Eco Tours in Central and South America

The beaches of Tortuguero National Park are a famous nesting ground for endangered green sea turtles, while the park's dense rain forest is home to monkeys and a variety of bird species. This canoe tour avoids the use of a motor and provides a silent and eco-friendly mode of transportation, which allows you to see native wildlife up close while your guide navigates through Tortuguero's freshwater creeks and lagoons.

Gaze at the magnificent Mompacho Volcano on a half-day tour of Mombacho Natural Reserve from Granada. After a scenic drive up the volcano, you'll arrive at the biological station near the summit. Choose to embark on a guided hike on trails abundant with flora and fauna or satisfy your appetite for adventure during a zipline experience (own expense). See, too, stunning views of Lake Nicaragua and Las Isletas on a clear day. Round-trip transport from your Granada hotel is included.

Take a moment to stop and smell the flowers during this 4-hour trip to Lancetilla Botanical Garden from Tela. This sprawling nature park is known as the second-largest tropical botanical garden in the world. Hike through the garden's extensive collection of fruit trees from Central America, Asia and Oceania, and keep your eyes peeled for the park's more than 200 species of birds. You can even cool off with a refreshing dip in a swimming hole along the Lancetilla River. Your visit includes a guide, entrance fees and round-trip hotel transport.

Enjoy hiking in Tijuca National Park with your own personal guide and finish with a refreshing dip under a waterfall. Hike up to Pedra Bonita for sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro including the beaches and surrounding Tijuca Forest. See the Christ the Redeemer statue and more from the Chinese Pavilion before arriving at Horto Waterfall. This 6-hour private tour includes round-trip hotel transport.

Explore the diverse bird life and beautiful scenery of Los Micos Lagoon during this 7-hour excursion by ferry in Parque Nacional Punta Sal. This unique marine area harbors an incredible array of more than 350 species of birds, plus numerous reptiles and monkeys. Enjoy a relaxing trip aboard your boat as you navigate the lagoon's maze of channels and waterways, observing the local Garifuna fishermen as they cast their nets for the day's catch. Your trip also includes a guide, lunch, park entrance fees, and round-trip hotel transport.

Trek through the rainforest to Praia do Sono (Sono Beach) on this full-day guided tour from Paraty. Set out from Laranjeiras Village through the leafy jungle filled with native plant and animal life, learning about the area's history and natural resources from your experienced hiking guide along the way. After about an hour, reach Praia do Sono to relax and swim during several hours' free time before hiking back to your starting point. Round-trip transportation from Paraty hotels is included.

Pamper yourself in a volcanic spa rife with mineral-rich mud baths and hot springs on a private or small-group tour of Miravalles Volcano. Depart from Tamarindo for a 7-hour adventure in a tropical rain forest full of opportunities to swim, hike, and relax in Costa Rica's lush wilderness.

Swing, ride and paddle your way through Rincon de la Vieja's volcanic foothills on a full-day trip from Tamarindo that combines four adventurous activities. Grab a harness to explore the treetops on a canopy tour, then cool off in the Río Negro while navigating white water in a raft or inner tube. Visit a nearby ranch for a traditional Costa Rican lunch, ride a hourse through a distinctive dry tropical forest, and finish your day with a soak in volcanic mud and steaming, thermal hot springs.

Explore the Anton Valley (El Valle de Antón) during this 9-hour trip from Panama City. This unique town is perched in the 3.7-mile (6-km) wide caldera of a volcano and is one of the last known habitats of the Panamanian golden frog. Visit the Nizpero Zoo and trek to the impressive Chorro El Macho waterfall, where you can swim and relax in the nearby hot springs. Stop by a local market selling indigenous handicrafts and stroll on the local beaches, bordered by the Pacific Ocean. Round-trip transportation from Panama City is included.

Cruise through a tropical rain forest on a 7-hour excursion to the Tempisque River along Costa Rica's Palo Verde National Park. Explore an ecosystem teeming with wildlife as a guide with extensive knowledge about the area points out flora and fauna while navigating the river on an intimate motor boat.

Explore a jungle river that flows alongside Palo Verde National park with a 5-hour wildlife tour and riverboat cruise from Tamarindo. Watch for crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys and dozens of birds as you navigate the slow-moving Tempisque River, spend two hours on the water spotting animals in their natural habitats, then come to shore for a traditional Costa Rican lunch. Learn the history of this once-bustling river that's among the region's most important bird sanctuaries, and finish your day with a return transfer to Tamarindo.

See the best of Costa Rica in a single day on this 12.5-hour four-in-one tour that's perfect for outdoor adventurers. Cross the famous hanging bridges, where you'll experience the beauty of walking high above the jungle floor. Take in the incredible wonder of La Fortuna Waterfall and hike to the top of a nearby volcano where you'll capture incredible views of Costa Rican countryside. This tour includes a stop at Tabacon Hot Springs and a traditional meal of regional cuisine prepared in the home of a warm and welcoming local. It's the perfect way to experience the beauty, excitement and adventure of Costa Rica in a single day.

Discover Costa Rica's rain forest from a unique treetop perspective with this aerial tram ride. Accompanied by an expert guide, you'll glide through the forest canopy in the Braulio Carrillo National Park, where you will have a chance to spot amazing native plants and animals. Round-trip transport from your San Jose hotel and a traditional Costa Rican lunch are included.

Combine six popular rain forest activities into a single day jam-packed with adventure on this tour to Braulio Carrillo National Park from San Jose. Fly down ziplines over the rain forest canopy, visit a terrarium and butterfly garden, walk along nature trails, and more, all with hassle-free round-trip transportation from your San Jose hotel and a typical Costa Rican lunch to keep you going.

When it comes to your perfect Costa Rican adventure, this tour from Quepos has it all. Drive a 4x4 into the Costa Rican rain forest, ride a horse to a waterfall, walk across a swinging bridge, and swim in natural pools, all on a hassle-free guided excursion. Complete the tour with a fresh lunch at a farm in the countryside before returning to your hotel.

Located in Mistico Park, Arenal Hanging Bridges is known as one of Costa Rica's most beautiful environmental projects - a combination of trails and bridges through the rain forest near Arenal Volcano. On this tour you can travel through the park and across elevated bridges, see views of the volcano, and enjoy close-up encounters with native flora and fauna. Your guide, a wildlife specialist, provides helpful narrative along the way.

Escape the hustle and bustle of busy San Salvador on this 4-hour trip to the peaceful oases of the Botanical Gardens La Laguna and Boquerón National Park. Admire the more than 3,500 species of plants, both exotic and local, that thrive in this beautiful reserve set inside an extinct lagoon. Then climb by vehicle to the 6,200-foot (1,800-meter) summit of San Salvador Volcano, where you'll enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery of Boquerón National Park. Your trip also includes a guide, entrance fees and round-trip hotel transport.

Explore the world-famous Jardim Botânico (Botanical Garden) in Rio de Janeiro during this 3.5-hour tour. Walk through the UNESCO biosphere reserve while learning about its history and mission from your knowledgeable local guide. See flora and fauna from around the globe, including monkeys, toucans and giant Amazonian water lilies. Walk down the Avenue of the Palms and enter the greenhouse to view the over 500 varieties of orchids before spending some free time discovering the garden's hidden corners on your own. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Explore Brazil's diverse plant life on this tour of the Tijuca Rainforest and the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. During this 4-hour activity, visit the city's botanical garden to view a variety of exotic and native plants. Ride in a jeep through the Tijuca Rainforest, stopping for a leisurely hike with picturesque views and chances to see local wildlife. Round-trip transportation from Rio de Janeiro hotels is included.

Learn to survive in the Amazon Rainforest during this guided tour from Manaus. During this 5-hour excursion, follow your expert adventure guide on a forest trek and learn how you could use your natural surroundings to survive in the wild. Identify Brazil nuts, passion fruit and açai palm berries, which are edible, as well as which poisonous plants to stay away from. Practice building traps for jungle animals and learn how to find clean water. After your survival adventure, enjoy lunch and take a canoe ride to a local Amazonian village to see what daily life living in the rainforest is like.