Sloth Spotting on the Bogarin Trail: A Review
A complete guide to La Fortuna’s Bogarin trail, including everything you need to know about spotting sloths and other wildlife with and without a guide.
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The Bogarin Trail is one of the best places to see sloths in La Fortuna. With meandering paths through regenerated rainforest, this little oasis right next to town is a protected habitat for sloths and other wildlife, providing shelter from rapid urbanisation and an increase in tourism. Both self-guided and guided tour options offer visitors a chance to see sloths in the wild. If you’re looking for the best sloth watching tour in La Fortuna, we’ve compiled a complete review, with our honest thoughts and feelings about the reserve, in this complete guide to visiting the Bogarin Trail.
Bogarin Trail at a glance
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About the Bogarin Trail
The Bogarin Trail is a protected reserve called a Sloth Trail or Sloth Walk in La Fortuna. It is home to around 30 individual sloths of both species, two-toed and three-toed, as well as many other animals,, including birds and reptiles.
Once a cattle farm, the land was taken over by a local guide with more than 30 years of experience in 2000. Joanne Bogarin (known as Giovanny) transformed the farmland, turning it into a refuge for the wildlife around La Fortuna. Now, the Bogarin Trail is the last secondary forest in the downtown area of La Fortuna, giving animals like sloths a safe haven from the rapid urbanisation and development around the city.
We managed to squeeze a trip to the Bograin Trail into our Costa Rica itinerary just before we left La Fortuna and have compiled this complete guide with everything you need to know before you go.
How long is the Bogarin Trail?
The Bogarin Trail has a variety of routes which stretch to about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long. This relatively short trail takes about 45 minutes to complete at a slow pace, which you’ll need to adopt as it’s important to spend time looking up into the treetops for sloths.
You can extend your walk by meandering around some of the loops which lead off from the main loop and crisscross throughout the reserve.
Where is Bogarin Trail located?
The Bogarin Trail is located near La Fortuna, one of the most popular tourist towns in Costa Rica. It is situated near Arenal Volcano National Park and offers views of the volcano on a clear day. Its location just outside the town on the west side makes it easily accessible from the centre.
Bogarin Trail Map
We found the Bogarin Trail to be the most easily accessible Sloth Trail on foot from La Fortuna town, at just 10 minutes’ walk from the main square.
The Best Bogarin Trail Tours
Taking a guided tour can be an excellent way to maximise your chances of seeing wildlife, including sloths. You can also take advantage of specialist equipment and local knowledge, elevating your experience.
It’s important to note that guided tours of the Bograin Trial are not always run by the establishment. Many local guides pay the entrance fee for their customers and carry out their own guided tours on the trail. This means the quality of the tour can vary greatly depending on which company you book through and which guide you get.
We’d highly recommend researching, reading reviews, and checking the company website of the company carrying out your tour for signs that they prioritise animal welfare and care about environmental conservation.
This is the tour run by the Bogarin Trail themselves:
Tours can also be booked on the Bogarin Trail official website.
Do you need a guide for the Bogarin Trail?
You don’t need a guide for the Bogarin Trail but taking a guided tour can enhance your experience.
It’s possible to do a self-guided walk and many people do see sloths on their own on the Bogarin Trial. However, people who take guided tours do usually see more sloths and other animals during their visit.
Sloths are typically found high up in trees and can be located well away from the path. Having binoculars or a scope can be really useful for spotting them. Most guides provide a scope for you to look through and take photos through, which is especially handy if you don’t have your own binoculars or long camera lens.
Sloths also have excellent camouflage and blend in seamlessly with the canopy. Guides are experts at spotting sloths so you have a much higher chance of seeing them on a tour.
We definitely struggled to see sloths until we took a couple of guided tours in Costa Rica. This showed us exactly what to look out for and then we were able to spot sloths on our own in other locations.
We’d recommend taking a guided tour if this is your first time spotting sloths or if it’s your only chance at seeing sloths. If you’ve previously been on a guided wildlife tour and seen sloths in other areas, the self-guided option will be fine.
Bogarin Trail vs Sloth’s Territory vs Sloth Watching Trail
There are three most popular sloth watching trails in La Fortuna:
So how do they compare?
All three are similar in that they are protected reserves offering you the opportunity to see sloths and other wildlife. The trails in all three sites are relatively short, flat, and easy to navigate.
The Bogarin Trail and Sloth Watching Trail are located pretty much next door to each other on the western outskirts of La Fortuna. Sloth’s Territory is located much further east, so you’d need a car or tour to visit there.
Each site offers guided tours but the Bogarin Trail is the only site with a self-guided option. Independent tour guides also use all three sites to run their own guided tours in so be sure to check if you’re booking directly with the Trail owners or a different company before purchasing a tour.
All the tours are similarly priced at around $40 USD per person and last between 1.5 and 2 hours.
Bogarin Trail Self-guided Walk
Doing a self-guided tour of the Bogarin Trail is the cheapest way to visit. You can explore at your own pace and have a chance of seeing sloths from the trails. While you might miss some camouflaged sloths, there are a couple of ways to maximise your chances of a sighting.
Walk slowly and listen for rustling in the canopy. Often, sloths are heard first as you hear them in the leaves of a tree before seeing them.
Having your own pair of binoculars or zoom lens for your camera can help you spot sloths in the treetops too.
It’s also likely you’ll walk past a guided tour that has found a sloth. You can stop to admire it before going on your way.
Check with reception before you set off and find out where sloths have most recently been spotted on the trails. It’s also worth asking other guides and visitors that you pass if they’ve spotted any sloths and where.
Bogarin Trail Accessibility
The paths are flat dirt tracks and easily accessible. They are suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and strollers. Bogarin Trail also offers a guided experience tailored for blind and visually impaired visitors.
Wildlife on the Bogarin Trail
The Bogarin Trail offers visitors the opportunity to see a range of animals in their natural habitat.
Sloths are the most commonly seen animal spotted on the Bogarin Trail and the reason most people come here. Both two-toed and three-toed sloths are found in the area, often high up in the trees, blending into the surroundings. On average, visitors typically spot between three and five sloths over the course of a 2-hour tour. As the sloths here are wild, sightings of them vary. We had limited time on the trail and only did a short loop in the centre of the park. We saw one sloth in about 30 minutes.
Birdwatching is also popular on the Bogarin Trail, where you can see species like toucans, hummingbirds, and jacamars are spotted along the trail
Reptiles like red-eyed tree frogs and strawberry poison dart frogs can also be found in the area, although they are more commonly spotted on night tours. Iguanas and basilisk can often be seen darting across streams or the rainforest floor too.
Mammals including agoutis, coatis, and tamaduas are also infrequently spotted.
Bogarin Trail Hours
The Bogarin Trail is open from 7:00 AM-5:00 PM every day of the week.
It’s possible to take a self-guided walk between 7:00 AM-4:00 PM.
Guided day tours run on the hour with a break for lunch at:
Guided night walks take place daily at 5:00 PM.
Bogarin Trail Entrance Fee
The price of a self-guided tour for one person is $20 USD.
Guided tours cost $45 USD for adults (12+ years) and $30 USD for children (3 to 12 years).
You can pay at Bogarin Trail with a card or cash.
Do you need a reservation for Bogarin Trail Tickets?
You do not need a reservation for the Bogarin Trail if you plan to do the self-guided walk. You can pay for entrance to the Bogarin Trail in person at the reception.
However, it’s a good idea to book a guided Bograin Trail Tour online in advance, especially during busy periods like the dry season between December and April, to ensure your place.
When to visit Bogarin Trail
There’s no bad time to visit the Bogarin Trail but there are a couple of factors that might influence when you go.
What is the best time of day to do the Bogarin Trail?
You have a chance of seeing sloths at the Boagrin Trail at any time of day. However, we’d recommend arriving first thing in the morning. This is when the park is quietest and most animals are active, so you have a higher chance of spotting wildlife.
How to get to Bogarin Trail
The Bogarin Trail is easily accessible from La Fortuna and the surrounding Arenal area. The easiest way to get there is to walk or rent a car in Costa Rica and drive yourself.
The trail is about 1.2 miles (2 km) from La Fortuna town centre, about 5-10 minutes’ drive. From the centre of La Fortuna, head towards the Arenal Volcano area, following the signs to Bogarin Trail or Arenal Volcano National Park. The entrance is located on a gravel road that branches off the main road to the park.
Taxis and Uber are widely available in La Fortuna. You can ask your hotel or a local taxi driver to take you to the Bogarin Trail or pick up a taxi in the main square. Be sure to confirm the price before you get in.
If you prefer a more structured experience, you can book a guided tour of the Bogarin Trail that includes transportation. This would be with a different company than the one that owns the trail, as they do not provide transport. Many independent tour guides include transport from La Fortuna to the entrance, as well as your guided tour of the property.
Bogain Trail Parking
The Bogarin Trail has a dedicated, on-site car park that is free to use. The parking area typically has enough space for several vehicles since the trail is not as large or crowded as some other attractions in Costa Rica.
Bogain Trail Facilites
There is a small reception at the entrance area where you can pay, pick up a map, and get information about the trail and its wildlife. There are typically basic restroom facilities, free lockers for luggage, a small coffee shop, and a small souvenir shop at the entrance too.
It’s a good idea to bring your own water and snacks, especially if you plan on doing a longer walk or if you’re visiting in hot weather.
Is the Bogarin Trail worth it?
Whether the Bograin Trail is worth it really depends on a number of factors, including your interests, budget, time, and other travel plans.
Is the Bogarin Trail the best place to see sloths in Costa Rica? We’d argue no. Other nature reserves and national parks like Manuel Antonio National Park, Corcovado, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, which are located in less developed areas, offer a more remote experience with a wealth of wildlife, including sloths.
However, if you’re only visiting La Fortuna or have limited time, the Bogarin Trial is a great way to maximise your chances of seeing a sloth in the wild on your visit.
For us, the Bogarin Trail was absolutely worth a visit. Even though we had limited time and only saw one sloth, it ticked our goal of seeing a wild sloth in La Fortuna, and we had a nice morning walking the empty trails through the forest.
Bogarin Trail Pros and Cons
To help you decide whether the Bograin Trail is right for you, we’ve compiled these pros and cons of their sloth trail:
Pros
Cons
There has been speculation about the illegal importation of sloths into Sloth Parks in La Fortuna. Many suspect that some parks buy sloths to keep in their reserves to show to tourists. While this may unfortunately be true in other parks, we couldn’t find any proof of these rumours regarding the Bogarin Trail. While it’s important not to support unethical practices, rumours can also be harmful to small businesses.
The company itself does state on their website that:
“No animal has been introduced into the park and handling is not allowed. No animal is enclosed, all wildlife can roam freely and undisturbed”.
It might be that some people don’t understand the Bograin Trail is a secondary forest that has been preserved from rapid urban development. Some of the doubts we saw online showed scepticism that sloths would naturally travel through the city to the park. But the sloths were here first, and the park was established years ago to protect this slither of sloth habitat. Sloths are found in the wild in other natural areas around the city too, so it’s not implausible that they organically exist here. Another theory to support sloths sticking around the area is that human activity around the trail keeps predators away, so the sloths have less reason to leave.
Other worries we’ve seen mention scepticism about how many sloths were spotted – that the density of sloths seems unnatural. On the other hand, we’ve also seen complaints from people who saw no sloths. Sloths are wild animals, and therefore, sightings (in ethical situations) are unpredictable and never guaranteed. The Bogarin Trail claims to have counted up to 30 sloths within their boundaries, so seeing a handful in a couple of hours does seem reasonable if you’re lucky. If you take a tour with a local guide who knows the most common places to see sloths, where they usually hang out, and where they’ve been seen recently, it is more likely you’ll see more sloths. On our visit, which wasn’t very long, we did only see one sloth, so they didn’t seem unreasonably close together.
Where to stay to visit the Bogarin Trail
La Fortuna is the closest town to the Bograin Trail, with a wide range of accommodations, from budget hostels to boutique hotels. There are also several campsites if you’re camping in Costa Rica.
La Fortuna Hotels
What to wear to the Bogarin Trail
There are some obvious things you’ll want to pack for the Bogarin Trail, but we’ve compiled a list in case you were going to forget anything that might also be useful to take:
Do you need hiking shoes for Bogarin Trail?
The Bogarin Trail’s paths are flat and made primarily from compacted dirt. You do not need hiking shoes, however comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The path can become wet and a bit muddy in the rainy season, so bear this in mind when choosing your footwear.
Bogarin Trail Tips
To ensure you have a smooth visit, here are some tips and things to know before visiting the Bogarin Trail:
Read next:
A Traveller’s Guide to La Fortuna
20 Best Things to Do in La Fortuna
20 Best Places to See Sloths in La Fortuna
A Complete Guide to Arenal Volcano National Park
The Best Hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal
How to Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
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