Hacienda Baru

National Wildlife Refuge & Lodge

Hacienda Baru is one of the foremost examples of reforestation and truly "Green" ecotourism in Costa Rica.  Enjoy a jungle penetrating zip-line tour or take the tree climbing tour or spend a night in the jungle.  The lodgings truly are a night spent in the Costa Rica rainforest.  Take a short walk to one of the nicest beaches in the area.  You'll feel like you've arrived at the edge of Planet Earth.

acienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge & Lodge is situated on Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Coast. This is a region of distinct natural beauty where forest covered mountains rise up from the dramatic Pacific coastline.

Hacienda Barú’s 330 hectares (815 acres) have a fantastic variety of Habitats, from wetlands and secondary rainforests in the lowlands to primary rainforest on the highland coastal ridge. Seven kilometers of walking trails and three kilometers of pristine beach are here to be explored as well as our orchid garden and butterfly garden. Bird Watching, Canopy Exploration and Ecological Tours are our specialty. Our bilingual grass roots naturalist guides will help you discover the wonders of the tropical rainforest, such as leaf cutter ants, the sleepy sloths and the nesting site of the Common Pootoo.  On our tours you can experience everything from the Rainforest Canopy to Mangrove Swamps or the Jungle at Night.

Our Mission is to protect the wildlife habitats of Hacienda Barú, while educating our visitors about its biological wealth. Learn more about the history of Hacienda Baru’s evolution from a working cattle ranch to a National Wildlife Refuge & Lodge.

The Rainforest Experience

The Rainforest Experience, a four hour guided hike through the jungle, is a wonderful way to observe this fascinating tropical environment with an experienced, local, naturalist guide who has been familiar with the environment since childhood.  You will hike through secondary and primary forest and spend much of the morning in remote parts of Hacienda Barú. This hike involves walking over hilly terrain and requires a certain level of physical fitness. For the Rainforest Experience we recommend light clothing, binoculars, repellent and a bottle of water.

Duration:  4 hours
Price: $25 per person
Times: Monday through Saturday at 7:30 AM
Limits: maximum 8 persons; minimum 2 persons

The Mangrove Walk

This hike takes you through the secondary and successional forests of the lowlands where the walking is easy and the bird watching is wonderful. A bird blind with a view of a rookery where several species of water birds nest in the rainy season is of particular interest. For the Mangrove Walk we recommend light clothing, binoculars, repellent and a bottle of water.

Duration : 3 hours
Times: 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Monday through Saturday
Price: $20.00 per person
Limit: 12 persons; Minimum 2 persons

A Night in The Jungle

The Night in the Jungle Tour takes you deep into the rainforest where you will spend the night in our jungle camp. In our opinion, this is the best way to experience the tropical forest at Hacienda Barú. After the hike up to the camp you can sit and relax on the verandah as the sun goes down and listen to the sounds of the jungle as the daytime animals and birds go to bed and the nocturnal ones come to life. There will be no-one else for miles around, as you will be in the heart of the refuge.

After a traditional Costa Rica dinner you will venture out on a night hike in search of nocturnal creatures, and then to bed in the tented camp. Waking up to the sounds of the jungle is a very special experience. After breakfast in the morning you will take another hike to see some magnificent old rainforest trees, and then make your way back down to reception at around 10AM.

The camp is equipped with a shower and toilet. All you need to bring is a change of clothes, personal items, water for the hike up and a flashlight.

Duration: 16 hours
Price: $98 per person
Times 3:00pm Monday - Saturday. Prior booking required
Limit: 8 people