Yatama Rainforest Ecolodge, Horquetas de Sarapiquí
Ecolodge & Rainforest Reserve

About the Yatama Rainforest Ecolodge

Yatama Ecolodge, located on the lush slopes of Braulio Carrillo National Park, is a sanctuary for nature lovers, herpers, birders, and wildlife enthusiasts. Set at an elevation of 420 meters, Yatama offers visitors an immersive experience in Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, where the impressive variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, and plant life are constantly on display. The peaceful, rustic atmosphere of the ecolodge is designed to harmonize with the surrounding forest, allowing guests to fully embrace the serenity and beauty of nature.

The reserve at Yatama boasts 12 well-marked kilometers of trails through primary and secondary rainforest, which are accessible 24 hours a day. Guests are encouraged to explore the natural beauty of the reserve at their leisure, while also enjoying daily guided night tours led by Pedro, the owner, and his son. These expert-led tours are included in the cost of your stay, and additional tours can be booked for just $15 USD. The night tours offer incredible opportunities to spot rare and fascinating wildlife, including the elusive, canopy-dwelling Coronated Tree Frog (Triprion spinosus) and the stunning Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla sylvaie). Visitors can also encounter more common species like the Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas), Strawberry Poison Frog (Oophaga pumilio), and a variety of snakes, such as the Eyelash Pit Viper (Bothriechis nigroasperus, formerly known as Bothriechis schlegelii) and the Lichen-colored Snail Eater (Sibon longifrenis).

Yatama’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the ecolodge. All rooms are powered by solar energy, and guests can enjoy private cabins, some of which feature multi-story units with balconies that are perfect for observing birds, monkeys, and other wildlife right from your doorstep. Toucans, armadillos, leafcutter ants, and curassows are frequently seen around the cabins, providing endless opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.

Delicious, home-cooked meals are served in the communal dining area, with breakfast and dinner included in the cost of your stay. For an additional $14 per person per day, lunch can also be provided. The meals offer a wonderful opportunity to relax and share your experiences with fellow guests while enjoying the hospitality of Pedro and his family.

Pedro’s vision for Yatama goes beyond offering an incredible ecotourism experience. His dedication to conservation is reflected in his efforts to preserve the pristine rainforest on the property. Yatama is not just a place to stay—it is a conservation project in action. Pedro has a long-term goal of purchasing surrounding lands, currently used for grazing, with the aim of restoring them to their natural rainforest state.

Yatama Ecolodge offers an unparalleled combination of adventure, relaxation, and conservation. Whether you're there to spot rare amphibians, birdwatch from your private balcony, or simply enjoy the peaceful rainforest, Yatama is a destination that connects you deeply with Costa Rica’s natural world.

Herping Yatama Ecolodge

Yatama’s rainforest preserve is an ideal herping locale in Costa Rica. Located at the boundary between the flat lowland rainforests and the premontane forests, Yatama has a rich herpetofauna biodiversity, representing species of both regions. In addition to the ideal forest habitat on the property, the grounds are adjacent to the completely unspoiled and remote pristine primary rainforests of Braulio Carrillo national park.

During the day, visitors can encounter strawberry poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio) and day-active rain frogs from the Craugastor genus. While diurnal snakes such as vine snakes, parrot snakes, and other colubrid species are less commonly seen, they are still possible sightings. Eyelash pit vipers (Bothriechis nigroadspersus, formerly B. schlegelii), ambush predators that rest in low-lying vegetation, can also be spotted. Anoles, iguanas, and basilisks are among the more common lizards seen during daylight hours.

However, nighttime is when the rainforest truly comes alive with amphibians and the snakes that hunt them. Rain frogs (Craugastor sp.), red-eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas), red-webbed tree frogs (Boana rufitela), and ghost glass frogs (Sachatamia ilex) are frequently spotted with the help of a guide. Yatama is also one of the best places in Costa Rica to observe the elusive coronated tree frog (Triprion spinosus) and the splendid leaf frog (Cruziohyla sylviae), both of which are difficult to find elsewhere due to their preference for high canopy habitats. Triprion spinosus, in particular, is notable for its ability to spend its entire life cycle in the treetops, breeding in water-filled bromeliads without ever descending to the ground. Additionally, sightings of fer-de-lance (Bothrops asper), rainforest hognose pitvipers (Porthidium nasutum), snail-eating snakes (genus Sibon), and many other snakes are commonly encountered on night hikes.

Birding Yatama Ecolodge

Yatama Ecolodge is a premier birding destination in Costa Rica, offering a unique experience for birders to observe and photograph sought-after neotropical bird species in their natural habitat. Unlike many ecolodges that attract birds with feeders, Yatama attracts birds with their pristine protected habitat, allowing visitors to witness birds engaging in natural behaviors within their natural habitat. Before even reaching the lodge, it’s common to spot great green macaws (Ara ambiguus) flying overhead or keel-billed (Ramphastos sulfuratus) and yellow-throated toucans (Ramphastos ambiguus) in the surrounding pastures on the approach to the ecolodge.

Once at Yatama, great curassows (Crax rubra) can often be seen wandering around the lodge grounds, even while you enjoy meals in the dining area. Toucans and other canopy-dwelling birds are easily viewed from the balconies of some cabins, including one cabin (Casa Jaguarundi) perched on a steep hillside, offering eye-level views of birds in the canopies of the trees downslope. The extensive trail network allows visitors to explore the rainforest and observe a variety of bird species in their natural environment. The primary forest on the property, with its widely spaced, towering trees, provides more open views into the upper stories, making bird spotting easier than in disturbed and secondary forests. For an even richer experience, you can request a daytime birding tour with Pedro or one of his expert guides, who will help you spot birds you might otherwise miss.

The Story Behind Yatama Rainforest Reserve and Ecolodge

Yatama Ecolodge began as a simple purchase of land in 2002, intended as a personal retreat for Pedro and his family to enjoy nature on the weekends. However, Pedro quickly realized that the area was a haven for illegal hunting and poaching, and his vision shifted from recreation to conservation. Although he did not initially consider himself a conservationist, Pedro felt compelled to take action when neighboring preserved areas failed to address the growing threat of poaching. Yatama became a leader in the region’s conservation efforts, working closely with local authorities and the ranger station. The project monitors illegal hunting activities, collects evidence, and shares this information with the authorities, despite the personal risks involved. Pedro’s approach to conservation has always relied on gaining the trust of the local community, as their cooperation is essential to stopping illegal activities and protecting the area's biodiversity.

In order to make his conservation efforts sustainable and create a lasting impact, Pedro decided to open Yatama to ecotourists. Hosting visitors not only provided the income needed to stay in the area full-time but also allowed Pedro to change people's minds about conservation through education and firsthand experiences with nature. Yatama offers guests an immersive experience in the rainforest, with guided tours that highlight the importance of preserving the environment while showcasing the area's rich biodiversity. By involving locals in the operations of the ecolodge, Yatama provides jobs and economic benefits to the surrounding community, further strengthening its conservation mission. Visitors to Yatama actively support this mission by contributing to the protection of the rainforest and helping to curb illegal activities. Supporting Yatama by visiting the ecolodge employs locals and provides them with a strong financial incentive to protect the local natural treasures instead of exploiting them to make a living.

Looking to the future, Pedro’s goal is to expand the Yatama conservation project by purchasing more adjacent land previously used for cattle ranching. This land would be restored through reforestation with native species and allowed to regenerate naturally, creating a larger buffer zone between Yatama and Braulio Carrillo National Park. Pedro envisions a wider wildlife corridor, providing more space for animals to roam and increasing the protected area. He plans to finance this land acquisition through donors who, while legally owning the land, would agree to place it under conservation. Pedro hopes that by the time he steps away from Yatama, the project will have successfully protected more land and created a lasting impact on conservation in the region.

Accommodations

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Trails of the Yatama Rainforest Reserve

Your wildlife adventure at Yatama Rainforest Reserve begins the moment you step outside your cabin. Here, your first step is into the heart of the rainforest, with wildlife all around you. From the balcony of the Casa Jaguarundi cabin, you can enjoy a unique, eye-level perspective of the forest canopy, where toucans and a variety of other bird species are often seen perched in the downslope treetops, providing an excellent opportunity for birdwatching and photography without even leaving your cabin.

Yatama's extensive trail system, spanning a total of 16 kilometers through the 335 acre reserve, is open to guests for exploration both day and night. These well-maintained trails wind through rolling hillsides, allowing you to experience a range of microhabitats as you pass through diverse vegetation in both primary and secondary forests. Along the way, you'll encounter numerous water sources, from small, tranquil ponds to flowing streams that vary from shallow, walkable waters to larger, cascading creeks that require crossing bridges. The varied terrain and ecosystems provide endless opportunities to observe the incredible biodiversity of Yatama, making every hike a new adventure.

Night Tours of the Yatama Rainforest Reserve

While unguided hiking in the reserve is allowed both day and night, joining a night tour with Pedro or one of his associates is the best way to maximize your chances of spotting reptiles and amphibians. Yatama’s expert guides know the reserve intimately and understand the best places to search for wildlife. Many tree frogs breed near ponds and streams, with males often defending territories, making their locations somewhat predictable to those familiar with the area. The guides’ deep knowledge of the reserve, combined with their sharp eye for even the most elusive species, ensures that a guided tour is the best way to see as much wildlife as possible. If you're a herp photographer, you'll probably find that the guides are finding frogs faster than you can photograph them!

While night hikes yield the highest number of species, especially for reptiles and amphibians, day tours focused on bird watching are also popular. Your stay at Yatama Rainforest Ecolodge includes daily tours at no extra cost, with the option to arrange additional tours for a very reasonable fee. Before each tour, be sure to communicate your target species to your guide. I mentioned to Pedro that Triprion spinosus was my main target, and while he understandably couldn't promise me we'd see one, he made it a focus of the tour and ultimately he delivered!

Yatama Ecolodge YouTube Videos Playlist

4 YouTube videos from Yatama. Press play, then press (or Shift+N) on the video player to move to next video and (or Shif+P) to move back to the previous video. Click the icon in the top right corner of the player to view list of all videos.

Travel Guide to Yatama Rainforest Ecolodge and Reserve

*Caution: Use this section as a starting point for your transportation research, but be sure to confirm accuracy with a second reliable and up to date source. Additional travel information can be found in the Costa Rica Travel Guide or from an outside source such as My Tan Feet blog.

To get to Yatama, you need to first get to the town of Horquetas de Sarapiquí. Transportation to Horquetas is via paved highways, and several transportation options, described below, exist including car rental, bus, or taxi. The last couple kilometers to Yatama is via a very rugged dirt road and requires a pickup from Pedro in is 4x4. A typical SUV car rental will be sufficient to get you to the standard parking lot, before your pickup. Regardless of what transportation method you use, be sure to discuss pickup options with Pedro before you make a final decission on your transportation method.

San Jose to Horquetas de Sarapiquí

Car Rental: From Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), proceed past the luggage carousel to a car rental booth, where the attendant will direct you to your shuttle to the car rental office in Alajuela. Once in Alajuela, drive east through San José and merge onto Highway 32 east of the city. It’s recommended to use a navigation app like Waze and set Horquetas de Sarapiquí as your destination, ensuring you follow the HWY 32 route. Note that HWY 32 is a toll road, so it’s advisable to carry small bills or coins for payment. Continueing east on HWY 32, you will summit the continental divide in Braulio Carillo NP and then start descending into the Caribbean lowlands. Look for the HWY 4 intersection and take hwy 4 north to Horquetas. Once in Horquetas, you may wish to stop at the grocery store, Super Royka, to stock up on supplies and use the restroom. Alternatively, if you have some extra time before your scheduled pickup by Pedro, there is a nice little restaurant less than 2km north of town on HWY 4 called Palmitour. The staff is friendly and the outdoor patio is a great place to have a meal and get some bird watching in (anoles and iguanas are common sights too). With a small 4x4 vehicle such as a Suzuki Jimny, you will likely have been instructed by Pedro to park at the "white house". To get there, first drive to the Super Royka in Horquetas, and then take a main road north west to the suspension bridges. Cross two suspension bridges, heading west. The bridges are only one lane, so be sure to wait your turn if there is oncoming vehicles, and drive slowly and carefully accross the bridge and stay in the center of the bridge, keeping your tires on the tracks. Continue on this dirt road in a general westward direction for about 7 km. Look for a white house on the right. This will be the parking location. Unless directed otherwise, you may wait outside the gait (if it's closed) until Pedro arrives and shows you where to park. The white house is inhabited by people, so be courteous. The drive from Super Royka to this parking lot may take 40 minutes, possibly longer in bad weather.

Taxi: After exiting Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), finding a taxi is easy. Taxi drivers or their scouts will likely approach you as you leave the airport. Look for red taxis, or orange ones (orange denotes airport taxis), usually marked with a yellow triangle on the door. Since Costa Rica doesn't use traditional addresses, you won’t be able to give the driver a direct address for Yatama. Instead, instruct your driver to head toward Horquetas de Sarapiquí, using a navigation app to ensure he follows the most direct route, typically Highway 32 (HWY 32) through Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Once in Horquetas, you can direct the driver to drop you off at the grocery store, Super Royka, to stock up on supplies or to use the restroom.

Bus: From Juan Santamaria international airport (SJO), you need to get to the Gran Terminal del Caribe San José bus station. This is most easily accomplished by hailing a cab ($20-30) immediately outside the airport exit and instructing your driver to go to the Gran Terminal del Caribe San José (the driver should know how to get there). Alternatively, you can take a bus from the airport to the Tuasa terminal in San José, and then a short taxi ride to the Gran Terminal del Caribe.

Once at the Gran Terminal del Caribe, purchase a bus ticket (at the Boletería) to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí (Heredia province). Do not confuse Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí with the popular tourist destination Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. There will likely be many stops along the way, if Horquetas is not one of the standard stops be sure to tell the bus driver you want him to stop in Horquetas. It's helpful to have a map app on your phone, such as Maps.me, with a downloaded map that can work even if you don't have cell service. With a map app, you can track your location so you know where to get off (and where not to get off). Don't be alarmed if your bus takes a slight detour up hwy 229.

❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Yatama Ecolodge