Our story

We live in La Fortuna. We know what hour the forest sings, where the toucan lands at first light, and which road to take when it rains. Every journey we design begins with a conversation — never with a catalogue. Small groups, trusted guides and specialist local partners, time to stop and look. That is how we have travelled with families and photographers for more than fifteen years.

Formerly Elias Nature Tours — same founder, same guides, new name.

Read our journey →

Founder

Elías Peña

Naturalist guide & travel coordinator, VIVO Expeditions

Elías was born in La Fortuna and has spent more than fourteen years leading naturalist tours across Costa Rica. He combines deep knowledge of the Arenal region with hands-on experience in Boca Tapada, Caño Negro and Manuel Antonio. He personally designs every multi-day itinerary and is your point of contact from the first message to the post-trip follow-up.

Meet Our Guides →Read our journey →

Real photos

Our team in the field

No stock photography: every image comes from a real day in the field with our guests in Arenal, Boca Tapada, Manuel Antonio and Isla Damas.

VIVO guests at the Arenal volcano viewpoint with their guide

Small group crossing a hanging bridge at Mistico, Arenal

VIVO guide showing wildlife through a spotting scope to a family in Manuel Antonio

Guests on the safari float along the Peñas Blancas river

Group of birders with our team in Boca Tapada

Family cruising the mangrove channels at Isla Damas

Our guides in front of the Arenal volcano before heading into the field

Family watching birds through a telescope alongside their VIVO guide

Small birding group out with our team in Arenal

Guests seated in the Boca Tapada photo hide with their guide

Family walking the Manuel Antonio National Park trails with their guide

Young guest photographing wildlife from the boat at Isla Damas

Guest observing a frog during the night tour in Arenal

How we work

Genuinely local

We live in La Fortuna and operate across Arenal, Boca Tapada and Manuel Antonio. Nothing is blindly outsourced.

Small groups

Private or shared group, always with room to stop and look.

Respect for the forest

Careful distances with wildlife, no baiting and no shortcuts: observation first.

One point of contact

From the first message to the post-trip follow-up, you speak with the same team.

PYME Costa Rica certified local operation

Trusted Local Operation

Registered in Costa Rica. All vehicles, guides and operations are fully insured and licensed.

TripadvisorExcellent5.0|71 reviews

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N
NorthStar
3 months ago
Full Itinerary · Mistico · Safari · Night Tour · Waterfall
The absolute best choice for our first trip to Costa Rica! I was scared to book our entire itinerary with just one company, but Vivo Expeditions exceeded every expectation. Elias's communication was top-notch from beginning to end and he followed up after every single tour. Safari River Boat with Nahil, Mistico Hanging Bridges & Arenal 1968 with Jose, Night Tour at Papa's Place, La Fortuna Waterfalls with Fabian — every guide went above and beyond. If you are nervous about booking your trip, you are in the best hands.
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cgrenwick
4 months ago
Private Night Tour
Fantastic experience with Vivo Expeditions, right from booking through responsive communication to the tour itself. We did the private night tour in La Fortuna with José as our guide and saw SO many frog species (including the very rare Sylvia's tree frog), 2 snakes (including the scary fer-de-lance!), a kinkajou and various insects. Very memorable evening immersed in nature, surrounded by the glorious noise of the frogs.
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S
Sávio C.
5 months ago
Multiple Tours · La Fortuna
I highly recommend booking with Vivo Expeditions. The entire team is spectacular, especially Chino and Roy, who guided us on fantastic tours.
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Wei P.
5 months ago
Private Night Macro Photography
I had two private night tours with Jose. He was very professional and helpful, tried hard to find my targeted animals and the perfect photography angles. I learned a lot about the creatures here. I told him I wanted to see more snakes, and he made it happen. Elias is also very helpful and understanding with all my needs. Can't wait to come back!
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Nadine J.
5 months ago
Mistico Hanging Bridges
Incredible experience with Miller at Mistico Hanging Bridges. He found us so much wildlife we hadn't seen before, and he was really focused on finding us a yellow-throated toucan, which he finally found! I'd highly recommend Vivo Expeditions and Miller as a guide.
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C
C. W.
5 months ago
Private Birding · 2 half-days
Elias arranged two half-days of private birding around La Fortuna for us, taking into account our goals and some physical limitations. We were very happy with his recommendations. Different guide each day, Ignacio and Luis — both terrific, super knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and very pleasant to spend time with. Communication was easy and the whole experience was great.
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S
Smoyel
5 months ago
Manuel Antonio National Park
Great Manuel Antonio park tour with Andrew! He is a very knowledgeable guide who showed us a lot! Highly recommend him!
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T
T. Pryshlak
6 months ago
Private Night Tour · Papa's Place
We booked a night tour and had a great time with Jose Luis. He was friendly and knowledgeable, guiding us through the night and finding beautiful frogs, basilisk, caiman, birds, crazy insects, and we even saw a Kinkajou scurrying in the treetops! He is an awesome photographer and we have beautiful pictures he took for us through his spotting scope.
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R
Rupyo
6 months ago
Night Photo Tour · Reptiles & Frogs
From booking to tour, the entire experience was excellent. I was interested in photos of reptiles and frogs so they tailored our tour accordingly. Payment system was easy and they came on time to pick us up from our hotel. Our guide Jose was very helpful with photos and finding animals — patient with my angle changes and shared his tricks.
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Relax06993626429
6 months ago
Full Itinerary · La Fortuna
Amazing experience from beginning to end. I contacted Elias before our first trip to Costa Rica to book nature tours for La Fortuna. He took our whole wish list — 2 night walks (Ecocentro Danaus and Papa's Place), canyoning, white water rafting with Arenal Rafting, sloth walk at Bogarin, chocolate and coffee tour at North Fields, zip lining at Sky Adventures and the 1968 trail to Arenal volcano. Luis was our nature guide (Gabriel for the sloth walk), both brilliant. Elias went over and above by messaging us each night with reminders and asking how our day had been. Would recommend wholeheartedly.
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