Sarapiqui County Inn History La Quinta (Country Inn) exemplifies the resilience of the tropical rainforest. In 1993 the site of the inn was a farm, cleared of most of its trees and natural vegetation. Careful planning and giving nature a chance has resulted in a remarkable recovery to date.  The Inn has established specific habitat to attract butterflies, birds and frogs. Practically anything will grow in this environment, in fact ten percent of the earth's bio-diversity is present in Costa Rica and the lowland humid rainforest, of Sarapiqui provides limitless opportunities for the eco-tourist. This is a great place for families, individuals and groups interested in learning about the natural history of Costa Rica. You can also visit the nearby villages and meet local people.  There are excellent sleeping rooms and a restaurant on site. This area of Costa Rica is dominated by lowland rainforests which butt up against the central mountain ranges making for a lush, warm interior region. Rivers flow through the area offering rafting tours and float trips. Things You Can Do Here Cooking workshops This activity consists of a guided walk through the trail to end it up at the vegetable garden where people can harvest some of what we have and then we do a cooking workshop where we all learn about the properties of each one of the vegetables and we (staff and guests) all participate cutting, boiling, frying, or whatever is needed to prepare a dish for dinner.  In the meantime, we try some other things that we cook while there.The area for cooking is a beautiful big thatched roof building next to a pond in the trail. The main dish we usually prepare is a heart of palm dice or a green papaya dice and the snacks we try while cooking are tortillas, fried yuca, fried bread fruit and pineapple. Walking and planting of a native tree We have assigned an area of La Quinta for reforestation.  Since the begining we have been inviting our guests to plant a native tree in order to cooperate with the restoration process of the native flora.  We specially plant Almendro de Montaña, to improve the habitat for the Green Macaw.This activity takes place within the property and is reserved only for guest with no cost at all.   The Original Pineapple Tour The tour consists of a trip through an active operating pineapple farm.  The informed guide gives an interesting talk about the history, cultivation of pineapple and shows all the phases of pineapple growth from sowing to harvest.  There is a visit to a packing plant, an ornamental pineapple project and an organic pineapple review.  All are invited to enjoy a generous snack of piña colada in fresh fruit, fresh pineapple and freshly made pineapple juice.   ChocolateTour Tirimbina Rainforest center "An adventure and learning destination" Discover the secrets and marvels of one of the favorite foods of human kind.   The Chocolate Cacao:  With its origins in Mesoamerica, with a rich and extraordinary history.  The discovery of America took it to Europe, transforming into the product we know today. The Tour, with duration of three hours includes: Guided walk through Tirimbina suspension bridge. Cacao plantation. Forest and wild species of cacao. Natural and cultural history of the cacao. Process:  From cacao to chocolate (Harvesting, fermentation and dying). Chocolate tasting, cacao and organic chocolate productions, produced by Asociación de Mujeres Amazilia del Caribe.   This tour rescues one of our native plants and one of the friendliest crops with the environment. Tirimbina Rainforest Center Walking Guided Tours and Self-guided Walks at Tirimbina Rainforest Center The Tirimbina Biological Reserve is a National Wildlife Refuge protecting a large variety of flora and fauna. Among the species that can be observed are: howler monkeys, white-faced and spider monkeys, two and three-toed sloth, white tent bats, manakins, toucans and poison dart frogs.   Guided walk (2 hours) US $17.00 Includes guide and entrance fee Self guided walk US $15.00 Includes entrance fee Night Walk US $17.00 Bat Tour US $15.00 Walking Guided Tour at La Selva Biological Station Daily morning and afternoon guided walks in the rain forest led by excellent naturalist guides. Peccaries, agouties, sloth, howler and spider monkeys are seen frequently, as well as varied habitats. Nearly half of the 850 species of birds in Costa Rica inhabit these lowlands, more than 70 species of bats and five of the six species of cats in the country. Advanced reservations are necessary.  Half day tour US $28.00 Child Half day US $20.00 Birding Tour (2 hours) US $38.00 Night Tour (2 hours) US $38.00