GiGi. They truly made our trip one to remember!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible experience exploring Cahuita National Park and the Jaguar Rescue Center with Katherine and GiGi. It’s fantastic to know that Katherine’s passion and knowledge, along with GiGi’s professionalism, made your day truly special. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to them—they’ll be delighted to hear how much you appreciated their efforts! We’d love to welcome you on another adventure in the future. Pura vida! 🌿🐾✨
Katherine our tour guide is amazing very friendly she put us at ease right away narrating the different stories of Costa Rica and share some of her personal and family stories.she stopped at a local shop to get us to try some patties that was excellent we got first a tour of the Jaguar rescue center which was amazing and we did the Cahuita reserve with plenty of different animals and a magical scenery. It was raining nonetheless it was great. Rain or shine the visit is excellent. Thank you Katherine and Gigi our driver
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear that Katherine and GiGi made your tour a fantastic experience, rain or shine! It’s wonderful that Katherine’s storytelling and warm personality helped you feel at ease while sharing the beauty of Costa Rica. And what a treat to try those delicious patties at a local shop! We truly appreciate your recommendation and will make sure Katherine and GiGi know how much you enjoyed the tour. Hope to welcome you on another adventure soon—pura vida! 🌿🐾✨
The Jaguar Rescue without a Jaguar. But there is a reason. And the stories Lizie told really made the trip worthwhile. Many rescues. Each with their own name and story. French, German, Spanish, and English tours. Lizie even talks to some of the animals . Everyone is excited about being there. Truly, Dr. Doolittle meets the modern world.
Thank you for sharing your experience! While the Jaguar Rescue Center may not have a jaguar, its mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wildlife makes it a truly special place. We're glad you enjoyed Lizie’s storytelling—each rescue does have a unique journey, and the care provided is truly inspiring. The multilingual tours make it accessible to visitors from all over the world, and it's wonderful to hear how engaged everyone was. It really does feel like a modern-day Dr. Doolittle experience! We appreciate your visit and hope you’ll return to see more of their incredible work.
Alicia was a delightful tour guide! We booked a small group tour, but, we were fortunate that it was just our party of four (so we had a private tour), We had a great day at the Jaguar (by the way, no Jaguars) Rescue facility and learn how they rescue so many different animals and they help rehabilitate these animals to be released back into their environment. We especially enjoyed seeing the Sloths. Alicia also took us to the National Park where we saw monkeys and sloths in their natural surroundings. The beach was very pretty and we also got a tour of the city. I would highly recommend asking for Alicia and her driver for your tour.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that Alicia was able to make your tour special and that you had the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife, especially the sloths. It's great to know that you also appreciated the city tour and the beautiful beach. We value your recommendation and will be sure to pass on your kind words to Alicia and her driver. We hope to welcome you again soon!
This was an absolutely fantastic trip to see not only some animals native to Costa Rica, but be taken around by knowledge, friendly and fun volunteers. The centre provides healthcare, rehoming and rehabilitation as well as education for about the animals in their care. The importance of the centre cannot be understated and the need for people to come and learn about the animals and work is necessary. There are animals I have never seen before and I feel so privileged to have spent my time there. It was fun, informative and I encourage you to visit.
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt review! It’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed your visit and the opportunity to see native Costa Rican wildlife up close. The dedication of the knowledgeable, friendly, and fun volunteers clearly made the experience even more special. The center's work in healthcare, rehoming, rehabilitation, and education is truly vital, and your words beautifully highlight its importance. It’s incredible that you had the chance to encounter animals you’ve never seen before—what a privilege indeed! Thank you for encouraging others to visit and support such an impactful organization. If you’re planning any future adventures, we’d be delighted to help make them just as memorable! 🌿🐾
