Heliconia Island

Sarapiquí Valley


Down a rugged road and across the hanging bridge is home to more than 80 varieties of heliconias, tropical flowers, plants and trees. The two-hectare island overlooking the Río Puerto Viejo is also a refuge for 228 bird species, including the sought-after dusky-faced tanager. Since the original owners sold, the gardens are not as spectacular, though still great for birding.

Located about 5km north of Horquetas, across the road from the pueblo of Las Chaves (ask the bus driver to let you off there).

Guests can BBQ on a terrace overlooking the river and stay in immaculate raised cabins (d/q/apt from US$85/110/126) with stone floors and breezy balconies (one with bunk beds for families of four to six).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sarapiquí Valley attractions

1. Frog’s Heaven

4.21 MILES

The frogs hop free in this lovely tropical garden, a perfect habitat for more than 28 species. On bilingual guided tours you’re likely to see old…

2. Dave & Dave's Nature Park

10.76 MILES

Father and son Dave and Dave greet all comers to this 4.5-hectare reserve on the Río Sarapiquí, 200m north of the cemetery. You don't have to be a birder…

3. Snake Garden

10.77 MILES

Come face to face with 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, including poison-dart frogs, rattlesnakes, crocs and turtles. The star attraction is a…

4. Copetillo Birdwatching/Donde Cope

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Guapileño artist-photographer Cope (co-pay) has converted this former tilapia farm into a paradise of hummingbirds, tanagers and other birds, with a…

5. Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo

15.99 MILES

Enter this underexplored national park and you will have an idea of what Costa Rica looked like prior to the 1950s, when 75% of the country’s surface area…

6. La Paz Waterfall Gardens

18.32 MILES

This polished storybook garden complex just east of Volcán Poás offers the most easily digestible cultural experience in the Central Valley and is the…

7. Catarata del Toro & the Blue Falls

22.58 MILES

Find a beautiful 90m-tall waterfall that cascades into a volcanic crater (free for overnight guests) and two trail options through virgin forest (one 4…

8. Parque Nacional Volcán Poás

22.96 MILES

Here's your chance to get frighteningly close to this extremely active volcano, which last erupted in 2017. At an elevation of 2708m, the mighty Poás is…