La Fortuna (Mariolas) Hikes and Trails — Attraction in La Fortuna

Highly recommend a visit to Sendero Las Mariolas! This trail is in a forest that the family has regenerated on the site of their old dairy farm.

We had a brilliant time in spite of going in very heavy rain with a baby and a 4 year old - it felt like such a personal experience rather than a 'repeat repeat' type of tour, and nice to be comfortable with its ethical reputation having heard bad things about some others locally. We loved the combination of wildlife and seeing the beautiful forest with also getting a little food/drink experience included, which was all accessible and a perfect amount to keep our tired 4 year old interested. It is also good value as all of this and the guide is included in your entry to the trail.

The owner went a little ahead spotting wildlife, then our guide would show us and talk us through. Incredible skills finding wildlife to show us even on a rainy afternoon (e.g. a bat asleep in a curled leaf just above us, tiny frogs, sloths, a 'Jesus Christ lizard') and our guide was very knowledgeable sharing interesting info that we hadn't been told on other wildlife tours, and also answering any questions we had.

They then squeezed sugar cane for us to try the juice and let my son have a try at squeezing it, then we all made tortillas with the co-owner who they introduced as the grandmother of the family, which they then served to us with very tasty food to try.

It was clear to see the care and effort that had gone into planning and developing the place, from the layout and well-made trails, to the variety of plants and habitats, even to things like what was grown next to the tortilla making area so that lots of different birds including hummingbirds and others visited while we ate.

As we left they even gave my son a little bee gift, which he was so pleased with he has barely put it down since. All in all everyone we met was very kind and we had a lovely time at this beautiful place.

Also, thank you for lending us...

This was hands down the coolest thing I got to do during my stay in La Fortuna. This is a family owned business that started 4 years ago when Grandpa Claudio decided to turn their family dairy farm into a nature reserve. Since the business started only 4 years ago, all of the trees are new, allowing you a close, personal look at all of the wildlife, flora, and fauna that Costa Rica has to offer. My friend and I were the only 2 on the tour allowing for a very personal experience with our tour guide Andre and Grandpa Claudio who are both experts at spotting the various life and also extremely knowledgeable about everything they spotted. Not a single question went unanswered and it also provided a look into the Tico culture. During the tour Grandpa Claudio encouraged us to pick fruit right off the tree and try it while we continued our walk through the nature preserve. At the end of the tour, abuela taught us how to fry tortillas and had prepared some traditional sweet bread and pork hash to enjoy with the tortillas we had just prepared. Everything about this tour was incredible: from the personal interactions that were possible through the preserve, to the warmth of our gracious hosts. Please go and visit this truly special trail and feel welcomed by the beautiful country that...

Incredible experience for the whole family (kids ages 11 and 7 agree)! We were all so impressed by the beauty of the land and knowledge of our guide, Andre! Andre and his grandfather gave us a private tour for over two hours hours and they were very adaptive to our pace, questions, and family needs. It was so incredible to see the different frogs, sloths, birds, insects, bats, and plants on this walk. The paths were very well kept, even, and I was totally fine in my flip flops! There are benches along the way and even a toilet half-way through. The food and hands-on experience at the end was way beyond what we imagined. With the guidance of the grandmother, we all made a few tortillas. The kids also used a press and squeezed fresh sugar cane to make a drink. They fed us traditional sweet bread, fried cheese, and a potato-pork filling for our tortillas, with delicious lemonade. Everything they prepared was locally grown. We left full and happy! We would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in wildlife, plants, and to learn about some traditional foods. It is located close to downtown La Fortuna - about 15 minutes walking (mostly on sidewalks). The family is very warm and welcoming. A...