Puerto Viejo Sloth Tour
Walk the Historic Wolaba Trail and See Wild Sloths
See wild sloths where they belong
Explore the forests of Costa Rica’s South Caribbean on a relaxed two-hour wildlife walk along the historic Wolaba Trail, connecting Puerto Viejo and Cocles Beach.
Led by a local certified naturalist guide trained by The Sloth Conservation Foundation, you’ll search for wild two-fingered and three-fingered sloths while discovering their remarkable biology, the latest science, and the conservation work helping them thrive in an increasingly urban landscape.
Operated by Life Culture & Travel in partnership with The Sloth Conservation Foundation.
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica
Difficulty| Easy
Guide | Local certified naturalist guide trained by The Sloth Conservation Foundation
Languages | English/Spanish
Price | $65 p.p.
Meeting Point | Salsa Brava
Wildlife | Two-fingered and three-fingered sloths, howler monkeys, iguanas, squirrels, birds, and other wildlife may be encountered.
Included
Guided wildlife walk
Telescope for wildlife viewing
What to bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Water
Rain protection
Insect repellent
Binoculars or camera, if you have them
See Wild Sloths in Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo and Costa Rica’s South Caribbean are home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, including both species of sloth found in the country: Hoffmann’s two-fingered sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) and brown-throated three-fingered sloths (Bradypus variegatus).
Your guide will help you search the canopy for wild sloths living naturally in the forest, using a telescope to give you a closer look without disturbing them.
And sloths aren’t the only ones who call these forests home. Along the way, you may also encounter howler monkeys, iguanas, squirrels, tropical birds, and many of the other species that share this unique coastal habitat.
Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed. And we think that’s part of what makes seeing wildlife in the wild so special.
Walk the Historic Wolaba Trail
Your tour follows the Wolaba Trail, an easy coastal path through the forest between Puerto Viejo and Cocles Beach.
But this walk is about more than spotting wildlife.
As you explore the trail, you’ll also discover the natural and cultural history of Costa Rica’s South Caribbean, including the Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous Bribri heritage that has shaped this region.
You’ll learn about the native plants and trees that sloths depend on, how wildlife moves through an increasingly developed landscape, and why protecting the connections between remaining patches of forest is so important.
More Than a Sloth Tour
Some of the sloths living around Puerto Viejo are also helping us answer important scientific questions.
Since 2020, The Sloth Conservation Foundation has been studying wild sloths across the South Caribbean through our Urban Sloth Project, using tracking technology and long-term field observations to understand how sloths respond to roads, power lines, dogs, forest fragmentation, and urban development.
So keep your eyes open. You may even spot one of our research sloths wearing a tracking collar!
Your guide has been trained by Team Sloth to share the science behind our work, giving you a rare opportunity to learn about the wild sloths around you through research taking place right here in Puerto Viejo.
Your Tour Helps Protect Wild Sloths
By joining the Puerto Viejo Sloth Tour, you’re also supporting our work to protect the wildlife and forests you’ve come to see.
The Sloth Conservation Foundation works throughout the South Caribbean to study wild sloths, reconnect fragmented forests with wildlife canopy bridges, restore habitat, plant native trees, and work alongside local communities to create a safer future for sloths.
Choosing responsible local wildlife tourism also supports trained local guides and helps demonstrate that keeping wildlife wild has real value for the communities that share their home with it.
See wild sloths. Learn about them. Help protect them.
Conservation, Culture and Community
The Puerto Viejo Sloth Tour is operated in partnership with Life Culture & Travel, an Indigenous woman-led Costa Rican tour agency specializing in ethnotourism and experiences that connect visitors with the nature, culture, and communities of the South Caribbean.
The tour is led by certified local naturalist guides who have received specialized training from Team Sloth, bringing together local knowledge, professional wildlife guiding, and the science generated through our long-term sloth research.
Together, we’re creating a wildlife experience that supports conservation, celebrates the cultural heritage of the region, and creates opportunities for local communities while giving visitors a deeper understanding of the place sloths call home.
Learn More about Responsible and Ethical Tourism
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Wild two-fingered and three-fingered sloths live throughout the forests of Costa Rica’s South Caribbean. Our Puerto Viejo Sloth Tour follows the Wolaba Trail between Puerto Viejo and Cocles Beach, where your naturalist guide will help you search for sloths and other wildlife living naturally in the forest.
-
Two species live in Costa Rica: the Hoffmann’s two-fingered sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) and the brown-throated three-fingered sloth (Bradypus variegatus). You may encounter either species during the tour.
-
Yes. All sloths observed during the tour are wild. We do not touch, feed, handle, bait, or manipulate wildlife for photographs. Animals are observed respectfully in their natural habitat and from an appropriate distance.
-
No. Sloths are wild animals and should never be handled for tourist experiences or photographs. If you want an unforgettable sloth encounter, we recommend watching one doing what sloths do best: living freely in the forest.
-
The tour is led by a local certified naturalist guide trained by The Sloth Conservation Foundation. Your guide combines knowledge of the local ecosystem with specialized training about sloth biology, research, conservation, and responsible wildlife observation.
-
Possibly! The Sloth Conservation Foundation monitors wild sloths throughout the Puerto Viejo area as part of our long-term Urban Sloth Project. Some wear tracking collars that allow our researchers to study their movements and behavior. Because the animals are completely wild, we cannot predict whether one will be along the trail during your visit.
-
Absolutely! The tour is safe and family-friendly, and it’s a great way for children to discover wildlife, science, and local culture while exploring the forest. Our guides make learning about sloths and conservation engaging for curious minds of all ages.
-
The tour goes ahead in the rain! Rain is part of life in Costa Rica’s tropical rainforest, and we’re very used to it. Bring a rain jacket or poncho, appropriate footwear, and get ready to experience the forest in true Caribbean style.
Life & Culture Travel monitors weather conditions closely. If severe weather makes it unsafe to run the tour, they will usually cancel it in advance. If a tour is cancelled due to weather at least 24 hours before departure, you can reschedule for a suitable date or receive a refund.
For rescheduling, cancellations, or refunds, please contact Life & Culture Travel, the local operator of the tour.
-
Your visit helps support The Sloth Conservation Foundation’s work protecting wild sloths and their habitat in Costa Rica’s South Caribbean. Our work includes scientific research, habitat restoration, wildlife canopy bridges, community conservation, and environmental education.