Guided by passionate biologists, discover a hidden ecosystem in the middle of the city. See native sloths, birds, butterflies, and variety of plants and insects living wild and free. Join a small group tour on the grounds of the University of Costa Rica.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 2.5 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English, Spanish
Private or small groups available

Highlights

Discover an amazing variety of birds, incredible insects, and amazing flowers
See the fascinating indigenous sphere stone, the largest in San Jose
Look for a wild sloth population in the middle of the university campus

Full description

Departing from the nearby meeting point, visit the University of Costa Rica campus, home to some of the largest patches of forest in San Jose. Guided by young biologists, discover the nature hiding in the middle of Costa Rica's largest city. Experience wildlife you wouldn't have imagined existed minutes away from downtown. On the first stop, you’ll look for resident and migratory birds, lots of incredible insects and amazing flowers. Then, see the largest indigenous stone sphere in San Jose, thought to derive from the extinct Diquis culture. Lastly, visit the main campus to seek out the friendly sloths climbing freely. The goal of this tour is to change the way tourism is done in Costa Rica, while supporting young scientists, researchers, and local entrepreneurs.

Includes

Guided nature walk by a biologist
Telescope for bird and sloth watching

Snacks or water

Not suitable for

People with mobility impairments
Wheelchair users

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

Please meet in front of the Ondina Café & Restaurant. Your guide will be wearing a T-shirt with "Oropopo Experience written on it and will be holding a telescope. The cafe is closed on weekends. Please don’t panic as your guide will always be waiting for you.

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Important information

What to bring

Sunscreen
Water
Insect repellent
Closed-toe shoes

Not allowed

Open-toed shoes

Know before you go

During the rainy season (May to November), please bring bug spray and be prepared to experience the rainforest. During this time we recommend booking the morning slot; however, the afternoons are also great.

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 81 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.8/5

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HIGHLY recommend! Yendry was our very knowledgeable, laid back, and personable guide and we wished we could take her with us on the rest of our Costa Rican adventures! She offered as many fun facts and information as questions we had. The walk was full of wildlife and a perfect length for our little kids.

June 26, 2022

This was a lovely experience for our free day in San Jose. Rigo was such an amazing guide, he went above and beyond to help us see sloths (even though it was very wet, he didn’t give up)!! He had so much knowledge and we saw lots of birds, squirrels, insects and finally sloths. Would recommend!

June 20, 2022

On a scale of 1-5, this was a 6! Our group saw multiple sloths, including one sloth who climbed down a tree about 6 feet away from us!! We also saw a frog, ants, and (of course) pretty birds. The university is lovely. The guide was knowledgeable and bilingual. If you’re visiting in the city of SJO this is a perfect tour for you.

May 30, 2022

San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

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