Animal Rescue Centre, Chocolate Lady and Waterfall Tour

You will learn how the centre serves as refuge and rehabilitation for animals (monkeys, sloths, snakes, wild cats and more) as well as have the opportunity to hold and play with the monkeys living there. A visit to an indigenous family to learn about the production of cacao follows the animal centre. We end our day by hiking to a beautiful waterfall where you can swim if you’d like. Tour cost includes transportation to and from your hotel in Puerto Viejo as well as entrance and tour fee at the Jaguar Animal Rescue Center.

The Center has become a sanctuary for wild animals and they try to accommodate their jungle guests as well as they can; terrariums for the snakes, large spaces for the monkeys to rest in after spending the afternoon swinging through the trees outside, special quarantine cages for the animals arriving seriously injured and an operating theatre for emergency surgery if necessary.

Next, we visit an indigenous 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 so if you don’t speak Spanish, your explanation of the process may be in the form of pantomime!

After learning a bit about cacao, your tour guide will bring you to a waterfall with beautiful swimming holes. It’s about a ten-minutes hike down some stairs and through the jungle to several waterfalls in the mountains of Talamanca. You can swim if you’d like. Your feet may get wet while you’re exploring the waterfall so we advise you to wear appropriate shoes or bring an extra pair for changing into after the hike.