Animal Rescue, Chocolate + Waterfalls 3 in 1 Tour

Looking for fun things to do in Puerto Viejo? Why choose just one when you can experience 3 of the most popular activities in Puerto Viejo in one day. Play with some baby monkeys at the Jaguar Rescue Center, learn to make chocolate with the famous BriBri indigenous chocolate lady, Dona Petronilla, then hike to a stunning waterfall all in one day. The Animal Rescue, Chocolate + Waterfalls 3 in 1 tour is the perfect day combo!

Visit the Jaguar Rescue Center

Our first stop is to one of the most successful Costa Rica rescue centers for all types of wildlife, the Jaguar Rescue Center in Cocles. Here we will meet with the staff and volunteers to see their work firsthand. Wildlife ends up in the rescue center for various reasons. The most common being electrocuted, fallen from trees, attacked by dogs, and hit by cars. And there are also a lot of abandoned infants because their parents were injured or killed for the aforementioned reason. You will have the chance to interact with some of the playful abandoned baby monkeys! The team at the Jaguar Rescue Center care for these animals until they can be safely returned into the wild. They love to share their stories with visitors in hopes of inspiring future volunteers.

Over 300 sloths (both 2 toed and 3 toed) are brought to the Jaguar Rescue Center each year. You will find 3 of the 4 types of monkeys in Costa Rica here (Spider monkeys, Howler monkeys & White Faced Capuchin monkeys). Sadly, even with the help of the incredible staff and Jaguar Rescue Center volunteers, chances of survival for most of the wildlife brought here is less than 50%. But the Jaguar Rescue center has worked with world-renowned biologists to develop some of the best rehabilitation programs so the animals can be released back into the wild safely and live their lives in their native habitats. In fact, abandoned infant sloths can stay up to 2 years before they are fully ready for release.

Fortunately, reptiles such as lizards, crocodiles, snakes, and turtles fair at a much better survival and release rates at nearly 70%. You will have the chance to meet iguanas, turtles, snakes and maybe even a crocodile at the Jaguar Animal Rescue Center. Frogs are an endangered species in Costa Rica, but not technically rescued. Howeer, you may spot amphibians such as the Red Eyed Tree Frog, Hourglass Frog, or a variety of poison dart frogs hanging out at the rescue center or the adjacent La Ceiba Natural Reserve which is where most of the rescued animals here are released.

Finally, you will meet some of the over 200 birds that are brought here every year. You can find an array of bird species ranging from birds of prey like raptors & falcons, aquatic birds such as herons & egrets, and a variety of other birds such as parrots, macaws toucans, sea birds & even hummingbirds. After your visit to the Jaguar Rescue Center, we are sure you will want to learn how you can become a volunteer here too!

Learn to Make Chocolate with BriBri Indigenous

Our next stop is your chance to immerse yourself in the indigenous culture of Costa Rica in one of the best ways possible; a chocolate tour! Cacao beans were so important to the indigenous in Costa Rica they used to use the cacao beans as currency. In the BriBri tribes of Talamanca located just outside of Puerto Viejo, cacao is even considered sacred. So, to this day, only the BriBri women are able to participate in the act of making chocolate. You are in for a special treat as you will learn the sacred art of making chocolate with Doña Petronilla, locally referred to as "the chocolate lady". She and other BriBri will not only share the chocolate making process, but she will share with you the cultural importance and traditions the BriBri still practice today.

At the end of the chocolate demonstration, you will have the opportunity to sample cacao in different stages of the process. You will be able to try a couple samples of the finished products infused with different spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, mint, coffee & even black pepper and spicy chili pepper! Bring some cash along if you wish to bring home some of the tasty chocolate treats.

Swim in a Waterfall

No self-respecting tour in Costa Rica would be complete without a visit to a waterfall hidden in the rainforest. So we will not disappoint. For our grand finale, we will take a short hike to the beautiful Dos Aguas Waterfalls (Waterfall Two Waters) found on the BriBri Indigenous Territory. Also known as the BriBri Hidden Waterfall, this 15-meter-high waterfall in Costa Rica has some of the best swimming holes around. Or, if you prefer you can take in the view from shore and spend your time adding to your collection of incredible Costa Rica waterfall pics. We will have around 30 minutes at the falls to enjoy, rehydrate and eat some fresh fruit snacks before returning to your hotels.

Wildlife, indigenous cultures, chocolate and stunning waterfalls! Can you think of a better way to spend a day in Puerto Viejo? Us either. So, don't miss out! Book your discounted Animal Rescue, Chocolate + Waterfalls 3 in 1 Tour with The Real Deal Tours today!!