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Día Internacional del Perezoso 2026: 16 años en Proyecto Asís

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El Día Internacional del Perezoso se celebra cada año el tercer sábado de octubre. En 2026 cae el sábado 17, y llegamos a la edición número 16. Este año la celebración es en nuestras propias instalaciones, en Javillos de Florencia, San Carlos.

Afiche del Día Internacional del Perezoso 2026 en Proyecto Asís: sábado 17 de octubre, de 8 a.m. a 3 p.m.

Datos del evento

Fecha
Sábado 17 de octubre de 2026
Hora
De 8:00 a.m. a 3:00 p.m.
Lugar
Instalaciones de Proyecto Asís, 500 metros oeste del cruce de Javillos
Organiza
Proyecto Asís
Invitan
Coopelesca y Municipalidad de San Carlos

Adriana te cuenta sobre los perezosos

Adriana, de Proyecto Asís, sobre los perezosos y cómo cuidarlos.

Actividades

  • Stand “Stop Animal Selfies”
  • Rifas de peluches de perezosos
  • Donación de árboles
  • Venta de artículos promocionales de perezosos

Tour de cortesía

Coordinalo por WhatsApp al 8679-5867.

Cómo llegar

Estamos a 500 metros oeste del cruce de Javillos, en Florencia de San Carlos, Alajuela, camino a La Fortuna. Ver la ubicación en el mapa.

Conocé más sobre los perezosos

Ediciones anteriores

How Visitors Help Make Enrichment Toys for White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys at Proyecto Asis

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White-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) are among the most intelligent primates in Costa Rica — and that intelligence needs to be exercised every single day.

At Proyecto Asis, our caregivers use enrichment toys to stimulate natural behaviors like foraging, problem-solving, and manual dexterity. These are not store-bought accessories. Every toy is handmade from safe, natural materials — and visitors can help build them.

What Are Enrichment Toys and Why Do They Matter?

Animal enrichment is a core principle of responsible wildlife rescue. When a monkey arrives at our sanctuary after injury or rescue from illegal captivity, rehabilitation isn’t just physical — it’s behavioral. Enrichment toys help animals:

  • Practice species-typical behaviors (foraging, manipulating objects, exploring)
  • Exercise cognitive problem-solving skills
  • Maintain physical dexterity needed for eventual release
  • Reduce stress in a sanctuary environment

For white-faced capuchins, whose hands and minds are in constant use in the wild, enrichment is not optional — it is essential care.

How Visitors Help at Proyecto Asis

In the video above, you can see a young visitor working alongside our guide Carlos to assemble enrichment toys that go directly to our capuchin monkeys. She’s selecting live worms — one of the natural food rewards hidden inside the toys — under the guidance of our team.

This is exactly what guests experience during our Wildlife Tour + Volunteer: a 2.5-hour program (Monday through Saturday, 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM) where visitors participate in real sanctuary work — preparing diets, building enrichment toys, and observing feeding from a respectful distance, in line with Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment regulations.

It is suitable for all ages and families are welcome.

Join Us in La Fortuna

Proyecto Asis is a certified wildlife rescue sanctuary and educational center located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, steps from Arenal Volcano. We care for over 30 rescued species, and every tour directly supports their recovery and long-term welfare.

Wildlife Tour + Volunteer — from $60 USD adults / $35 USD kids (ages 5–9)
→ Book your spot here

Wildlife Tours & Volunteer Programs in Costa Rica: More Than a Sanctuary

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What makes Proyecto ASIS different from any other wildlife experience in Costa Rica? It starts with a simple but powerful idea: every animal here has a story, and every story is an opportunity to educate. Located in La Fortuna, Costa Rica near Arenal Volcano, Proyecto ASIS is a wildlife rescue center, sanctuary, and educational center dedicated to rescuing injured and orphaned animals, promoting ethical wildlife tourism, and fighting the exotic pet trade. Whether you join us for a Wildlife Tour, add a hands-on Volunteering component, or explore the Sloth Tour, you’ll leave with a completely new understanding of what it means to coexist with nature.

Welcome to Proyecto ASIS, we are a wildlife rescue center, sanctuary, and educational center. Our main goal is to use the sanctuary and the cases we have here — animals that end up with us due to human-related reasons — to tell their stories and motivate people to avoid keeping exotic pets, promote more ethical tourism with wildlife, and give the animals that come here for medical care a chance to go back home. As we say: I hope not to see you again out here.

It’s important to understand that because we coexist with them, we can observe them — but we do not interact directly, because otherwise we would be affecting their natural behavior.

Wildlife Tour

For daily visitors, we offer a Wildlife Tour: a guided walk with our tour guides, because people normally have questions about the animals and we want to explore what they want to learn. That’s the Wildlife Tour.

Wildlife Tour + Volunteering

Then we have the Wildlife Tour + Volunteering. The volunteering component comes at the end of the tour — we go and prepare the animals’ diet together, and help make enrichment toys so we can feed them equally and avoid any conflict. This helps visitors understand that the care behind this sanctuary requires a lot of work — and that having a monkey, for example, is not just about having a cute animal that will be fine on its own. It requires tremendous effort and dedication to their welfare.

Sloth Tour & Environmental Education

We also offer the Sloth Tour, which has a strong environmental education component. We teach elementary school students, and give university students the opportunity to complete their volunteer hours here.

More Than a Sanctuary

So more than a sanctuary, more than a rescue center — what we truly are is a wildlife educational center.

🎬 A special thank you to the journalism students from Mercer University’s Macon Newsroom (@maconnewsroom) for producing this video. Your talent, dedication, and passion for storytelling made this possible — we are truly grateful!

Sloth Sanctuary Tour La Fortuna Costa Rica – Proyecto Asis

Sloth Sanctuary
1.5 hrs

Book here
Geoffroy's Spider Monkey Maggie Asis Costa Rica Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary

Wildlife Tour
1.5 hrs

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Wildlife Tour and Volunteer Costa Rica

Wildlife+Volunteer
2.5 hrs

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Full Day Tour Proyecto Asis La Fortuna Costa Rica

Full Day Tour

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One night homestay Costa Rica

One Night Homestay

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Stay @ Asis Costa Rica Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary

Stay @ Asis

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Meet Vitalina: A Home Full of Family & Homemade Bread

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Meet Vitalina A Home Full of Family & Homemade Bread

Vitalina Alfaro has been welcoming Proyecto ASIS volunteers into her home since 2015, sharing it with her husband Walter, her son Andrés, and Dan, the family dog. With two more children, Eylin and Alexander, and 3 grandchildren who visit often, Vitalina’s home is full of warmth — and the smell of her famous homemade “pancito” bread rolls. We sat down with her to hear what nearly a decade of open doors has meant to her family.

Mi nombre es Vitalina Alfaro. Vivo con mi esposo, Walter Campos, y mi hijo Andrés. Desde el 2015 recibo voluntarios y tengo una experiencia muy bonita de recibirlos aquí en mi casa. Tengo dos hijos más, Eylin y Alexander, y 3 nietos.

Entrevistadora: Bueno, Vita, y dentro de las cosas que le gusta hacer, ¿cuáles son sus actividades favoritas?

Vita: Pasar tiempo con mis hijos y con mis nietos, y hacerles comida — les gusta mucho que les haga comida. El pancito les gusta mucho que se lo haga a mis hijos.

English

My name is Vitalina Alfaro. I live with my husband, Walter Campos, and my son Andrés. I’ve been hosting volunteers since 2015, and it’s been a really beautiful experience welcoming them into my home. I have two more children, Eylin and Alexander, and 3 grandchildren.

Interviewer: So Vita, among the things you enjoy doing, what are your favorite activities?

Vita: Spending time with my children and grandchildren, and cooking for them — they really love it when I cook for them. My kids especially love it when I make them little bread rolls (pancito).

Interested in staying with a local family during your volunteer experience? Learn more about our homestay program and what to expect during your stay in Costa Rica.

👉 View Homestay Options

📖 Meet Carmen Sánchez, hosting volunteers in La Fortuna for 15 years → Meet Carmen Sánchez

📖 Meet Rosy & Laura, hosting volunteers with heart since 2009 → Meet Rosy & Laura

📖 Meet Ester, farmer, bingo champion & host since 2015 → Meet Ester

📖 Meet Mariela & Mari, organic farming & Kombucha since 2014 → Meet Mariela & Mari

📖 Meet Carmen from San Pedro, 17 years of open doors → Meet Carmen (San Pedro)

Meet Carmen: 17 Years of Welcoming Volunteers in San Pedro de La Tigra

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Carmen has been welcoming Proyecto ASIS volunteers into her home in San Pedro de La Tigra, Costa Rica for an incredible 17 years — making her one of the most experienced homestay hosts in the entire program. She lives with her husband Ronald, who works in agriculture, and shares a deep love of plants that makes her home feel like a true natural sanctuary. We sat down with her to hear what nearly two decades of open doors has meant to her family.

Hola, buenos días. Soy Carmen, vivo en San Pedro de La Tigra, tengo 3 hijos y vivo con mi esposo. Mi esposo Ronald trabaja en agricultura y a mí me gustan mucho las plantas.

Adriana: ¿Y hace cuánto nos hospeda voluntarios, Carmencita?
Carmen: Aproximadamente ya tengo como unos 17 años.
Adriana: ¡Muchísimo tiempo! Ha sido una bonita experiencia.
Carmen: Bastante, una experiencia muy bonita, tener voluntarios.

English

Hi, good morning! I’m Carmen, I live in San Pedro de La Tigra, I have 3 children and I live with my husband. My husband Ronald works in agriculture and I love plants.

Adriana: And how long have you been hosting volunteers for us, Carmencita?
Carmen: Approximately 17 years already.
Adriana: Such a long time! It’s been a beautiful experience.
Carmen: Very much so — a really beautiful experience, having volunteers.

Interested in staying with a local family during your volunteer experience? Learn more about our homestay program and what to expect during your stay in Costa Rica.

👉 View Homestay Options

📖 Meet Carmen Sánchez, hosting volunteers in La Fortuna for 15 years → Meet Carmen Sánchez

📖 Meet Rosy & Laura, hosting volunteers with heart since 2009 → Meet Rosy & Laura

📖 Meet Ester, farmer, bingo champion & host since 2015 → Meet Ester

📖 Meet Mariela & Mari, organic farming & Kombucha since 2014 → Meet Mariela & Mari

Meet Mariela & Mari: Organic Farming, Kombucha & a Home Full of Heart

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Mariela Vargas has been welcoming Proyecto ASIS volunteers into her home in La Fortuna, Costa Rica since 2014. A passionate plant lover and organic farmer, Mariela crafts her own Kombucha and Kefir at home — making her homestay one of the most unique in the program. Joining her is her mom Mari, who goes by María Lidia but everyone calls Mari, and who is already counting down to your next visit. We sat down with them to hear what over a decade of open doors has meant to their family.

Hola, mi nombre es Mariela Vargas. Hospedo turistas desde el 2014 con Proyecto ASIS. Me gustan las plantas y trabajo en abonos orgánicos; realizo fermentos como la Kombucha y el Kéfir.

Les presento a mi mamá, ella se llama María Lidia.

Los esperamos con mucho cariño y espero que les guste la estadía en nuestra casa.

Yo soy Mari — María Lidia — pero me dicen Mari. Ya hemos tenido la experiencia de recibir voluntarios aquí y ha sido muy agradable, una experiencia muy bonita. Espero que vuelvan pronto. Aquí los estamos esperando con los brazos abiertos.

English

Hi, my name is Mariela Vargas. I’ve been hosting tourists since 2014 with Proyecto Asis. I love plants and I work with organic fertilizers — I make ferments like Kombucha and Kefir.

Let me introduce you to my mom — her name is María Lidia.

We look forward to welcoming you with lots of love, and I hope you enjoy your stay at our home.

I’m Mari — María Lidia — but everyone calls me Mari. We’ve already had the experience of hosting volunteers here and it’s been very pleasant, a really beautiful experience. I hope you come back soon. We’re here waiting for you with open arms.

Interested in staying with a local family during your volunteer experience? Learn more about our homestay program and what to expect during your stay in La Fortuna.

👉 View Homestay Options

📖 Also meet Carmen, one of our beloved homestay hosts → Meet Carmen

📖 Meet Rosy & Laura, hosting volunteers with heart since 2009 → Meet Rosy & Laura

📖 Meet Ester, farmer, bingo champion & host since 2015 → Meet Ester

Meet Esther: Farming, Bingo & 10 Years of Welcoming Volunteers

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Ester has been welcoming Proyecto Asis volunteers into her home in El Futuro — a quiet, beautiful village just outside La Fortuna, Costa Rica — since 2015. A passionate farmer, a proud cilantro grower, and a self-declared bingo enthusiast, Ester shares her home with her grandson Lucas, with her daughter Kely living just 50 meters away. We sat down with her to learn what a decade of open doors has meant to her and her family.

My name is Ester. I’ve been helping Proyecto ASIS by hosting volunteers since 2015, and it’s a pleasure to welcome whoever comes my way. I live here in El Futuro — it’s a very beautiful, peaceful place. I assure you, you’re going to love it. Living with me at home are Lucas, my grandson, and yours truly. And just 50 meters away lives my daughter Kely. It will be my pleasure to have you.

I have a little farm and I love working in agriculture. Our most dedicated crop is cilantro — I sell it right here in the community and we also supply the national market.

I love it — my favorite hobby is bingo, and cooking… well, maybe I’m not the best cook, but I love seeing people happy with what I make. I always try my best.

Adriana (interviewer): And in bingo, what’s the best part?

Ester: Winning a prize! Don’t even doubt it!

Mi nombre es Ester. Le ayudo a Proyecto ASIS recibiendo voluntarios desde el 2015, y es un gusto recibir a quien me llegue. Yo vivo aquí en El Futuro, es un lugar muy bonito y tranquilo. Les aseguro que van a disfrutar. En mi casa vive Lucas, mi nieto, y esta servidora. Y a 50 metros de mi casa está mi hija Kely. Para mí será un gusto atenderles.

Tengo una pequeña granjita y me gusta trabajar la agricultura. El producto más trabajado es el culantro, que yo lo vendo aquí en el lugar donde resido y también lo vendemos al mercado nacional.

Me encanta — mi hobbie preferido es el bingo, y la cocinada… pues tal vez no soy tan buena, pero me gusta que las personas queden contentas con lo que cocino. Procuro hacerlo bien.

Adriana (entrevistadora): ¿Y en el bingo, la mejor parte?

Ester: ¡Ganarse un premio! ¡Ni lo dude!

Interested in staying with a local family during your volunteer experience? Learn more about our homestay program and what to expect during your stay in La Fortuna.

👉 View Homestay Options

📖 Also meet Carmen, another one of our beloved homestay hosts → Meet Carmen

📖 And Rosy & Laura, hosting volunteers with heart since 2009 → Meet Rosy & Laura

Meet Rosy & Laura: Hosting Volunteers with Heart Since 2009

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Meet Rosy & Laura: Hosting Volunteers with Heart Since 2009

Rosy and Laura have been welcoming Proyecto ASIS volunteers into their home in La Fortuna, Costa Rica since 2009. A warm mother-daughter team, they’ve hosted guests from all over the world — from toddlers to grandparents — sharing morning sunrises, afternoon coffee, card games, and the company of Tommy, their beloved 15-year-old dog. We sat down with them to hear what over a decade of open doors really means to their family.

Hola, soy Rosy. Nosotros somos una familia que hospedamos turistas desde el 2009. ¡Aquí serán bienvenidos!

Hola, mi nombre es Laura. Soy la menor de los 3 hijos de Rosy y Pablo. ¡Este es Tommy, la mascotita que tiene 15 años de estar con nosotros! Mi hermano mayor se llama Jorge, está casado y tiene 34 años. Luego le sigue Óscar, que vive acá con nosotros y tiene 33 años. Y yo, que tengo 30.

¡Bueno, Laura y Rosy! Cuéntennos: ¿qué es lo que más les ha gustado de hospedar voluntarios?

Rosy: Bueno, de mi parte, lo que más me ha gustado es compartir muchas culturas con diferentes personas, desde los 3 añitos hasta los 89. ¡Me ha encantado eso! Y compartir todos los días el amanecer, y también el cafecito de la tarde — nos encanta para charlar.

Laura: A mí también me gusta mucho compartir cuando vienen con niños, uno se siente muy identificado. Y como decía mi mamá, conocer culturas, compartir momentos — hasta pintando uñas y jugando cartas. ¡Muy bonito!

Interested in staying with a local family during your volunteer experience? Learn more about our homestay program. 👉 View Homestay Options

📖 Also meet Carmen, another one of our beloved homestay hosts → Meet Carmen

Meet Carmen: 15 Years of Welcoming Volunteers into Her Home

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Carmen Sánchez has been welcoming Proyecto ASIS volunteers into her home in La Fortuna, Costa Rica for 15 years. Warm, family-oriented, and full of life, Carmen’s home gives volunteers an authentic taste of Costa Rican culture — from Sunday breakfasts with grandkids to backyard horses and a little parrot named Tuti. We sat down with her to learn a little more about the family behind the homestay.

Hi, I’m Carmen Sánchez. I’ve been hosting volunteers at my home for 15 years — it’s been a joy, a blessing. I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. We have a little one with us — we’re on our own now, everyone is married — but we have a baby who keeps us great company.

This is Tuti! One more member of our family. We have 3 more, but this is Tuti, the little companion who’s here with us all the time.

So, Carmencita, what do you all enjoy? What are your hobbies here as a family?

Here in the family, the main thing is horses. My husband is a horseman, so that’s his hobby. On Sundays the grandkids come over for breakfast and we play bingo, cards, things like that. We also go out to watch soccer sometimes — the boys are soccer players, so we go watch them play on Sundays, or during the week too.

👉 View Homestay Options

If you find a wild baby animal that seems to be orphaned please remember

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✅ Observe the area for the next 24 hours to see if the mother returns.
✅ If she doesn’t appear, contact SINAC or reach out to us for guidance.
❌ Please do not attempt to feed the baby, as offering the wrong food can put its life at risk.

💚 Learn, serve, and share, in harmony with Nature!
Asis Costa Rica Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary, Educational Tours, Volunteer programs, Homestay and Accommodation: https://institutoasis.com

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Wildlife Tour Costa Rica

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Sloth Sanctuary
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Full Day Tour La Fortuna Costa Rica Wildlife Sanctuary

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One Night Homestay Costa Rica

Homestay

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Stay @ Asis Costa Rica Wildlife and Sloth Sanctuary

Stay @ Asis

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