When, Where & How to See Wildlife in Costa Rica

1Sloths

The pride of Costa Rica is one of its least formidable animals: the sloth. The country is home to two species—the three-toed sloth is mostly active during the day and primarily feeds on leaves, while the two-toed sloth leans nocturnal and has a more varied diet that includes fruits and flowers. Spotting the difference between the species—and spotting sloths in general, given their slow movements and tendency to sleep for up to 20 hours a day—can be challenging without a guide, but WT’s naturalist guides specialize in finding these long-limbed mammals hanging from trees or curled up in canopies across the rainforests, cloud forests, and mangroves.

Where to See Them

Despite being hard to spot, sloths are commonly found across all regions of Costa Rica. The more nocturnal two-toed sloth can often be seen on night walks at El Refugio Reserve in Mondeverde, while three-toed sloths are usually spotted from hanging bridges and on the lodge grounds in Arenal Volcano National Park, on canal boat excursions in Tortuguero National Park, and along the trails at Manuel Antonio National Park. We explore these national parks on our Costa Rica wildlife tour, Costa Rica private tour, Costa Rica Family Private Journey itineraries.

Viewing Tips

• Hire a guide—spotting sloths can be difficult otherwise.
• Look for rounded shapes in the crooks of trees, rather than movement.
• Use binoculars to look for differences in textures in tree canopies.ers.

2Monkeys

Four species of monkeys reside in Costa Rica: the howler monkey, white-faced capuchin, squirrel monkey, and spider monkey. The large mantled howler monkey is known for its loud, deep calls that can carry for miles. White-faced capuchins are highly intelligent, often seen foraging in groups. Squirrel monkeys are small, energetic, and social, while spider monkeys are long-limbed and acrobatic, often seen swinging through trees.

Where to See Them

To spot white-faced capuchins, head to Manuel Antonio National Park and the lodge grounds of Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, both of which feature in WT’s journeys. The cry of howler monkeys can be heard across all regions, with sightings more frequent in Tortuguero and Arenal Volcano national parks. Spider monkeys make appearances in the trees along Tortuguero’s canals and in Corcovado National Park. Squirrel monkeys live on the country’s central and southern Pacific coasts, in places like Corcovado and Manuel Antonio national parks. You’ll have chances to see Costa Rica’s monkeys on all of WT’s Costa Rica adventure tours.

Behavior to Look For

• Be on the lookout for white-faced capuchins at any moment—their intelligence and curiosity causes them to approach humans.
• Be aware that howler monkeys’ calls can be heard up to three miles away.
• Look up in the tree canopy for the acrobatic movements of spider monkeys.

3Resplendent Quetzal

The resplendent quetzal is one of the most iconic birds found in Costa Rica. Males are especially striking for their emerald-green plumage, bright red bellies, and long tail feathers. Females display slightly duller green and red feathers and shorter tails. They are a sacred bird of the Mayans and Aztecs, who believed them to represent the god of Quetzalcoatl. Quetzals thrive in high-elevation forests across Central America and have a diet consisting mainly of wild avocados and other small fruits, and you’re most likely to see them in March through May.

Where to See Them

The quetzal is primarily found in cloud forests like those in Monteverde and San Gerardo de Dota, like Los Quetzales National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and Arenal National Park. For your best chance at spotting them, head out on hikes between February and April, when they breed and nest.

Viewing Tips

• Go with a guide who is familiar with the quetzal’s favored trees and feeding patterns.
• During breeding season, look for nests in tree cavities that are often abandoned woodpecker holes.

4Toucans

Among the most beloved tropical birds is the toucan, known for its unusual silhouette, oversized colorful bills, and painted plumage. Common species in Costa Rica include the keel-billed toucan and the chestnut-mandibled toucan, which can be found in humid lowland regions. They inhabit tropical rainforests, with the highest abundance along the Caribbean lowlands and parts of the Pacific coast. Their diet primarily consists of fruit, though they occasionally eat insects, eggs, or small reptiles.

Where to See Them

The best places to spot toucans are in Costa Rican national parks like Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast and Arenal National Park in the highlights—both stops on all three of WT’s Costa Rica journeys. They also commonly reside in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Where to Look

• Look for toucans at dawn and dusk, when they are most active.
• Pay special attention to the mid- to upper canopy, where toucans in pairs or small groups are often perched on exposed branches.
• Follow loud, croaking calls.

5Scarlet Macaws

Spotting a bonded pair of scarlet macaws soaring over coastal forests is a special sight. With vivid red, yellow, and blue plumage, these parrots can grow up to 35 inches in length, making them the largest in Costa Rica. They are highly social and, in addition to traveling in pairs, can be often seen in small family groups, using loud squawks and calls to communicate.

Where to See Them

Scarlet macaws favor coastal forests like those along the Pacific and Caribbean. Costa Rica’s largest scarlet macaw population lives in Corcovado, so you’ll have a great chance of spotting them on WT’s Corcovado National Park tour extension. You can also find them in other places along the Pacific Coast like Manuel Antonio National Park.

Spotting Tips

• Look for scarlet macaws at dawn and dusk, when they are most active. 
• Follow the sound of loud squawking.
• Pay special attention to the trees of almonds and figs, their preferred snacks.

6Other Tropical Birds

Costa Rica is one of the world’s top birding destinations not only for its variety of species—some 900 reside in the country—but also for its accessibility, thanks to its strong conservation ethic and talented guides. Along with marquee species like the resplendent quetzal and toucan, you can often spot bright-green rufous-tailed hummingbirds at forest edges, see the iridescent flicker of the turquoise-browed mot mot, and hear the melodic song of the clay-colored thrush, Costa Rica’s national bird.

Where to See Them

The short answer: Everywhere. But for the greatest density and variety, head to Tortuguero National Park, which has all six New World kingfisher species and eight types of parrots, plus stunning birds like the slaty-tailed trogon, white-collared manakin, purple-throated fruitcrow, and white-fronted nunbird. For the best chance of spotting bellbirds, tanagers, barbets, and hummingbirds, visit the cloud forest of Monteverde like we do on WT’s Costa Rica wildlife tour and Costa Rica Private Journey. And add on the Corcovado Rainforest Extension for plenty of opportunities to see a huge array of parrots.

Birding Tips

• Be sure to bring your own binoculars (we recommend 8x42mm) when you’re visiting Costa Rica.
• Head out in the early mornings, when birds are most active.
• Prioritize patience and quiet over covering more ground.
• Let WT’s guides work their magic—they know calls by ear and carry spotting scopes.

5Butterflies

With some 1,500 species residing in Costa Rica, travelers are likely to spot more varieties of butterflies than any other wildlife. Among the most spectacular are the dazzling blue morpho, with its iridescent azure wings, and the owl butterfly, named for the large eye-like markings that help deter predators. They’re not only a dynamic part of the landscape but also important pollinators and indicators of forest health.

Where to See Them

All three of WT’s itineraries begin at San José’s Hotel Bougainvillea, known for its butterfly-filled gardens. You can also spot butterflies at the Jardín de las Mariposas at Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, where you’ll find more than 40 species. And on the Pacuare Lodge & River Rafting Extension, spot countless blue morphos along the riverbanks.

Fun Fact

The wings of blue morphos are not actually blue; the color comes from microscopic scales that reflect light!

8Sea Turtles

Costa Rica is one of the world’s most important destinations for sea turtle conservation. Five species nest along its Pacific and Caribbean coasts: the leatherback, green, hawksbill, olive ridley, and loggerhead. Every year, thousands of turtles return to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, creating one of nature’s greatest wildlife spectacles.

Where to See Them

All three WT itineraries head to Tortuguero National Park, on the Caribbean coast, considered the most important sea turtle nesting site in the Western Hemisphere. Visit the park from July to October and you’ll have the chance to spot green sea turtles nesting in huge numbers (and leatherback and hawksbills at a smaller scale). Here, the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tortuguero research station has conducted the longest-running study of green turtle migration and behavior, ongoing since 1959. And in Corcovado National Park, sea turtles are frequent sightings while snorkeling off Caño Island.

Seasonal Notes

• Sea turtle nesting season in Costa Rica is between July and October.
• WT’s July departure of our Costa Rica wildlife trip aligns with sea turtle nesting season, while travelers on the Costa Rica Private Journey and Costa Rica Family Private Journey can time their travels to the July through October nesting period.

9Reptiles & Amphibians

Costa Rica’s tropical forests, rivers, wetlands, and coastlines support an extraordinary diversity of reptiles and amphibians, with more than 130 species of snakes and 200 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. Caimans and the American crocodile can often be seen basking on riverbanks, the basilisk lizard—often called the “Jesus Christ lizard”—can be seen sprinting across the surface of the water to escape predators, and poison dart frogs bring extra color to coastal forests.

Where to See Them

You’ll see reptiles and amphibians almost everywhere you go in Costa Rica. Spot caiman, crocodiles, basilisk lizards, iguanas, and poison dart frogs along riverbanks on a cruise along the canals of Tortuguero National Park, a feature of all WT journeys. You’ll see iguanas sunbathing along trails in Manuel Antonio National Park, and night walks in Monteverde or Arenal are the best way to spot more elusive amphibians like the native golden toad or the red-eyed tree frog.

Viewing Tips

• Look down—reptiles and frogs are often at ground level and are easily overlooked.
• Though poison dart frogs are brightly colored, their tiny size makes them difficult to spot without a guide.

10Marine Life

Costa Rica’s ocean waters are home to an extraordinary—and distinct—variety of marine life. The warm and calm waters of the Caribbean feature rich coral reefs and fishlife, while the Pacific coast experiences seasonal upwelling during which nutrient rich waters rise and encourage plankton, which supports larger fish, sharks, and whales. The marine area off of Osa Peninsula, in southwestern Costa Rica, is particularly biodiverse.

Where to See Marine Life

Corcovado National Park and nearby Caño Island in the Pacific are some of the best places to see marine life in Costa Rica. Snorkeling along these protected rocky reefs, coral patches, and steep underwater walls will yield sightings of colorful reef fish, rays, sea turtles, and sharks. And on WT’s Corcovado Rainforest Extension you’ll have the chance to dive in these waters to see even more. Other great places for marine life viewing are Marino Ballena National Park and Golfo Dulce.

What to Expect

• The best time to embark on a snorkeling or diving excursion is during the dry season, between December and April, which promises better visibility and warmer Pacific waters.
• Rays and sea turtles are some of the most common marine life you can expect to see while snorkeling or diving.

Wildlife Viewing Tips

In general, when searching for wildlife in Costa Rica, the best viewing takes place in the early morning and late afternoon—and evening on a guided night walk. Patience and quiet matter the most when it comes to spotting animals, rather than the speed with which you cover ground. Make sure you bring binoculars, and a zoom camera is essential for taking great wildlife photos. For more guidance on how to prepare for a trip, check out our Costa Rica travel tips. And remember that traveling with an expert naturalist guide, like we do on our Costa Rica adventures, is the single biggest difference-maker regarding whether or not you have incredible wildlife encounters.