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If you’re planning your trip and searching for what not to do in wildlife areas in Arenal, this guide is for you.
La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano region are home to a diverse ecosystem, including animals and plants that need care, balance, and respect to coexist. When visiting these places, it’s important to pay attention to the impact we can have on them. Even small actions, like stepping off a trail or getting too close to an animal, can have lasting effects on these natural habitats.
For that reason, we’ve put this blog together. Let us walk you through some simple things to avoid so you can explore Arenal responsibly, keep wildlife safe, and enjoy your visit with confidence, knowing you’re doing your part to protect the rainforest.
10 Things You Should Not Do in Wildlife Areas in Arenal
Exploring wildlife areas in Arenal is an amazing experience, but the things people do and how they behave really matter to keep this tropical rainforest thriving.
Below, we’ll walk you through some common mistakes that are easy to make and often unintentional, but can still have a real impact on wildlife, trails, and the overall experience:
1. Don’t feed wildlife
Many national parks in Costa Rica, like Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park, Corcovado National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and Mistico Park, welcome nature lovers from all over the world through guided tours and outdoor experiences.
When coming close to wildlife, it might feel tempting to offer food to an animal, but feeding them can actually cause serious problems. Human food can affect an animal’s health and change how it naturally searches for food. Over time, animals may begin to depend on people instead of their environment, which can lead to unsafe behavior for both wildlife and visitors.
For example, if people start feeding howler monkeys, they may stop foraging naturally in the forest and start hanging around trails or visitor areas instead. Over time, this can lead to aggressive behavior, fights within the group, or risky interactions with people as they begin to expect food. It can also affect their health, since human food doesn’t meet their nutritional needs.
2. Don’t touch or approach animals
Wildlife encounters can be exciting, especially when animals seem calm or curious. But even if an animal looks comfortable around people, it’s important to keep your distance. Getting too close can cause stress, interrupt natural behavior, or trigger a defensive reaction, sometimes without warning.
Touching animals can also spread diseases in both directions, which puts both you and the wildlife at risk. In some cases, animals may become too used to people, making future encounters more dangerous for everyone. That’s why following basic wildlife safety precautions, like observing quietly from a safe distance and letting animals move freely, is so important. Respecting space helps protect wildlife and allows others to enjoy natural, undisturbed encounters.
3. Don’t leave marked trails
Sticking to marked paths is more important than it might seem. When visitors step off walking trails, plants can be crushed, soil can erode, and small habitats can be damaged without anyone noticing right away. These impacts can take months—or even years—to recover.
Leaving the trail can also increase the risk of slips, falls, or getting lost in unfamiliar terrain. In wildlife areas, trails are carefully designed to guide visitors through safer routes while protecting sensitive environments. Staying on marked paths helps preserve the landscape, reduces accidents, and keeps wildlife areas healthy and safe for everyone who visits.
4. Don’t use flash photography
Taking photos is a big part of wildlife spotting and bird watching, but avoid using flash. Sudden bursts of light can stress animals, scare them away, or disrupt their natural behavior, especially birds and nocturnal species. Flash photography can also interfere with feeding or resting patterns. Turning off your flash and relying on natural light helps keep wildlife calm and allows you to capture more authentic moments in a respectful way.
Planning to photograph wildlife in Costa Rica? Check out our complete guide to learn how to do it respectfully and safely: Costa Rica Wildlife Photography: 11 Tips for Better Shots.
5. Don’t be loud or make sudden movements
Loud voices, shouting, or sudden movements can scare animals away and interrupt their natural behavior, making sightings less likely for you and for others around you. When walking along hiking trails, slowing down and staying quiet helps wildlife feel safe and gives everyone a better chance to enjoy the experience.
At Mistico Park, our guides are trained to read the environment and let you know when it’s a good moment to slow down, especially when wildlife is nearby. Sometimes that means staying still or moving very slowly, which not only improves your chances of spotting animals but also helps keep visitors safe. Following these cues allows wildlife to move naturally while ensuring everyone can observe from a respectful and secure distance.
6. Don’t remove plants, rocks, or natural objects
It might be tempting to take a leaf, a rock, or another natural object as a keepsake, but removing anything from the forest can harm the ecosystem. Plants, soil, and even fallen branches all play a role in supporting wildlife and maintaining balance.
In Costa Rican protected areas, taking natural items is usually against park rules, and most visitors are encouraged to leave everything exactly as they found it. Photos make the best souvenirs, and they help preserve the rainforest for others.
7. Don’t ignore signs, barriers, or staff instructions
Signs, barriers, and guidelines aren’t there to limit your experience. They’re there to protect sensitive areas and keep everyone safe. Some parts of wildlife areas may be under restoration, home to nesting animals, or located near unstable terrain. Crossing barriers or ignoring posted instructions can damage fragile habitats or put you at risk without you even realizing it.
Listening to local guides and park staff is especially important. They understand the terrain, animal behavior, and seasonal changes that can happen during the rainy season that you might not notice. Following their guidance helps ensure that visits remain generally safe for both wildlife and people.
8. Don’t litter or leave anything behind
A healthy rainforest depends on small, responsible choices from each of us. Leaving trash behind might seem like an obvious mistake, but even small items, like food scraps, fruit peels, or tissues, can disrupt the ecosystem. Animals may try to eat leftovers that aren’t part of their natural diet, which can lead to health issues, dependence on human food, or changes in their behavior around humans.
At Mistico Park, we follow a simple “pack it in, pack it out” approach to help protect the rainforest. You’ll find trash bins at the entrance, visitor center, and restrooms, but not along the hiking trails or hanging bridges. This helps prevent animals from accessing waste and keeps the forest as natural as possible.
Pro tip: Bring a bag where you can carry all your trash, like water bottles or snack wrappers, throughout your 1.5 to 2-hour walk.
9. Don’t let children run ahead unsupervised
Wildlife areas are exciting places for kids, but it’s important to stay together as a group. If you’re traveling with children, be mindful if they run ahead, wander into uneven terrain, miss important signs, or get too close to wildlife without realizing it.
Also, make sure they stay close, so together we can protect sensitive plants and prevent accidental entry into restricted areas that are off-limits for safety or conservation reasons. Walking together allows everyone to enjoy the experience safely while respecting the environment and the animals that live there.
10. Don’t treat wildlife areas like a theme park
Wildlife areas aren’t designed like tourist areas with rides or attractions. They’re living ecosystems where animals follow their own routines.
Loud behavior, rushing through trails, or treating the visit like entertainment can disturb wildlife and take away from the experience for others. Exploring calmly, moving slowly, and taking time to observe helps you connect more deeply with nature. When we treat the rainforest with respect, it rewards us with quieter moments, better sightings, and a more meaningful visit overall.
Check out our blog: How to Visit Rainforest Parks Responsibly in Costa Rica: A Practical Visitor Guide!
How to Visit Wildlife Areas in Arenal the Right Way
Visiting wildlife areas in Arenal is much more rewarding when you do it responsibly. One of the simplest ways to protect the rainforest while enjoying your time there is by choosing a guided experience. Guides help create a balance between exploration, safety, and conservation—especially for first-time visitors.
Here are some of the most relevant ways a guided tour can be the best:
- Guides know how to observe animals without disturbing them and help ensure sensitive areas are respected.
- Instead of worrying about what’s allowed, guides handle the details and help keep everyone on the right path.
- Guides understand the terrain and wildlife behavior, helping visitors avoid risky situations.
- With a guide, you’re more likely to spot wildlife, learn interesting details, and enjoy the rainforest at a comfortable pace.
- Guides often recommend practical items like water, closed-toe shoes, light rain gear, sun protection, or mosquito repellent.
- Guides help time your movement, which improves wildlife sightings and keeps both animals and visitors safe.
Experience Wildlife Responsibly at Mistico Park!
Exploring wildlife areas in Arenal is unforgettable. But it’s important to do it with care and respect. Luckily, by following a few essential tips and preventing common mistakes, you can help protect the rainforest and its animals while also enjoying a safer, more meaningful visit.
At Mistico Park, we’re committed to creating experiences that put nature first. If you’re planning your visit to Arenal and want to experience the rainforest responsibly, we’re here to help. Contact Mistico Park to learn more about how to make the most of your time in Arenal.
FAQs
Is it okay to take photos of wildlife in Arenal?
Yes, as long as you keep a safe distance, don’t use flash, and avoid disturbing the animals.
Can kids visit wildlife areas safely?
Yes. Wildlife areas are safe for kids when they stay with adults, follow trail rules, and avoid approaching animals.
Is it safe to walk through wildlife areas without a guide?
Many areas are safe to visit on your own, but a guide can make the experience safer and more informative, especially for first-time visitors.
Are there fines for breaking rules in wildlife areas?
Yes. In many protected areas, breaking rules like feeding animals or leaving trails can result in fines.
What should I do if I see someone disturbing wildlife?
Don’t confront them directly. Inform park staff or a guide so they can handle the situation safely and appropriately.
