Cano Negro Wild Life Refuge

King Fisher

Cano Negro Wild Life Refuge is located about 2 hours north from Arenal Volcano area. While accessible by car, most of the visits happen via a booked tour from La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano area. We got picked up from our AirBnB and were transported over to the refuge, which was approximately a 2-hour trip one way. On the way, we stopped at a restaurant for a welcome snack which included coffee and arepas (friend pancakes) with fruit.

Once we got to the refuge, we hopped on a small boat which took us through a small river flowing through Cano Negro called Rio Frio. We saw many birds and animals along the way. The tour guides were great at pointing out wildlife and answering questions. I highly recommend bringing a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens. If you want to see Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, this is a way to do so without having to do any strenuous physical activity, which was perfect when going with elderly parents. There are no official hiking trails within the refuge. Our tour concluded with an authentic buffet lunch meal at the refuge centre.