Los Guatuzos wildlife refuge

Leave on a scenic 30-minute boat ride to the southern shore of Lake Nicaragua. On clear days four impressive volcanoes can be seen on the horizon, all of which are in Costa Rica.

You then cruise quietly up the Rio Papaturro which drains into the lake from Costa Rica. This beautiful river is still relatively tourist-free and is a haven for birdlife.

You can expect to see great egrets, blue and green heron, kingfishers and cormorants as well as parakeets and many other species. There is also a healthy population of alligators, caiman, turtles and iguanas.

As the river narrows, the further you head inland, thick vegetation and giant palms on its banks close in and you arrive at a small ranger station where you need to pay approximately $10 for a tour with a local guide. The station has a caiman and turtle nursery, orchid and butterfly farm, some hanging bridge walkways and some rainforest trails you can explore.