Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a very dymic wetland, has important characteristics that make this place one of the most importants place in Central America. Composed for the Frío river and its flood lagoons, it is part of the Tropical Humid Forest and belongs to the Caribean lowlands in the Northern Costa Rica.
It is a Ramsar site from 1991, One of the first wetlands to receive that recognition in Costa Rica. But Caño Negro is more than a wetland, it is a place full of culture, local knowledge and unique lifestyle.
The Caño Negro Mixed National Wildlife Refuge (RNVSMCN), due to its management category, has the particularity of having the community immersed within the Protected Area, united with a strong cultural and subsistence link to the natural resources produced by this rich ecosystem.
Planning your visit to Caño Negro
The Weather:
In Caño Negro the climate is hot and humid.
We recommend to bring light clothes, closed shoes, sun protection and bugs repellent.
If you will visit us between May and December, be ready for rain and mud.
Rainy and dry:
We have two seasons, the rainy season, is from May to December, when the wetland are full of water. We can visit all the wetland by boat.
Dry season, from January to April, we can visit the river and some lagoons by boat and we walk around the lagoons and border of the river.
We work all year around. Both season are able to travel by boat, find wildlife and always have spectaculars landscapes.
How to arrive?
You can arrive by car using through 138 route, using the 35 route, if you are comming from La Fortuna or San José. You have to use the 4 route if you are tralveling from Bijagua or Río Celeste area.
If you are planning arrive by bus. There is service three times per day from Los Chiles and from Upala (except Sunday)
From Los Chiles to Caño Negro (26 km):
04:30 am - 12:00 md - 04:30 pm
From Upala to Caño Negro (35 km):
04:00 am - 12:00 md - 04:30 pm
Services in Caño Negro:
Caño Negro is a small community you can find some local cabins, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.
As normally in the country sides the services close early.
We recommend take anything that you need before 07:00 pm.
How to pay?
There is no bank or ATM in Caño Negro. We highly recommend to bring enough cash for your stay and services (colones or dollars). The payment with credit card is available in the supermarkets and restaurants.
Your closest a ATM would be at Los Chiles or Upala.
