Lying very close to the border of Nicaragua, the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is located in Alajuela province in the counties of Los Chiles and Guatuso. Thirty kilometers southeast of Upala town (80 miles north of San José), this refuge lies in northern Costa Rica and is without doubt one of the most ecologically diverse sites in the country. It is quite off the beaten path, but worth the effort. In order to visit Caño Negro, it’s necessary to join a day tour. Most visits start out at Los Chiles where you board a boat and glide up the Río Frío through canyons of green towards the everglade lake Lago Caño Negro

Along the shores of the river and in the trees that bend over its waters, visitors will be able to spot birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. There are howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, three-toed sloth, caimans, turtles, and even Jesus Christ Lizards. Keep your eyes on the river, too – there’s the chance of spotting the fin of a freshwater shark as it slices above the water’s surface because this area is the end of their annual trip up the Río Nicaragua from the sea.

During the green (rainy) season from May to October, water from the mountains is plentiful and the Río Frío overflows its banks to form the lake Lago Caño Negro positioned right in the middle of the flyway for migrant North and South American birds. Millions of birds arrive here to winter over during the dry season (December to April.) The water level steadily falls, until all that is left is the Río Frío's main channel and the migrants depart.

Among the 200 species of birds found that have been found in Caño Negro are: glossy Ibis, black-necked stilt, neotropical cormorants, American anhinga, northern jacana, American widgeon, wood stork, white Ibis, black-bellied tree duck, northern shoveler, snail kite, green backed heron, roseate spoonbill, and blue-winged teal. This is one of the best places to see the Nicaraguan grackle, whose only Costa Rican habitat is Caño Negro and other marshy areas just south of Lake Nicaragua.You can also see the Jabirus, which is the largest bird in Central America and is extremely endangered.

The Río Frío has good fishing for snook, guapote, alligator gar, drum, and huge tarpon (fishers have claimed to have caught fish up to 100 kg or 220 lbs). Fishing is allowed in the reserve from July 1 to March 31, a license is $US 30 from the ranger station in Caño Negro village. Caño Negro is a well kept fishing secret.

The temperatures range from 70ºF to 90ºF with 120 inches of precipitation annually and at least 5 hours of sunshine per day.
A stunning natural refuge, Caño Negro is considered by many to be the third most important wetland in the world. A place you must visit when in Costa Rica, this sanctuary was named the ‘Wetland of International Importance’ in 1991, and is one of the most significant humid zones in the country.

Temperature Ranges from 70ºF to 90ºF Precipitation 120 inches annual average

Locatio Alajuela Province, 80 miles N of San Jos

Date of Creation 20 January 1984