Attractions

Snakes Under Glass

Just a few blocks west of the Centro Neotrópico SarapiquíS, you'll find Jardin de Seprientes (Snake Garden; tel. 2761-1059), a collection of over 50 snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, and other reptiles and amphibians. One of the prize attractions here, although not native, is a massive, yellow Burmese python. All are kept in clean, well-lit displays. Admission is $6 (£3) adults, $3 (£1.50) children.

Two Major Attractions en Route

If you're driving to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí via the Guápiles Highway, you might want to stop at the Rain Forest Aerial Tram. You'll see the entrance on your right shortly after passing through the Zurquí tunnel. If you're traveling via Varablanca and La Virgen, you'll want to visit the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which is right on the winding road to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, about 6km (3 3/4 miles) beyond Varablanca.

Go Bananas

The local community of Nogal and Chiquita banana company have combined to offer an interpretive tour of a regional banana plantation. Part theater, part educational presentation, and part site inspection, the tour even features dancing girls. The 2-hour tour is offered every Tuesday at 1:30pm, or by reservation (tel. 8825-0494; www.chiquitabananashow.com), and costs $15 (£7.50)

A Natural History Theme Park

The Centro Neotrópico SarapiquíS is a multifaceted natural-history project and tourist attraction. The Alma Ata Archaeological Park is basically an ongoing dig of a modest pre-Columbian gravesite; so far, 12 graves, some petroglyphs, and numerous pieces of ceramic and jewelry have been unearthed. Plans for the park include the reconstruction of a small indigenous village. The hotel also has a small museum that displays examples of the ceramics, tools, clothing, and carvings found here, as well as other natural-history exhibits. Just across the hotel's driveway, you'll find the Chester Field Biological Gardens, which feature well-tended and displayed examples of local medicinal and ornamental plants and herbs, as well as food crops. Admission to the archaeological park, museum, and gardens costs $19 (£10). If you just want to visit the museum, the cost is $12 (£6); it's open daily from 8am to 6pm. A self-guided walk through the botanical gardens is free.

Across the Sarapiquí River from the Centro Neotrópico is the 300-hectare (741-acre) private Tirimbina Rainforest Center (tel. 2761-1579; www.tirimbina.org), which features a small network of trails and several impressive suspension bridges, both over the river and through the forest canopy. A self-guided walk of the bridges and trails of the reserve costs $15 (£7.50) per person, and a 2-hour guided tour costs $20 (£10) per person -- definitely worth the extra few bucks. Night tours and specialized bird-watching tours are also available.