The rural tourism activities described on this page are in the process of development with JAZON, a non-profit rural tourism agency in Northern Costa Rica. If you have interest in any of these activities, please contact JAZON at info@costaricaruraltours.com.

Santa Fe Wetlands Boat Tour

The Santa Fe Wetlands capture the natural beauty that Costa Rica is known for. On a Wetlands Boat Tour in Santa Fe, you will be able to see crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, sloths, and a great variety of birds that will dazzle bird enthusiasts. The gorgeous wetlands landscape provides an ideal backdrop for all of the wildlife that you will encounter.

The tour starts with a Rio Frio boat ride from San Rafael de Guatuso to the Santa Fe Wetlands. In this 40-minute river adventure, you will surely see a variety of reptiles, such as crocodiles, caymans, iguanas, and turtles, as well as enough birds to satisfy even the most zealous bird lovers. Upon arriving in Santa Fe de Guatuso, you can spend the night in the heart of the Santa Fe Wetlands along the Rio Frio at the Llanos del Rio Inn. Llanos del Rio, meaning 'Plains of the River,' is a fitting name, as the Santa Fe Wetlands that surround the country inn seem like a mere continuation around the periphery of the Rio Frio.

After a hearty Costa Rican breakfast you can start the Wetlands Boat Tour with a local English-speaking guide who is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Then, after a morning of exciting wildlife observation, you can go back to the Llanos del Rio Inn for delicious local cuisine. The Llanos del Rio Bed and Breakfast is a cozy country house with an amazing locations tucked between the Santa Fe Wetlands and the Rio Frio. Owners Joaquin and Angela are gracious hosts who enjoy sharing moments with people from all over the world. Most memorable part of any visit, however, is Angela's cooking. (ask for the fish soup) Also, during your stay you can take a guided horesback tour that goes through scenic countryside in rural Costa Rica. You can choose from a number of different trails that take you through wetlands and gorgeous farms with rolling hills and free-range cattle. At the end of the horesback tour you can go back to the Llanos del Rio Inn or arrange to arrive in the center of Santa Fe, where you will get a warm welcome by the Santa Fe Women's Group. In Santa Fe you can choose from a number of different houses to stay in to get a feel for the local way of life. Then, waking up the next day, you can participate in all of the activities you have planned in Santa Fe. (Click here to see all of the rural tourism activities) Once in the center of Santa Fe, you will have an opportunity to ride by horseback through other trails on the other side of the Santa Fe region. An afternoon horseback ride is always a refreshing way to see the gorgeous countryside of Santa Fe. Although horseback is the preferred transportation for tourists and locals alike, trips by car or by bus can also be arranged to see other parts of the canton of Guatuso, like Rio Celeste, an amazing river that accurately depicts its namesake of "Light Blue River" and that sports one of Costa Rica's most beautiful waterfalls. In your trip to Rio Celeste, you can see the point at which the minerals from the Tenorio Volcano turn the river from clear to light blue. To get a better idea of Rio Celeste, as well as other attractions in the area, take a look at our Costa Rica Picture Gallery, or if you have any questions about how to get to Santa Fe to experience the real Costa Rica, contact the rural tourism agency JAZON at info@costaricaruraltours.com.

What You'll See

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