Travel with Children - Costa Rica - page 95

paddling a kayak through mangrove channels or taking a night hike in search of tropical
frogs.
Children's Highlights
Wildlife-Watching
You can't not spot wildlife in Costa Rica. Coatis cause regular traffic jams around Lake
Arenal and scarlet macaws loudly squawk in tropical-almond trees down the central Pacif-
ic coast. Stay a day or two at a jungle lodge, and the wildlife will come to you.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio Tiny and easily accessible; a walk through this park usu-
ally yields sightings of squirrel monkeys, stripy iguanas and coatis.
Parque Nacional Cahuita Seeing white-faced capuchins is practically assured along the
beach trail; go with a guide and you'll probably also see sloths.
Parque Nacional Tortuguero Boat tours through Tortuguero canals uncover wildlife all
around, but staying in any jungle lodge outside the village will reveal the same.
Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat In the steamy rainforest of the Sarapiquí valley, this
family-friendly lodge has miles of trails for easy wildlife-spotting hikes.
Turtle-Watching On both the Pacific and the Caribbean coast, one of Costa Rica's truly ma-
gical experiences is watching sea turtles lay their eggs under the cover of night.
Animal Sanctuaries
Not getting close enough to wildlife in the wild? Animal encounters are guaranteed at
wildlife sanctuaries or animal refuges. Many of these organizations rescue and rehabilitate
orphaned or injured animals for release or lifetime care.
Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica With their slow-mo locomotion and Mona Lisa smiles, baby
sloths might be the cutest creatures on the planet - and this sanctuary is the best place to
meet some.
Fundacíon Santuario Silvestre de Osa This boat-accessible sanctuary rehabilitates
whatever injured and orphaned animals come their way. Friendly monkeys are allowed to
roam freely and love to be petted.