Jacamar Naturalist Tours

Jacamar Naturalist Tours: a La Fortuna operator working across nature and adventure

From La Fortuna, Jacamar Naturalist Tours runs nature outings, adventure activities and transfers across several Costa Rican destinations. The company dates its beginnings to 1996 and is marking three decades in business in 2026. Its story is also one of geographic growth: it began around Arenal Volcano, expanded into Guanacaste and Jacó, and built a fleet to connect tours with road travel. Today it presents two main divisions, Naturalist Tours and Adventure Tours, alongside educational experiences and cooking classes.

Arenal’s landscape on foot and from the water

The nature catalogue brings together walks on the volcano’s foothills, La Fortuna Waterfall visits, hanging-bridge routes, birdwatching and night walks. On these outings, the appeal is not limited to reaching a viewpoint: a guide can help interpret tracks, plants, birds and the changing forest across different habitats. Jacamar advertises naturalist guides and professional drivers and offers both shared excursions and private services. Walking time, difficulty and access conditions vary from one route to another, so it is useful to read each itinerary before choosing.

At Lake Arenal, the programmes include boating, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The lake is also part of the “car–boat–car” transfer between La Fortuna and Monteverde, which combines road travel with a boat crossing. It is an option for travelers moving between the two regions who want the journey itself to be part of the experience. The catalogue also lists a Peñas Blancas River safari float and trips to destinations in other provinces, including Caño Negro, Palo Verde and Río Celeste.

From rafting to local flavours

Travelers looking for a more active day can choose rafting on different rivers, canopy ziplining, waterfall rappelling, mountain biking, ATV outings, horseback riding, fishing and kayaking. This range makes it possible to combine gentle nature viewing with physical adventure, although the demands are different: a night walk calls for patience and attention, while rafting and rappelling require following instructions and checking age, health and equipment requirements. The company sells combo packages for travelers who want more than one activity in a day, as well as private transfers and naturalist-guide services.

Cooking classes broaden the offer beyond scenery. The company presents culinary and educational experiences that add a cultural element to a stay otherwise focused on trails and rivers. In its own account, Jacamar links its growth with sustainable tourism, the conservation of nature and culture, and work with hotels and travel agencies. These are commitments described by the company; travelers can ask which guide delivers a service and whether an experience involves local communities or partner providers.

What travelers report

Google Maps comments often mention attentive guides, punctual transportation, organized logistics and opportunities to learn while seeing wildlife and landscapes. Rafting, sloths, ziplining and hanging bridges recur in reviews. In October 2026, Jacamar’s Tripadvisor listing showed 4.9 out of 5 from 2,009 reviews. Travelers praise guide service and the coordination between transport and activities; some accounts also point out that days with multiple stops can be demanding and that wildlife sightings depend on natural conditions.

A company for connecting destinations

Jacamar may suit visitors who want to book several Arenal activities or travel from La Fortuna to another region without arranging every leg separately. Its catalogue combines wildlife walks, adventure sports, cultural classes, ground transport and trips beyond the province. Before booking, compare the actual length of the programme, meeting point, included transfers, guide language, meals and group size. The office is listed south of La Fortuna’s Catholic church, but many departures begin at hotels, parks or other locations, so the office address does not replace the meeting instructions for a specific tour.