Ecocentro Danaus

Highly recommend the night tour! Melvin was absolutely amazing—patient, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the wildlife. Even in the off-season, we spotted so many creatures: amphibians, sloths, a kinkajou, sleeping butterflies (so much easier to see at night!), and even some incredible spiders. I also visited the facility during the day which was great too, though I was a bit distracted by hunger and rushed through it. If you get the chance, don’t miss the night tour—it’s such a unique experience!

This tour was amazing. Melvin was an excellent guide. He was able to spot wildlife and plants of interest quickly. His knowledge of all we saw was encyclopedic. The facility as a preserve is well laid out. This is a "must-see" if you are in the area. Thank you.

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. Ask for Elias… he’s amazing.

The night tour we did here was one of the best experiences we had in La Fortuna and you really should not miss this! This ecocenter protects a small patch of forest and all animals come and go freely so you never know what you might find. Our tour started at 17:30 which is when the sun sets and the forest comes to life. Our guide Paz explained the basics (stay on the path, don’t lose the group, etc.) to our group of 8 people and off we went. The walk is only about 900 metres but because you take it very slow and you have to search for animals with the flashlight that is provided it takes about 1.5/2 hours. Our guide knew everything about the animals and told us all the facts when we spotted them. We saw a sloth, multiple frogs, lizards, spiders, cayman and baby’s, toucans, other birds and small snakes. It was amazing. Make sure you wear closed shoes and long pants (short sleeves is fine) and apply ample bugspray in the parking lot. Although the price is high (but comparable to other night tours) it is absolutely worth it. If you do the night tour it is also free to visit their park the next day in daylight. You must do this if you visit here!

We had an amazing guided tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and provided excellent insight into the insects, birds, sloths, butterflies, and everything else we came across. He provided a great education about nature and wildlife that I did not know prior to the tour. The guide was passionate about his job and the work they are doing here. Thank you for having us. This is a must-do attraction while in the La Fortuna area.

We went on the night walk and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We were pleased to see snakes, frogs, birds, caymen (only the eyes as it was dark) and even a sloth. It did start to rain halfway through the tour which I think reduced the amount of animals we saw. We also returned to do the self guided walk that is included when you book the night tour and I would recommend also doing this as it is different in the daytime and the butterflies were very active. I would do this again.

Great experience with the guide. Thanks Melvin!!! This park is natural, animals are not locked there, not a zoo. Really nice walk and opportunity to take great pictures. Strongly recommended with the guide, they can help to find animals that are trying to hide themselves.

We saw frogs, bugs, a sloth, armadillo, lizards, butterflies and more. Our guide Johander was a superb. He was a science gist through and through. Did you know, agave is only pollinated by bats at night!? Just a taste of the many fun facts we learned. I did this tour with my husband and 18 year old daughter alongside a family with young girls. This really is for all ages and abilities. Must do.