Ecocentro Danaus — Attraction in La Fortuna

Wow. What can I say?? Ecocentro Danaus is an incredible private preserve, more than 50 years in the making — a true labor of love for conservation and education. It’s not just a walk through nature, it’s a living classroom where every step reveals something extraordinary.

We had the privilege of exploring with Elias Peña, an exceptional guide whose deep knowledge of birding, wildlife, and native plants is matched only by his kindness and enthusiasm. What sets Elias apart is his remarkable gift for photography — his awareness of light, movement, and composition is phenomenal, and he shares tips generously with photographers of all levels. His ability to anticipate behavior in the birds and wildlife made the experience even more special.

The variety of birds, plants, and flowers here is breathtaking. In just one visit, we observed: • Black-cheeked Woodpecker launching from a branch in full flight • Broad-billed Motmot, perched regally with its signature racket tail • Spectacled Owl, wide-eyed and unforgettable • Collared Aracari, colorful and mischievous with its oversized bill • Green Basilisk Lizard, the famous “Jesus Christ Lizard” known for running on water • Boat-billed Heron, poised dramatically over mirrored waters • Torch Ginger, glowing like jungle fire in bloom • Green Honeycreeper (female), caught mid-flight with a flash of yellow wings

And that’s just the beginning — everywhere you look, there is life and beauty waiting to be discovered.

This was a five-star experience from start to finish (and Elias is worth 11 stars). If you are in La Fortuna, I cannot recommend Ecocentro Danaus highly enough. Whether you are a birder, photographer, nature lover, or simply curious, you’ll leave inspired and deeply grateful for places like this that protect and celebrate Costa Rica’s natural wonders. Ask for Elias…...

The night tour we did here was one of the best experiences we had in La Fortuna and you really should not miss this! This ecocenter protects a small patch of forest and all animals come and go freely so you never know what you might find. Our tour started at 17:30 which is when the sun sets and the forest comes to life. Our guide Paz explained the basics (stay on the path, don’t lose the group, etc.) to our group of 8 people and off we went. The walk is only about 900 metres but because you take it very slow and you have to search for animals with the flashlight that is provided it takes about 1.5/2 hours. Our guide knew everything about the animals and told us all the facts when we spotted them. We saw a sloth, multiple frogs, lizards, spiders, cayman and baby’s, toucans, other birds and small snakes. It was amazing. Make sure you wear closed shoes and long pants (short sleeves is fine) and apply ample bugspray in the parking lot. Although the price is high (but comparable to other night tours) it is absolutely worth it. If you do the night tour it is also free to visit their park the next day in daylight. You must do this if...

I loved my experience here! I arrived around 2 pm after it had been raining. The staff was considerate of that and told me to wait a few minutes before purchasing a ticket to make sure the rain didn’t interfere. They emailed me a ticket for the following day so I could come back just in case weather didn’t cooperate. I spent close to two hours exploring the grounds and they let me come back the next day anyways! I was so surprised and grateful. The next day I arrived first thing in the morning and the experience was even better than the overcast afternoon experience. They suggested being slow and patient which I did and it paid off! I saw a wide range of animals and of course the plants were very beautiful. The butterfly area was a nice touch also with hundreds of butterflies. I enjoyed being able to explore at my own pace but there were also guides available. The grounds were upkept well and staff was working on them both visits. The staff was very friendly which made the experience even better....