Costa Rica is one of the greenest countries in the world, not only for having a large number and variety of flora and fauna but mainly for all the conservation efforts made to protect and preserve its biodiversity, treasuring it as gold. There are currently 169 protected wilderness areas in Costa Rica (including national parks, the best wildlife sanctuaries in Costa Rica, reserves and conservation regions), meaning that around 28% of the national territory is under some category of protection.
In this article, we will present basic information about some of the most relevant animal rescue centers or wildlife sanctuaries in Costa Rica.
Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in the province of Puntarenas, there is Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a place devoted to providing a secure retreat to Costa Rican wildlife that has suffered due to human intervention. Deforestation, hunting, habitat loss, illegal pet trade, and disrespect to the environment are only some of the horrible actions that have caused many animals to be expelled from their natural environment suffering loss and damage. Natuwa offers them a place to live by providing the appropriate care and assistance they need. If, after a while, they are fully recovered and ready to return to their habitat, then they are sent back. If not, they stay in the sanctuary to be looked after.
You can see parrots, like these, at the Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Costa Rica.
Natuwa Wildlife Sanctuary houses over 200 macaws and exotic parrots, as well as mammals such as spider monkeys, tapirs, sloths, and jaguars, among others. They have a volunteer program that you can be a part of.
The Sloth Institute
As the name itself suggests, this institution concentrates all its conservation efforts on sloths’ rescue, rehab, release, and care. With an astonishing number of over 400 sloths rescued, this place has made a huge difference in helping this iconic Costa Rican animal survive.
The Sloth Institute is a great place to see the four-legged creatures during your time in Costa Rica.
The sloth institute is located in Manuel Antonio, and they have 4 different programs designed to educate visitors and support the center’s needs. You can help this institute in many ways, symbolically adopting, volunteering, or buying some of its products. You can find such items here.
Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
Rescate is another nonprofit organization dedicated to providing protection and rehabilitation to a wide variety of animals. They have permanent staff and veterinary care available to the injured animals they rescue and support. This center has no limits in terms of the species they welcome and protect, from jaguars, all types of birds, reptiles, monkeys, sloths, ocelots, …think of any tropical animal…you will surely see it there. With more than 30 years of service to the Costa Rican fauna, this place provides education to visitors of all ages and welcomes volunteers all year long. They also have a gift shop and a restaurant inside the facility to make your stay a welcome one.
The Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center is a great place to see big cats, like jaguars and ocelots!
Diamante Animal Sanctuary
Situated in Guanacaste province, inside Diamante Eco Adventure Park is Diamante Animal Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica is known for its elite living space plans that address the requirements of every species it holds. If you want to have a little adventure (ziplining, horseback riding, ATV tours, etc.) and also get to know this beautiful animal refuge, then you can find it all here.
The Diamante Animal Sanctuary is a great place to see animals in Guanacaste, but also a fabulous spot for ziplining, horseback riding, ATV tours, and other fun activities.
Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center
With more than 17 years of experience rescuing wild animals in Costa Rica, this center located in the province of Alajuela receives injured wildlife with the clear purpose of helping them recover and be successfully returned to their habitats if they are in the condition to do so. More than 100 animals have made their way to this sanctuary, which has given them a second chance. They offer daily tours that take about 1 hour, and all the money raised is available for the maintenance of the center. Here there is more info about the tours.
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is another non-profit association with the sole mission of rescuing, protecting, and rehabilitating Costa Rica’s precious fauna. They have around-the-clock veterinarians devoted to the well-being of injured animals that are brought to the center. If these animals cannot return to the wild for any reason, they are kept safe in great conditions suitable for their absolute welfare. This beautiful sanctuary is located in Puntarenas province.
The Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to see exotic animals nursed back to life.
Osa Wildlife Sanctuary
The Osa Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Piedras Blancas National Park on the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica. This rescue center employs people committed to the cause of restoring Costa Rica’s wild animals and also opens its doors to volunteers willing to help with this lovely mission. This sanctuary has managed to work wisely with the local community, nearby businesses, and the government to enhance its impact. Besides donating money or time, you also have the option of checking their wishlist. This is a compilation of items they need for the center, so you can also help by donating any of them. Feel free to check their wishlist here.
If you want to help baby sloths like this one and other animals be nursed back to life, you should visit the Osa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary
Sibu is a permanent home for wildlife that has been rescued and cannot go back to their environment. It is located in the province of Guanacaste, and it offers its visitors a beautiful experience where they can learn a lot about the species living there. Sibu cares immensely about providing animals with an environment that is as similar as possible to their natural habitats. They are in constant collaboration with specialists that advise them on how to better meet the needs of each animal. Sibu Wildlife sanctuary is a vivid, instructive experience and an opportunity to reconnect with nature in a beautiful little paradise.
All of these wonderful wildlife sanctuaries are spread in different locations in Costa Rica, and they are without a doubt worthy of the highest admiration as their work is selfish and beyond noble. Their conservation efforts support Costa Rica’s biodiversity and world heritage.
You can be a part of this amazing and never-ending mission by donating either time or money. Every wildlife sanctuary is in need of support to keep its awesome work going. We assure you that any contribution will not only make a big difference but will also surely make your heart warmer.
Stay with Special Places of Costa Rica During Your Visit to Costa Rica
If you plan to visit one or more of these wildlife sanctuaries in Costa Rica, we hope you’ll consider staying in one of our homes, villas, or vacation rentals in Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
Special Places is located within the beautiful coastal resort town of Flamingo, in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. With over 15 years of service dedicated to the rental and property management profession, we have an extensive list of rentals in the Flamingo, Potrero, Brasilito and Tamarindo Beach area. Whether looking to plan your next tropical vacation or searching for someone to manage your home, our goal is to provide our clients with the most efficient and personable service in the area.
** In accordance with public health recommendations, Special Places continues to work hard to keep our guests safe. These protocols include enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures for all properties under management **
We are very proud of our professional maid service staff, who provide regular cleaning for some 150 properties — and do it with a smile. A half-dozen maids provide full-time service at a single house, but all the rest rotate among a wide variety of properties from Matapalo to Playa del Coco.
Maids are responsible not just for cleaning but for staging the house, with everything in its proper place, and keeping track of inventory (so that, for example, new clients don’t check in and find there’s no toilet paper). At times, say on Jan. 2, there are so many checkouts and check-ins that the maids bring their sisters, brothers and mothers to get all the work done.
Full-time maids assigned to a single property assist clients with shopping, cooking and laundry, and they often form close bonds with clients. It’s no surprise that our clients often want to take their maids home with them.
Special Places of Costa Rica employs two full-time maintenance men who service all our properties, plus a handful of caretakers dedicated to a single property each.
These men will fix just about any problem that arises — leaks, electrical and plumbing issues, a door that scrapes on a floor, a noisy ceiling fan… you name it. They also paint homes and provide roofing maintenance.
Our maintenance staff are available 24/7 for emergencies like a burst pipe that causes a flood. Special Places of Costa Rica also enjoys a network of qualified subcontractors to handle swimming pool service, gardening / landscaping and repairs to air conditioning units & kitchen appliances.
Steven, from Potrero, is a rental agent for Special Places. He processes rental inquiries, checks on property availability, makes reservations and helps with check-in and check-out info.
Steven has worked at three hotels: as a bellman at Casa Chameleon in Las Catalinas, as a receptionist in the Sugar Beach Hotel near there, and as a receptionist at Jardín del Edén in Tamarindo. He has a bachelor’s degree in teaching English from the Universidad Latina in Santa Cruz, and someday he hopes to teach English at his old high school in Cartagena.
Steven likes to ride his Kawasaki 250 dirt bike in the Potrero Hills, around Las Catalinas and in Tempate. He’s also interested in cars and mechanics, and he’s skilled at repairing motorcycles.
Quote: “I think work is a very important tool that helps us to fulfill ourselves as human beings in life and to improve on what we already know.”
Rebeca is an accounting assistant at Special Places, processing invoices and accounts payable and monitoring vehicle fleet expenses.
Originally from San José, she studied accounting at two institutions there and spent years working in accounting for two international shipping firms.
She currently lives in Santa Cruz, where she is married and has dogs and cats. She is a big fan of the Saprissa soccer team and also likes going to the beach and the movies.
Quote: “Haz bien y no mires a quién,” meaning, “Do good without considering to whom.”
Born in Samar Province in the Philippines, Phem has a two-year degree in computer science from the Asian Institute of Computer Studies. She came to Costa Rica at age 19 to work for her aunt, who owned the Mariner Inn in Flamingo. She later worked for House of Rentals, then Special Places of Costa Rica when the companies merged. As a concierge, she books tours, rental cars, chefs or whatever clients need to make their stay enjoyable. “Whatever they request, you do it,” she said.
She enjoys “having a connection to people, meeting different people, helping people.” Her proudest accomplishment was moving from the Philippines to Costa Rica to explore better opportunities. She recommends that visitors to Flamingo try an ATV tour, a catamaran cruise, rappelling or whitewater rafting.
Quote: “I love Potrero. I live in Surfside. It’s quiet, safe, and people there are very accommodating, nice, friendly, always willing to help you. They’re open to anyone. I like that community. And the bars are within walking distance.”
Pascale, Kenny’s mother and business partner, is the head accountant at Special Places. She is responsible for all the accounting, billing and taxes, managing the maid service, setting work schedules and procuring cleaning products.
Pascale is from Antwerp, Belgium, where she and her husband had a food-service business specializing in poultry. But they often traveled to the Caribbean and Central America, and in 2009 decided to move to Costa Rica.
“We thought it was time to follow some dreams, so we sold the business and came to Costa Rica,” she said. They traveled to every corner of the country, but they fell in love with Guanacaste and decided to settle in Flamingo. They couldn’t find a house that satisfied Pascale’s handyman husband, so they built their own on the hills above Potrero in Pacific Heights.
She says her proudest accomplishment is “bringing two beautiful sons into the world.”
Quote: “The way we raised them, they were very independent. We taught them to work also. Of course, school came first. To us it’s white and black, and the gray doesn’t exist. It’s good or bad.”
Norlyng coordinates the maintenance of all Special Places properties, and she’s also in charge of Human Relations and is an assistant to Kenny Segers.
Born in Limón but a longtime resident of Matapalo, she previously worked as a receptionist at the Best Western Seis Playas Hotel. She also spent six years at the Wyndham Tamarindo, working as head of reception and as an administrative assistant.
Norlyng studied law for a year and a half at the University of Costa Rica in Liberia, but currently she is more focused on tourism. She is married and has two daughters, ages 9 and 2. Her interests include reading (the Bible, inspirational works and finance) and going to relaxing places.
Quote: “My philosophy of life is to live in the present and try not to worry about the future, to have clear objectives, to try not to stress too much and to act in the present.”
A native of Brasilito, Karolayn has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Universidad Latina in Santa Cruz. She is responsible for the billing, accounting and filing at Special Places.
She enjoys hiking and swimming, and her favorite local places are Playa Danta and Playa Conchal. Asked what activity she would recommend to visitors, she said riding a Banana Boat, an inflatable, banana-shaped boat towed behind a speedboat.
Quote: “The working environment here is very nice, very tranquilo. We get along really well, the management, the coworkers, and also the maids and maintenance people. Also, in my job I’ve learned a lot of things that in university classes they don’t teach. It gives you the opportunity to learn and grow.”
A native of Antwerp, Belgium, Kenny emigrated to Costa Rica in 2008. Having graduated from high school in Belgium, he studied economics and business administration in Costa Rica. Eager to go into business, Kenny left university to work as a property manager for House of Rentals in Flamingo, which he acquired not long after starting the job. House of Rentals grew into Special Places of Costa Rica, currently represented by offices in Playa Flamingo and Playas del Coco, and known as one of the leading agencies in the area.
Kenny speaks and writes fluent Spanish, English and Dutch. He is the proud father of a Costa Rican son, Khael, who was born in 2016.
Passionate about his growing vacation rental and management business, Kenny is always looking for investments and opportunities. Hotel Pitaya Lodge (formerly Kakaos Lodge) is also under his management.
In 2020, he began building the first of several homes as part of a newly launched project development/construction company.
Juan Carlos works as a rental agent, attending to any questions about renting a property, explaining the options available, answering any questions and supporting the concierge team in extra services like tours or transport.
Juan Carlos was born in San José and currently lives in Potrero. He has worked for some 15 years in sales or customer service at hotels, including the Hotel Barceló in San José, the Hotel Parador in Manuel Antonio and the Lagarta Lodge in Nosara.
He also studied English at the Instituto Norteamericano in San José, earning a C2 certification in English. He has also taken several courses in administration.
Juan Carlos likes walking on the beach (“so I’m definitely in the right place”) with his French bulldog. “They’re very mischievous but very sweet, very good company.”
Quote: “I always say, ‘It costs nothing to smile.’ I always like to convey that people should be happy no matter what.”
Juan Diego, who was born and raised in Villarreal, works as a concierge. That means he helps visitors arrange tours and transportation, rental cars, airport pickup and dropoff, and other services.
Juan Diego studied sustainable tourism management at UNED, the Universidad Estatal a Distancia, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 2013. He has worked as an admin for the Dream Chaser catamaran in Tamarindo, as a receptionist at the Hotel Pasatiempo in Tamarindo, and as a concierge at the Hotel Dreams Las Mareas in El Jobo.
Juan Diego enjoys watching HBO series and movies, riding his bike, going out with friends and watching the sunset on the beach.
Quote: “I like concierge work because I get to help a lot of people, fulfilling the dreams of tourists who visit a beautiful country like Costa Rica that’s full of nature.”
José does property inspections, check-ins and check-outs for Special Places, making sure that properties are in great shape for new clients.
Born in Limón, he currently lives in Cartagena. He went to high school at Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Santa Cruz, and he spent seven years working as a waiter and bartender at the JW Marriotts in Hacienda Pinilla and Reserva Conchal.
He enjoys going to the beach, listening to music, watching movies and series, playing video games and spending time with family.
Quote: “If you’re afraid of dying, it’s better not to be born.”
A native of Nicoya who lives in Cartagena, Jhon works in accounting at Special Places, calculating reservation contracts, sales commissions and billing. He has been studying accounting at the Universidad Latina in Santa Cruz for a year and a half.
His goal is to have an accounting firm of his own. His favorite hobby is artisanal fishing, usually from a boat out of Flamingo, and he once caught a 70-pound mahi-mahi. He also has caught marlin in Tamarindo and Quepos.
His greatest pride is a nearly 2-year-old daughter named Elizabeth Aitana.
Quote: “I think the most marvelous thing that’s happened to me would be the birth of my daughter. That’s the thing I’m most proud of.”
Jason is a concierge and rental specialist with an interesting job — knocking on new clients’ doors to see if they need anything or would like to book any tours or other services.
Born in Limón and currently living in Huacas, Jason speaks flawless English. He has taken some university courses on websites and social media marketing. He is married, no kids, but has a cat named Kirara.
Jason previously worked as a database analyst at Western Union in San José, typically addressing charge-backs on credit cards and resolving other monetary issues.
Jason loves “adrenaline,” muddy offroad adventures, motorcycling, ATV, video games, surfing and skateboarding.
Quote: “You don’t have to be the smartest person to fulfill your dreams, all you need is to put in a little effort and be certain that you will achieve whatever you set your mind to.”
Gabriel joined Special Places as an accounting assistant at the age of 20. He was born in Liberia and currently lives in Filadelfia with his family.
He studied at the Colegio Técnico Profesional de Carrillo, with a specialty in accounting and auditing. He worked previously as an accounting assistant and secretary for a clinic in Palestina de Belén that serves disabled people.
Gabriel enjoys mountain biking, and for the past eight years he has volunteered at the Red Cross in Filadelfia, working mostly in strategic communication.
Quote: “We never have to give up on a dream just because of the time it takes to achieve it.”
Daniela works as an administrative assistant in Human Resources, helping with payroll, health benefits and insurance, as well as onboarding new personnel.
Born in Liberia, she now lives in Villarreal, and she not only has two dogs but also a horse. She adores animals and loves to go horseback riding in the country. She also likes listening to Latin music like cumbia and salsa.
Daniela has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Universidad Libre de Costa Rica (ULICORI). Before coming to Special Places, she worked as an HR assistant at the Occidental Hotel in Tamarindo, where she learned a lot about Human Resources in a real-world environment.
Quote: “Take risks, because everything good starts with a little fear!”
Carla works as an accounting assistant at Special Places and is also involved in property management.
She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and raised in Ciudad Guayana, where she earned a law and accountant degree and worked as a lawyer and accountant. Since coming to Costa Rica, she has worked as a manicurist, masseuse, bartender, waitress and artist.
A gifted artist and something of a Renaissance woman, Carla also draws and makes earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Her varied interests include dancing, hiking, scuba diving, traveling and discovering new cultures.
Quote: “My motto is ‘I know that I own the weak and fragile body of a woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king.’ ”
Pricing Notice
This property is not managed by Special Places of Costa Rica.
Accordingly, rental rates and availability for this property might not be current. Please submit an inquiry and will be be happy to verify the details and assist you with your booking.
