Ara Manzanillo — Attraction in Cahuita

This is like stepping back in time while walking up a steep hill. The minute you arrive in the afternoon, you hear them, the great green Macaw letting you know it's dinner time. After a really good introduction into the ARA project to bring back this beautiful bird, you start climbing into their world. When you reach the top and look into this magical valley these beautiful birds start flying up to the feeding platform. They soar like they don't have a care in the world. This is their world and you are lucky enough to see it. The best part of the visit is this is our third trip over the years. Seeing all the macaw pairs and how they are cuddling up to each other is pure beauty. Plus so many of the birds have become wild and now don't have to come back for food. They also have mating boxes for the pairs to breed in. If you want to see Jurassic park with these beautiful birds it's a true wonder. Every penny goes back into helping these birds. Big shout out to all the...

YOU MUST GO HERE! The surroundings are stunning and lush. You are greeted by a tour guide who gives you a roughly 15 minute overview of their NGO. You then walk up a path to a treehouse-esque platform, where you spend the next hour and a half absolutely mystified by the endangered giant parrots around you. They took my breath away. They soar around and above you - so close that you can hear their massive, rainbow-colored wings flapping. They sit on nearby trees only feet away from you, where you are at their eye level, breaking open their nuts, cawing, moving around branches, interacting with their feathered brethren, and flying throughout the valley. It is so beautiful. I have never seen anything like it and I won't forget this experience. Please consider donating to them, so they can continue to rehabilitate sick and injured babies and adults, breed them to help assuage their dwindling global numbers (1000 total), and provide their...

This is a must see! It's a project about preserving the population of Great Macaws, which are endangered in the wild primarily because of the lack of nesting places due to deforestation. The crew puts bird houses for them and provides some food, but not enough to become dependent on humans. The birds are completely free, they can leave at any time, and in fact many did. They were found at Cahuita National Park and even in Panama (more than 12 miles away). The entrance fee is $20 and you have to reserve at least one day in advance. Once you arrive, you will be given a short lecture on the status, then the opportunity to see these stunningly beautiful birds at the time of their feeding. Bring your best telephoto lens, you...