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Where will I see wildlife?

Sloths, monkeys and toucans turn up almost everywhere. Where to find the highlights, and why a good naturalist guide makes all the difference.

Almost everywhere, which is one of the best things about Costa Rica. Sloths, monkeys and toucans turn up in hotel gardens and along the roadside, not just in the parks.

A few highlights:

  • Sea turtles nest on the Caribbean coast at Tortuguero, with green turtles nesting from June to October (see When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?).
  • Scarlet macaws fly over the Osa Peninsula and the central Pacific.
  • The resplendent quetzal, the bird many birders come for, lives in the cloud forests of Monteverde and San Gerardo de Dota.
  • Monkeys and sloths are easy to spot in Manuel Antonio and around Arenal.

For the best sightings, take a guided walk. A good naturalist guide spots animals you would walk straight past, and many carry a spotting scope so you can see them up close.

Please never feed wild animals, however friendly they seem. It makes them sick and dependent on people.