pura vida passENES

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary

Parks & Wildlife · Central Pacific · Nature tours

Alturas is a non-profit wildlife rescue center on a jungle hilltop between Dominical and Uvita, the only one covering this stretch of the southern Pacific. You can visit only on a guided walk (Tuesday–Sunday at 9, 11 and 1, about 1–1.5 hours) past its 16 or so permanent residents: spider, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, a two-toed sloth, an ocelot, a kinkajou, peccaries, a toucan, scarlet macaws, parrots and a crocodile. Guides tell each animal's story (most were illegal pets) and explain the rescue work behind the scenes. No touching, feeding or animal selfies, and the clinic and baby nursery are off-limits. It's an easy, kid-friendly stop, and your ticket helps pay for the rescues. Downsides: the last stretch is a steep gravel road (4x4 advised in the rainy season), the nocturnal sloth and ocelot are often asleep, and online bookings are non-refundable.

Closed Mondays; regular tours Tue–Sun at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm (private tours can be arranged on Mondays).

Hours
Guided tours only, by reservation: Tuesday–Sunday at 9:00, 11:00 and 13:00 (about 1.5 h); closed Mondays. Private tours in English or Spanish outside regular hours and on Mondays, booked at least 48 h ahead.
Ratings
4.8 on Tripadvisor (965) · 4.7 on Google (808)

Highlights

  • Meet about 16 permanent residents up close: spider, capuchin and squirrel monkeys, a two-toed sloth, an ocelot, a kinkajou, collared peccaries, a yellow-throated toucan, scarlet macaws, parrots and an American crocodile.
  • Every animal comes with a backstory (most were confiscated from the pet trade), and guides use them to explain what threatens wildlife here, from power lines to traffic.
  • A real, working rescue center with a vet clinic, a nursery for orphaned babies and a 24/7 rescue line; it says it takes in 700+ animals a year and releases about half of them.
  • Small groups (up to 15 per tour) and a strict hands-off, no-selfie policy: a good intro to ethical wildlife watching for kids.
  • Hear about their field projects: rope bridges for monkeys over the coastal highway, camera traps and GPS-collared ocelot releases.
  • Hilltop setting next to Villas Alturas, whose poolside restaurant looks out over the Whale's Tail of Marino Ballena.

Tips

  • Arrive 10–15 minutes before your slot to check in.
  • Pick the 9 am tour if you can: the sanctuary warns it gets very hot in the sun. Bring a water bottle, sunscreen and a rain jacket or umbrella.
  • Don't come just for sloths: there's one resident two-toed sloth, she's nocturnal and may be asleep, and rescued baby sloths stay in the nursery, which visitors don't see.
  • Make it a half day: lunch or a sunset drink at the Villas Alturas restaurant next door (open to the public), then a dip at Poza Azul waterfall or Playa Dominicalito, a few kilometers down the hill.
  • Save the 24/7 rescue line, +506 8589 7812: if you find an injured or orphaned animal anywhere in the area, call them rather than handling it yourself.
  • Want to help more? Check their Amazon wishlist and bring supplies for the clinic and nursery with you.

Good to know

  • Guided tours only, by reservation: Tuesday–Sunday at 9:00, 11:00 and 13:00 (about 1–1.5 hours). Closed Mondays; private tours can be arranged on Mondays or outside regular hours with 48 hours' notice.
  • Regular tour: $33 adults, $17 kids 3–12; Costa Rican nationals $11 / $5. Private tour: $45 adults, $29 kids (nationals $23 / $17).
  • Online bookings are paid in full and non-refundable, whatever the reason (weather and illness included). Rescheduling is up to the sanctuary with 24–48 hours' notice, tours run rain or shine, and latecomers can lose their spot.
  • The 9 am slot is listed as English-only; Spanish-language tours must be booked at least 48 hours ahead.
  • No touching or feeding the animals, no food or drink on the tour and no pets. Paths are gravel and uneven, and only about half of the site is wheelchair accessible.
  • Getting there: about 8 km from Dominical, 6.5 km south on Route 34 and then roughly 900 m up a steep gravel road (Calle San Martín Norte). The sanctuary recommends a 4x4, especially April–November. No bus goes up; take a 4x4 taxi from Dominical or Uvita and book your ride back.

What travelers love

  • Guides who know every animal by name and tell their stories with real passion.
  • It feels like a genuine rescue, not a zoo: people like that their money goes to rehab and releases, and some come back on every trip.
  • Close looks at monkeys, macaws and a toucan without anyone handling the animals.
  • Great for kids and families: educational without being boring.
  • The view and the food at Villas Alturas next door.

What some travelers don't like

  • The steep, rough road up: a 4x4 or a taxi makes it much easier.
  • You only see the permanent residents: nocturnal animals like the sloth and the ocelot are often asleep, and the clinic and nursery are off-limits.

Prices (as published)

Regular tour, adult — Booked and prepaid online (WeTravel); non-refundable$33
Regular tour, child 3–12$17
Regular tour, adult Costa Rican national$11
Regular tour, child 3–12 national$5
Private tour, adult — Book at least 48 h ahead; English or Spanish$45
Private tour, child$29
Private tour, adult national$23
Private tour, child national$17

Before you go

Entry
$33 for visitors · Kids 3–12: $17 · Guided 1–1.5 h tour. Costa Rican nationals pay $11 (kids $5). Private tours: $45 adults, $29 kids.
Payment
online, card, cash
Tickets
Online only, book ahead
Road
4×4 needed
Facilities
gift shop
Kids
Good for kids
Dogs
Not allowed
Bring
water bottle, sunscreen, rain jacket or umbrella
Fewer people
Max 15 people per tour and slots can fill up: book ahead and take the 9 am tour to beat the heat.
Season
The sanctuary says you need a 4×4 on its hill road in the rainy season (April–November); tours run rain or shine.
Checked
2026-10

Questions travelers ask

Do I need a 4x4 to get to Alturas?

The sanctuary sits at the top of a steep gravel road. It recommends a 4x4 and says you'll need one in the rainy season (April–November). Without a car, take a 4x4 taxi from Dominical or Uvita and arrange your ride back; there's no bus.

Can I just show up, or do I need a reservation?

Visits are by guided tour only, and a reservation is required. Book a slot on their website; each tour takes up to 15 people, and if your time is full you'll have to pick another.

Will I see sloths?

There's one resident sloth, a female two-toed sloth. She's nocturnal, so she may be asleep and out of view; rescued baby sloths stay in the nursery, which isn't open to visitors.

Can we hold, pet or feed the animals?

No. Costa Rican law and the sanctuary's welfare rules don't allow touching or feeding, and Alturas backs the #StopAnimalSelfies campaign.

How much is the tour and how long does it take?

Regular tours cost $33 for adults and $17 for kids 3–12 ($11 / $5 for Costa Rican nationals) and last about 1–1.5 hours. Private tours are $45 for adults and $29 for kids.

Can I pay in cash or by card when I arrive?

Their FAQ says you can pay at the office in cash (dollars or colones) or by card if you come 10–15 minutes early. Bookings made online are paid upfront and non-refundable.

Are tours available in Spanish?

Yes. Spanish tours and private tours (in English or Spanish) need to be booked at least 48 hours ahead.

Can I volunteer at Alturas?

Yes: volunteers must be 18 or older and stay at least one week, helping with animal care, enrichment, food prep and maintenance. Internships in the clinic and nursery are also offered; apply on their website.

Contact & directions

Secret spots nearby

  • Poza AzulSwimming spot · FreeA free jungle swimming hole above Dominicalito: a small waterfall pouring into a clear blue pool, with a rope swing for the brave.
  • Playa DominicalitoBeach · Free · hidden gemA small cove just south of Dominical, more sheltered and quieter than its big-wave neighbor, with rocks and tide pools to poke around at low tide and local fishing boats bobbing offshore.
  • Nauyaca WaterfallsWaterfall · about $10A two-tier waterfall dropping about 45 m and then 20 m into a big swimmable pool in the hills above Dominical, one of the most spectacular falls in the country.
  • Playa DominicalBeach · FreeThe laid-back surf town's main beach: powerful, consistent waves, a palm-shaded street of craft stalls along the sand, and the Río Barú meeting the sea at the north end.
  • Eco Feria DominicalLocal shop · FreeA small weekly eco market in Dominical with organic produce, local food and handmade goods, held on the town's main street.
  • Catarata de Santa Juana, PlatanilloWaterfall · hidden gemA waterfall near Platanillo, San José province.

Read more

Sources: https://alturaswildlifesanctuary.org/ · traveler reviews checked 2026-10-12