Often nicknamed the everglades of Costa Rica, the Cano Negro Natural Wildlife Refuge is one of the best spots for seeing wildlife in the entire country. Situated on a stretch of wetlands along the Nicaraguan border, the 9,969-hectare (24620 acre, or 38 square miles) Cano Negro reserve follows the Rio Frio for a couple of miles eventually emptying out into a grassy marshland. The reserve boasts one of the highest diversities of wildlife in the Americas and is of special interest to birders.
The full day tour leaves La Fortuna at 8:00am (earlier from Arenal hotels) and includes lunch. Transport will pick you up at your hotel to begin the hour-long drive to the city of Los Chiles at the entrance of the reserve. There is a lot to see on the drive up to the reserve as you pass through one of the most productive agricultural areas of Costa Rica. On the fields surrounding La Fortuna grow immense plantations of Pineapple, Papaya, Beans, Rica and Sugar Cane.
Some tours stop at the town of El Muelle, which is a major intersection in Northern Costa Rica. Here a local businessman has created a breeding ground for green iguanas that is impressive in scale. Some of the adult animals measure at almost four feet long!! The iguanas bask in the top of the trees along the river here and a convenient bridge allows for a great view of the startling number of these huge creatures. Although the green iguana is not officially endangered it does suffer from habitat destruction, and in this area some people still hunt the green iguana for food to this day.
Upon arrival in Los Chiles, the group departs the bus for a boat to travel up and down the Rio Frio. This river travels the length of the refuge and is full of fish; including large fish called snook, silver-gold tarpon and garfish. The fish in the river attract a huge number of birds including anhinga, roseate spoonbills, storks, ducks, kingfishers, herons and cormorants. You can also see many species of mammals along the banks including white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, two and three toed sloth, pumas, jaguars and bats. There are even reptiles to see; caimans, lizards and turtles are all around. Place is just great for birding.
The lake Cano Negro is seasonal, therefore can not always be traveled and much of the tour takes place on the River Frio. Late in the wet season (October-November) the lake can be traversed by smaller boats, but will become mostly dry by the end of the dry season (March-April). So while you can't travel on the lake in the dry season months, the lack of water brings many animals to the banks of the Rio Frio and may actually offer a better look than the wet season.
The river trip lasts around four hours, including an hour lunch break. The boat will frequently stop for photo opportunities so bring lots of film (or memory space). The river can be buggy so repellent can prove useful, and sunscreen is always a good idea. The boats are all covered with a roof so you probably will not get wet if it rains.
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