La Selva Wildlife Refuge & Zoo

La Selva Wildlife Refuge & Zoo Review

Most nature lovers are no fans of zoos, but this modest collection of mostly rescued small animals offers a great chance to see them up close in chest-high corrals under the shade of trees. The Italian owners are a little eccentric, and the place is not terribly well kept. There are plenty of usually hard-to-see nocturnal animals, so the best time to visit is at sunset when the roly-poly armadillos and big-eyed kinkajous are starting to stir. There are also skunks, spotted pacas, raccoons, and scarier species like bats, boas, poison dart frogs, caimans, and crocodiles. A bromeliad and orchid collection is artistically arranged around the zoo. If you come early in the day, your ticket is also good for a return evening visit. It's pricey, but the ticket price helps to buy food for the animals. Kids under six years are free.