The Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge is located in the northern part of Costa Rica near the border with Nicaragua.  This region has some interesting birds and wildlife that you can’t see anywhere else in Costa Rica so I was excited about our full day tour. A wildlife viewing boat trip on the Rio Frio in the Cano Negro area. The two-hour drive from Arenal was long, but broken up with a strategic stop at a small store with at least 50 wild Green Iguanas and this surprise stop along the highway to look at this Three-Toed Sloth that the tour bus driver spotted.

Impromptu stop!!!!

Three-toed Sloth along the highway

The Rio Frio River still has some impressive trees along its bank even though much of the surrounding land was now agricultural fields.

Rio Frio – view of forest along the bank

Large tree along the bank of the Rio Frio

Our boat had a canopy which sheltered us from the sun and rain though most of the day was dry and cloudy. it was actually a very comfortable viewing platform for wildlife and we were able to see a lot of wildlife.

Interior view of boat

Caymens were common along the bank.

Large Caymen along the bank of the Rio Frio

Anhinga drying its wings

One of the things that I was most hoping to see was an Emerald Basilisk and we weren’t disappointed when the captain spotted a stunning adult male lounging on a tree trunk along the bank of the Rio Frio. 

Emerald Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)

Four species of monkeys live in Costa Rica and we were fortunate to see three of them.

Two blonde Howler Monkey babies

The monkeys above are Howler Monkeys, the most widespread of the four species in Costa Rica.  It was surprising to see two blonde sibling babies. A troupe of White-throated Capuchins entertained us as they swung effortlessly  from branch to branch.

Curious White-throated Capuchin

The third species of monkey were these Spider Monkeys.  Not a very good photograph, but you can see the long prehensile tail that they use to help grab branches.

Spider Monkey

The tour company positioned the boat so we could all get some decent photographs of some big Green Iguanas lounging in the branches at the water’s edge.

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

Here are some additional photos for you to enjoy.

Long-nosed Bats roosting over the river.

Neotropical Cormorant

Pair of Bat Falcons that were perched along the river’s edge

Green Kingfisher

Ringed Kingfisher

Tropical Slider

All in all it was a very enjoyable trip and was nice to get out of the rain in Arenal. Most everyone had an enjoyable time, except maybe this little guy.

Linda & John on the Rio Frio in the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge