The Unexplored Cano Negro

Arriving to Cano Negro by bus is challenging. First we took a bus from Grecia to Naranjo and then another bus from Naranjo to Upala with a stop of almost 1h in the bus terminal in San Carlos. 

Road to Cano Negro

In Colonia Punta Arenas, the bus dropped us off in an intersection with an unpaved road next to a small shop called Agrocolos. Since the buses are not coordinated, we missed the bus to Cano Negro (there are only 3 buses per day). We would have to wait 2h to get the next bus or find another way to get there. We stopped by the shop and we inquired customers if afterwards they were going in that direction. A guy agreed to take us there for $20. 

It's a 30 kms ride in a terrible road. The best $20 I have ever spent. 

This guy was originally from Nicaragua and he told us more about Nica food. And about Nicaragua. Our next destination.

Cano Negro wetlands

We stayed at Natural Lodge Cano Negro. This time we learned our lesson and we booked 2 nights to have plenty of time to explore it. 

Keep in mind that the location is what you are paying for. The room is just the frame.

The hotel organizes several tours. We picked the boat and the canoe tour with Jimmy, their best guide. 

The boat was nice (a bit stressful due to a very talkative and annoying lady, she spent all the time talking about unrelated silly things... Yeah, I'm still angry with you lady!) but the canoe tour is way better. 

Fish boat

"Blue jeans" frog

First of all because it's easier to spot wildlife. We went to small canals where only canoes and kayaks can go. Motor boats aren't allowed. 

Jimmy is a great guide. He is very knowledgeable, kind and passionate about his job. Going on a private tour with him is an awesome experience. 

It's hard to point out the highlights on this 3 hours tour because everything was pretty impressive. 

Canoe in a small canal

Our canoe

We did a stop in a piece of land in the jungle where Jimmy showed us a "blue jeans frog". And in the end we went to a place where hundreds of birds were resting and we could see all them from very close in an incredible set. When we were leaving we saw an alligator swimming next to our canoe.
This tour itself was the highlight of our entire trip in Central America.

Fish boat

Canoe tour

In Tortuguero we came across hundreds of tourists and boats speeding. In Cano Negro we were the only tourists along with 15 others that were staying in the same hotel than us. And there was no fast boats, just a couple of fishing boats. 

Even the village is small and peaceful. We didn't see many people around.

If you are into nature tours, this is the right place for you.