Costa Rica Guide
The Zona Norte
Selva Verde activities
Selva Verde's expanse offers an excellent variety of walks along well-marked trails through primary and secondary forest, riverside, swamps and pastureland. Unless you've come as part of a pre-paid, all-inclusive package, you'll need to pay for the activities below: these cost from $15 (for guided walks) to $45 (for a half-day of white-water rafting). There's also a free bird-watching tour daily at 6am and wildlife-spotting tours in a safari-style vehicle around the borders of the reserve ($17).
You can take a self-guided walk in the section of secondary rainforest across the road from the lodge – ask for a map at reception. While you might not see much in terms of animal life, birding is rewarding. The guided walks through the denser section of premontane forest across the Río Sarapiquí are more rewarding. The informative guides are top-notch and can make uncannily authentic bird calls to get the attention of trogons and toucans and will point out poison-dart frogs, primitive ferns and complex lianas. After bird-watching, the most popular activity at Selva Verde is white-water rafting on the Class III (easy– moderate) Río Sarapiquí (May– Nov only). The trip is exciting enough, though experienced rafters might regret the lack of any really scary rapids.
The lodge is also heavily involved in the local community and can arrange visits to a local family, tree-planting activities and dance classes.