Kaya And the Emerald Forest

When Jackie Navarro founded Wild Wonders 35 years ago, one of her inspirations was recognizing a need—and a desire—for engaging wildlife education programs that could bring people closer to the natural world.

One of the programs that grew from that vision was Emerald Forest, introducing audiences to the fascinating animals and ecosystems of Central and South America.

And what better ambassador for the Emerald Forest than Kaya, one of our popular kinkajous, who happens to be celebrating her birthday this month?

Over the years, Wild Wonders has become home to an extraordinary variety of Central and South American animals, including kinkajous, coatis, pacas, boa constrictors, iguanas, Patagonian cavies and chinchillas. Through Emerald Forest and our onsite experiences, these ambassadors help turn curiosity about wildlife into understanding and appreciation.

And then we took that idea one step further.

Through our WildEcotours subsidiary, we began offering travelers the opportunity to journey to Costa Rica and experience its remarkable wildlife in its natural habitat.

It’s a natural evolution of a journey that began 35 years ago: bringing wildlife education to the community, welcoming guests to meet remarkable animals at Wild Wonders, and ultimately giving them the opportunity to experience wildlife in the wild.

From the Emerald Forest to the rainforests of Costa Rica, the mission remains the same: inspire people to discover, appreciate and protect our natural world.