Ponderosa Adventure Park

Giraffes in Guanacaste. Ponderosa is a ranch on the Pan-American Highway about ten minutes south of Liberia, with roughly 100 hectares of savanna stocked with African animals, and the main event is an hour or so in a covered wagon among giraffes, zebras, ostriches, oryx and wildebeest, with stops to feed them. A small farm with tamer animals comes at the end.

The rest of the park is adventure add-ons: river tubing, a waterfall to swim at, kayaking, a canopy zip line over the savanna and pools. The Day Pass bundles the safari, waterfall and kayak with a buffet lunch of casado (rice, beans, meat, salad, plantain). Carrot bags for the animals cost extra. No outside food or coolers are allowed, and no pets.

Wear closed shoes, and bring a swimsuit and biodegradable sunscreen if your pass includes water. The wagons are roofed and run in light rain. Lines are shortest right at the 8 am opening or after lunch. Children under four get in free, and guides speak English.