Tours > Jungla, Naturaleza y La Vida Salvaje

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a mother monkey and baby being cared for at the Jaguar Rescue Center

Animal Rescue Center, Chocolate Lady and Waterfall

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What could be better than a day seeing monkeys and sloths and more close-up, learning how cacao becomes chocolate and hiking to a pristine waterfall? Three of our favorite local activities combined to make a truly memorable day on your vacation.

Why wait? Let’s book your tour of the Jaguar Rescue Center, Chocolate Lady & Waterfall. This tour combines the best of nature and culture into a truly memorable day and supports the animal rescue center with their efforts and indigenous communities with a sustainable income.

Trip Schedule

First, you will learn how the center serves as refuge and rehabilitation for animals (monkeys, sloths, snakes, wild cats and more). Then a visit to an indigenous Bribri family's farm and workshop where you'll learn how cacao fruit is transformed into chocolate. We end our day by walking to a beautiful waterfall. Swimming is optional but encouraged!

Tour cost includes transportation to and from your hotel in Puerto Viejo and all entrance/tour fees.

Jaguar Rescue Center

The Jaguar Animal Rescue Center offers shelter, treatment, rehabilitation and protection to ill or wounded wild animals in the South Caribbean area.

Encar, a biologist with many years of experience caring for wild mammals in captivity, runs the Center. She and her partner Sandro, an expert in poisonous snakes, started the Center with the aim of saving the lives of as many injured or sick wild animals as they could. Tragically, Sandro passed away in February 2016 and Encar is now running the center with a dedicated staff of volunteers. After sufficient time has passed, and if the animals are able, they are reintroduced into their natural habitat in the jungles of the South Caribbean.

The Center has become a sanctuary for wild animals. They try to accommodate their jungle guests as well as they can! Terrariums have been built for the snakes and small animals. Large spaces for the monkeys keeps them comfortable and they spend plenty of time in the trees. There are also special quarantine cages for the animals arriving seriously injured and an operating theatre for emergency surgery if necessary. Your visit helps support the work of the center.

Chocolate Lady

After the rescue center we'll visit a Bribri family growing cacao trees on their land. They are eager to show you the entire process of cacao fruit becoming a bar of chocolate. You will have the opportunity to purchase some of their chocolate or other indigenous handmade crafts. Please note that only part of the family speaks very limited English! If you don’t speak Spanish, your explanation of the process may be in the form of pantomime!

Waterfall

After learning a bit about cacao, your tour guide will bring you to a waterfall with beautiful swimming holes. It’s about a ten-minute walk down stairs and through the jungle. There you'll discover several waterfalls in the mountains of Talamanca. You can swim if you'd like! Be advised: your feet may get wet while you’re exploring the waterfall. Wear appropriate shoes or bring an extra pair for changing into afterwards.

Detalles

 Ubicación: Playa Chiquita with pickup available from area hotels in Puerto Viejo and elsewhere

 $75+tax USD per person for groups of three or more, $80+tax USD per person for groups of two, children under ten half price with 2 or more paying adults

 Incluye:
Round-trip transportation
driver/bilingual tour guide
entrance fees to Jaguar Animal Rescue Center, the Chocolate Lady and the waterfall
Fruit snack, cold coconut (pipa) to drink

 No incluye:
An additional charge applies for hotels distant from Puerto Viejo: $20 per booking from Cahuita or Manzanillo (after Arrecife Beach Entrance)

 Días de operacion: Daily

 Recogida: At local hotels in the South Caribbean zone between Cahuita and Manzanillo

 Duration: Half day

 ¿Que traer?
Swimsuit
Sunscreen and insect repellent
water bottle
some cash for souvenirs and tips