Bogarin Trail vs Sloth Territory: Which Is Better? (2024)
Are you wondering whether to hike the Bogarin Trail or book a sloth tour? If so, this article’s for you.
La Fortuna is one of the best areas of Costa Rica to spot sloths in their natural habitat. While recently spending 3 days in town, I made it my mission to see at least one sloth before leaving.
The three most popular places to spot sloths are the Bogarin Trail, Sloth Watching Trail, and Sloth’s Territory. The Bogarin Trail is the only place that offers self-guided tours of their forest habitat, where you may be able to spot sloths on your own.
I did the self-guided hike of the Bogarin Trail, as well as a sloth tour the following day, and the experience was completely different.
So is their self-guided hike worth it? Or should you spend the extra $20-30 for a guided tour?
Here’s everything you should know before deciding whether to hike the Bogarin Trail or book a sloth tour.
Note: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Bogarin Trail Vs Sloth’s Territory
What is the Bogarin Trail?
The Bogarin Trail is a sloth watching trail that offers both self-guided ($20/person) and guided tours ($45/person). Their self-guided trail is around 1.5 miles long, and can take anywhere from 30 min-1 hour to hike depending on your speed.
It’s a well-paved trail in the middle of the rainforest with lots of birds and beautiful flowers. Their forest is home to everything from sloths to toucans, lizards, and poisonous dart frogs.
In my experience doing the self-guided tour of their forest habitat, I had no luck seeing any animals besides birds.
That being said, I did the hike on a cloudy day, so it was especially dark. Additionally, the furthest my camera zooms is 50mm, and the sloths are said to be high in the trees.
If you aren’t able to spot any animals doing the self-guided tour, you can upgrade your tickets to go with a guide for $25.
On their tour, you’ll be accompanied with a guide that uses a telescope to zoom in on the animals throughout the park. Then, you can take photos of the sloths through the telescope with your phone’s camera.
Unless you have binoculars or a telephoto lens, a guided sloth tour is a much better option.
If you plan on doing the self-guided hike, I highly recommend doing it on a sunny morning. The admission ticket grants you access to the park for 24 hours, so in case it rains, you can return anytime when the weather improves.
Bogarin Trail vs Guided Sloth Tours
I did the self-guided hike of the Bogarin Trail and a sloth tour the following day. I spent around an hour hiking the Bogarin Trail, but unfortunately didn’t spot any sloths.
Part of the Bogarin Trail is closed off for guided tours, which I suspect is where the highest abundance of sloths and wildlife is found.
The following day I booked a tour at the Sloth Watching Trail ($50/person) and saw 3 sloths through a telescope!
Our group also saw owls, lizards, toucans, and lots of interesting wildlife.
They’re located right next to the Bogarin Trail in downtown, so the rainforest habitat was very similar. So, as long as you book a guided tour, you’ll have a great chance of spotting sloths at either place.
Best Sloth Tours In La Fortuna
The three main sloth tours in La Fortuna are the Bogarin Trail, Sloth Watching Trail, and Sloth’s Territory.
The Sloth’s Territory tour is the cheapest ($40/person), while the Bogarin Trail is $45/person, and Sloth Watching Trail is $50/person.
All of the tours are around 1.5-2 hours long, and include an expert guide with a telescope.
Bogarin Trail Vs Sloth Territory
The Bogarin Trail and Sloth Watching Trail are private rainforest habitats, located right next to each other in downtown La Fortuna. They’re both walking distance from restaurants and cafes in downtown.
On the other hand, Sloth’s Territory is a private family-owned reserve with hanging bridges that’s just 10 min from downtown La Fortuna. They offer the cheapest tour, and provide guests with fresh fruit to end the tour as well.
Tips For Hiking The Bogarin Trail
- Visit very early in the morning (7-8am) to spot sloths when they’re most active
- Bring binoculars or a zoom lens of at least 100mm to see sloths high up in the trees
- Hike on a sunny day for the best visibility
- Upgrade to the guided tour (extra $25) if you’re unable to spot any wildlife
La Fortuna Sloth Map
Bogarin Trail FAQs
Is the Bogarin Trail worth it?
The self-guided hike of the Bogarin Trail wasn’t worth it in my experience as I wasn’t able to spot any animals.
I wouldn’t recommend doing the self-guided hike, unless you have great binoculars or a superzoom camera lens.
However, if you purchase tickets for the self-guided hike, you can easily upgrade your tickets (+$25) for a guided tour if you aren’t able to spot any wildlife.
Their private trail is full of wildlife, but it’s important to visit on a sunny day, ideally in the morning when sloths are most active.
How long is the Bogarin Trail hike?
The self-guided Bogarin Trail hike is 2.5 km long (~1.5 miles), and can take anywhere from 30 min-1 hour depending on your speed.
It’s a very easy flat trail, and only took me 45 minutes to do the full loop around the reserve.
Can you spot animals without a guide?
Yes, you may be able to spot animals without a guide if you have binoculars or a telephoto lens. But without any gear, I highly recommend going with a guide, as you’ll get to see several animals through a telescope.
I spent around an hour with a 50mm lens hiking the Bogarin Trail, and although I heard animals rustling in the trees, I wasn’t able to see any.
With a guide, I was able to relax and learn about the diverse wildlife, so it was a much more memorable experience overall.
How long are sloth tours?
Sloth tours are between 1.5-2 hours, and involve hiking around a mile (2 km) on an easy trail through the rainforest.
Where can you see sloths for free in Costa Rica?
One of the best places to spot sloths for free is Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos. You will still need to pay an admission fee to the park ($18/person), but it’s an amazing place to spot sloths without a guide.
I spent around 2 hours at Manuel Antonio National Park, and saw several monkeys and a sloth relaxing in a tree right by the beach.
There’s also dozens of tour guides in the park pointing their telescopes in the trees, so you can easily spot wildlife without a tour!
Beyond Manuel Antonio, Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast is another excellent place to spot sloths in the wild. Entrance to this park is entirely free, and you can leave a donation to support their conservation efforts.
Related articles you may be interested in: