Hacienda Baru

Wear long sleeves, long pants, and fully closed shoes. Definitely no sandals, even Keens. Fire ants can crawl up them, and I saw lots of people in shorts and T-shirts already itching from bug bites. Bug spray only goes so far. Quick-dry clothes with UV protection help keep bugs off and protect you from the sun, though you'll sweat either way. Watch your step around iguanas, snakes, and especially the busy leaf-cutter ants. I didn't see any sloths on my self-guided walk, and I'm sure I missed plenty, so next time I'll book a guide. I did see monkeys, agoutis, and great curassows, and hearing the sounds of nature was beautiful. The monkeys are easier to find by listening first for them, then looking for rustling branches or falling leaves. They're not very graceful, so they often give themselves away. I had the rainforest trails mostly to myself, and it made for a great half-day nature walk. Afterwards, stop at the cafe for a fruit smoothie, coffee, or breakfast. Such a hidden gem and well worth a visit.

I spent two days here and found wildlife easy to spot along the trails at any time, though mornings are usually best. Elana led an excellent birdwatching tour in the morning, highly recommended.

Great trails, enjoyable hikes, and plenty of animals to see. The staff were super friendly, and my dad absolutely loved the night hike he took with a guide named Ryan.

This park was definitely our favorite. We went without a guide, and staying quiet helped us see lots of animals.