Ecocentro Danaus

La Fortuna


This center, 4km east of town, has a well-developed trail system that’s excellent for birding, as well as for spotting mammals such as coatis and agoutis (racoons and rodents of unusual size). The admission fee includes a visit to a butterfly garden, a ranarium featuring poison-dart frogs, and a small lake containing caiman and turtles. Reserve in advance for any guided tour (recommended), the morning birding tour, or the excellent night tour. Bilingual guides are knowledgeable and good spotters.

You can walk part of the way from town to here, but eventually the sidewalk ends. It's much safer to take a taxi (US$6) or your own car. A Maleku indigenous workshop onsite introduces you to their culture and crafts.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby La Fortuna attractions

1. Catholic Church

1.64 MILES

This prominent landmark oversees the central plaza of La Fortuna. The landscaped green is often dotted with outdoor art exhibits and souvenir stands, and…

2. Catarata Río Fortuna

4.83 MILES

You can glimpse the sparkling 70m ribbon of clear water that pours through a sheer canyon of dark volcanic rock arrayed in bromeliads and ferns with…

3. Arenal Natura

4.93 MILES

Located 6km west of La Fortuna, this is a well-manicured nature experience that includes frogs, turtles, snakes and crocs, all in their appointed places…

4. Mirador El Silencio

7.52 MILES

Set on 22 hectares, this private reserve about 11km west of La Fortuna is a mix of primary and secondary forest, filled with life, from vibrant blue…

5. Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal

7.83 MILES

From 1968 until 2010, Volcán Arenal was an ever-active and awe-striking natural wonder, producing menacing ash columns, massive explosions and streams of…

6. Proyecto Asis

8.43 MILES

It’s an animal rescue center. It’s a volunteer project. It’s Spanish classes. This community-based organization is doing a lot of good, and you can…

7. Arenal EcoZoo

9.75 MILES

This snake house offers a hands-on animal experience, as in, handling and milking a venomous snake. It's home to a red-tailed boa (one of the largest…