IMPORTANT:
During your visit, please disconnect from your daily routine, lower the volume of any music, reduce noise, and allow yourself and all visitors to enjoy the wonderful birdsong that fills the Hato. Loud music and noise frighten the birds and other wildlife. Help us preserve this little piece of paradise.
- Pack light luggage and lightweight clothing; avoid wearing jewelry.
- Bring long-sleeved shirts.
- Bring caps or hats.
- Bring your personal medications.
- Please follow your guides' recommendations and the reserve's internal rules, in order to avoid disturbing wildlife or disrupting the ecosystem, and to prevent accidents — some plants and seeds have contraindications. Please help keep the reserve clean.
- If arriving in your own vehicle, a 4x4 is recommended, as part of the road includes unpaved and off-road terrain.
- Bring sunscreen and insect repellent, cameras with enough spare batteries, and binoculars.
- Bring your own canteen or water bottle to refill with water and beverages provided by the Hato's staff. Help us protect nature by avoiding single-use plastics.
Seasons at the Reserve
In the dry season (summer), wildlife throughout the reserve is easy to spot, and the chances of seeing jaguars and anacondas are especially high. As animals gather around the lagoons and wetlands in search of water, this creates a truly unique spectacle of multiple species congregating together.
The rainy season (winter) runs from May to October, with June, July, September and October being the wettest months. August brings a dry spell of about 20 days. During this period, there's more mud and mosquitoes, but activities continue as normal, with travelers heading out on their regular wildlife-watching excursions in raincoats and rubber boots. The chances of spotting jaguars or anacondas drop considerably, but the rest of the wildlife can still be seen as usual, and the Ariporo River becomes navigable over a greater stretch, which is a special draw for many visitors.
It's worth noting that winter in the region isn't cold — it's always sunny and warm, so sunscreen and repellent are essential year-round: in summer because of ticks encountered on hikes, and in winter because mosquitoes take their place as ticks become less common.
When to Visit the Reserve
We operate year-round, as wildlife can be observed in abundance throughout the year! That said, keep the following in mind:
Summer generally runs from November through March, sometimes into the first weeks of April. The best time for jaguar sightings is from the second half of December through the first weeks of April.
Although weather patterns have become less predictable in recent years, it's still fairly safe to expect the first rains to begin around late April and continue through October.
May, June and July are winter months, when the likelihood of jaguar sightings drops significantly. That said, as long as 4x4 vehicles or tractors can access the jaguar zones, there remains a small chance of seeing them. The rest of the wildlife can still be seen normally, though a particularly intense rainy season can also lower the chances of spotting anacondas.
- If there's persistent rain, activities are typically rescheduled later in the day once it clears.
- If heavy rain prevents the Jeep safari from going out, a tractor safari is offered instead.
- August is a mixed month, with the second half usually being dry.
- September can be rainy, while October brings moderate rain as the transition into summer begins.
The jaguar-watching areas (Garzón, Perola, Chibeche, Toma, Estero de los Patos, Platanical) are mostly floodable savannas, which means that during an intense rainy season, 4x4 access becomes nearly impossible, and vegetation growth also surges, both of which make jaguar sightings unlikely in winter.
For this reason, if your main interest is the POSSIBILITY of seeing a jaguar, the best time to plan your trip is between November and April, especially from January to March.
