Costa Rica, nestled in the heart of Central America, is a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. From dense rainforests to pristine beaches, this small country boasts an incredibly diverse ecosystem, making it a haven for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Costa Rica, and the Osa Peninsula in particular, is what’s known as a biodiversity hotspot – a geographic area characterized by exceptionally high levels of species richness, making it a priority for wildlife conservation efforts. I spent six months living on the Osa when I worked as a sea turtle field assistant for Osa Conservation, but I still wasn’t able to tick every animal off this bucket list, which could have been so much longer, with all the species that call this area home. If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, here are seventeen wildlife species you should try to spot (although you’ll have to be extremely lucky/have a lot of time to see most or all of them).
Since most of my time in Costa Rica was spent working, I didn’t often have my camera to hand when I came across wildlife. Which means I have to rely on my memories of the encounters instead of looking at photos! And while, as a photographer, it can be frustrating to miss out on a great photo op, sometimes it’s nice to just be present in the moment.
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1. Jaguar
The king of the American jungle simply had to be top of my wildlife bucket list for my time in Costa Rica. Sleek and stealthy, sightings of jaguars are rare due to their elusive nature, but Costa Rica is home to a healthy population of these magnificent big cats. Protected areas such as Corcovado National Park and La Amistad International Park offer some of the best opportunities for spotting jaguars, although patience and luck (and time!) are essential.
Seen: nope. Unfortunately, the jaguars of the Osa Peninsula were just a little bit too stealthy. Not that I had any real opportunities, to be honest.
2. Puma
Pumas, also known as mountain lions or cougars, are renowned for their stealth, agility and solitary nature. While sightings are rare, they can occasionally be spotted traversing the dense foliage or rocky terrain of Corcovado and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. With their enigmatic presence and revered status as top predators, pumas play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of the country’s ecosystems. They can easily be distinguished from jaguars by their lack of spots.
Spotted: sadly no. While a colleague of mine almost bumped straight into one on a forest path, I wasn’t lucky enough to spot one myself (apart from on some amazing camera trap footage collected by the wildlife team).
3. Ocelot
Another feline that roams the Costa Rican rainforest, the ocelot has a striking coat adorned with rosette patterns. It prowls the dense jungles and forested areas of the country, including Corcovado and Tortuguero National Park. Sightings of these solitary hunters are rare due to their nocturnal habits and secretive nature. One of the most surprising aspects of their diet is their occasional preference for aquatic prey. Ocelots have been observed catching fish, crabs and even swimming to hunt waterfowl in rivers and marshy areas.
Seen: yes! I really thought I’d miss out on seeing an ocelot like the jaguar and puma. But in my last couple of weeks, driving back from the nearest town in the encroaching darkness, one flashed across our path, eyes reflecting the beam of the car lights. It was a lightning-quick encounter, but I’ll never forget that spotted pelt melting back into the cover of the thick rainforest.
4. Sloth
Costa Rica is famous for its slow-moving inhabitants, the sloths. This leisurely pace is due to their low metabolic rate and specialised anatomy, including long, curved claws adapted for gripping branches and a unique muscle structure that allows them to conserve energy. These adorable creatures can be spotted hanging upside down from tree branches in lush rainforests, particularly in Manuel Antonio National Park and Tortuguero. With their gentle demeanour and endearing faces, encountering a sloth in the wild is an unforgettable experience. There are two sloth species in Costa Rica – Hoffman’s two-toed sloth and the brown-throated three-toed sloth.
Seen: yes! Surprisingly, though I spent six months living in dense rainforest on the Osa, the only time I spotted a sloth was on my first morning in the area! The owner of the hostel I was staying in came to find me to let me know their resident sloth had made an appearance high up in a tree in the middle of the property!
5. Tapir
Known as the “gardeners of the forest,” tapirs play a crucial role in maintaining the health of Costa Rica’s ecosystems. These large, herbivorous mammals can often be found near rivers and marshy areas, where they forage for aquatic plants and fruits. Costa Rica is home to the Baird’s tapir, the largest native mammal in Central America, recognizable by its distinctive elongated snout and rounded body. Corcovado and La Amistad provide vital habitats for tapirs, offering visitors a chance to observe these gentle giants as they navigate their lush surroundings.
Seen: no. Though Osa Conservation has been involved in projects to protect the tapirs of the peninsula, the only tapir-spotting I got to do was through footage from their extensive camera trap network.
6. White-Collared Peccary
These social and highly adaptable mammals are essential for seed dispersal and play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats. Recognisable by the distinctive white mark encircling their necks, white-collared peccaries can be found in various protected areas across Costa Rica, including Corcovado and Piedras Blancas National Park. However, encounters with peccaries require patience and a bit of luck, as they tend to be wary of human presence.
Seen: multiple times. It became almost normal to spot a pair of peccaries roaming the open area between cabins at the Osa Conservation Campus, but they brought a smile to my face every time.
7. Tayra
Sleek and agile, the tayra is a must-see creature for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Costa Rica. These members of the weasel family are known for their curious and playful nature, often darting through the underbrush in search of food or engaging in acrobatic displays in the treetops. With their slender bodies and bushy tails, tayras are skilled climbers and can be found in a variety of habitats, including rainforests and cloud forests. While encounters with tayras in the wild require patience and a keen eye, visitors to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Braulio Carrillo National Park, may be rewarded with a glimpse of these charismatic creatures as they go about their daily activities.
Seen: briefly! I spent almost every morning of six months hiking 20 minutes through lush rainforest to the beach for morning turtle patrols, and one lucky morning we spotted a slender tayra climbing quickly up a tree on the side of the path.
8. Poison Dart Frog
There’s more to Costa Rica wildlife than fur and feathers. Despite their small size, poison dart frogs are some of the most visually striking inhabitants of Costa Rica. These brightly coloured amphibians serve as a warning to potential predators due to their toxic skin secretions. While exploring the forests of Costa Rica, keep an eye out for these tiny wonders, but remember to admire them from a safe distance. These frogs are one of the most toxic animals on Earth, with just a few milligrams of their toxin being capable of causing severe harm or even death to potential predators. The Golfo Dulce Poison Dart Frog is endemic to the region surrounding the Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica, meaning you won’t be able to see it anywhere else.
Seen: with difficulty, but yes! It involved a trek through dense, pathless jungle, following an intermittent call echoing through the trees, but we successfully found two tiny frogs hiding in the thick, moist undergrowth.
9. Jaguarundi
The jaguarundi is a unique and elusive feline resident of Costa Rica’s forests. With its slender body, short legs and small ears, this wild cat has a striking resemblance to the weasel. Despite its name, the jaguarundi is not closely related to the jaguar and is more closely related to the puma. These solitary hunters are primarily active during the day, making them one of the few diurnal cats in the Americas.
Seen: unfortunately not. Too elusive!
10. Scarlet Macaw
The scarlet macaw is the opposite of camouflaged. Living very much up to its name, this large, vibrant bird is a stunning display of reds, blues and yellows that contrasts beautifully with the deep greens of the rainforest. These majestic birds can often be seen flying in pairs or small flocks along the Pacific coast, particularly in the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park.
Seen: all the time! It never got old to hear the loud call and to look up to see the flash of deep red overhead.
11. Toucan
With their oversized, colorful bills and distinctive calls, toucans are some of the most iconic birds in Costa Rica, with six species to be found in the country. These fruit-eating birds can be spotted perched high in the canopy or gracefully gliding between trees in search of food. Despite the seemingly cumbersome size of their bills, toucans are incredibly agile fliers, capable of navigating through the dense rainforest canopy with ease. Their bills, which can measure up to half the length of their bodies, are surprisingly lightweight due to the hollow structure and thin layers of keratin they are made from.
Seen: a couple of times. Right in the middle of the Osa Conservation Campus were a few fruit trees, and every now and then I’d look out and see a toucan using their large beak to rip through the fleshy fruit.
12. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, an extraordinary natural phenomenon occurs as Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore en masse to nest. These small, olive-coloured turtles embark on synchronized nesting events known as arribadas, where thousands of females gather to lay their eggs on the beaches. Ostional Wildlife Refuge, nestled on the Nicoya Peninsula, is renowned for hosting one of the largest arribadas in the world. During these nesting events, visitors have the unique opportunity to witness the beach come alive as huge numbers of turtles emerge from the ocean and make their way up the sandy shore to dig their nests and deposit their eggs. Conservation efforts in places like Ostional have been instrumental in protecting Olive Ridley sea turtles and ensuring the success of their nesting endeavours.
Seen: well, it was my job! Despite the fact that most of my work as a field assistant took place early in the morning when the turtles had already gone back to the ocean, I did see a couple up close on night patrols. Oh, and there were the literal thousands of hatchlings I helped release into the water!
13. Green Sea Turtle
These ancient reptiles, named for the greenish hue of their fat, can often be seen crawling up onto the sand under the cover of night to lay their eggs. As I mentioned above, Ostional Wildlife Refuge, located on the Pacific coast, is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for olive ridley sea turtles, which often share the beaches with green sea turtles. Additionally, Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast provides another vital nesting habitat for green sea turtles. Guided turtle tours are available in many coastal communities, offering visitors a chance to observe this ancient ritual while minimizing disturbance to the females.
Seen: surprisingly, no. Green turtles are the second most common turtle species on the Osa, but I wasn’t lucky enough to come across one while I worked there.
14. Howler Monkey
As you venture into Costa Rica’s jungles, you’re likely to hear the unmistakable roar of howler monkeys echoing through the trees. These charismatic primates are known for their deep, guttural calls, which serve as territorial markers. Keep your eyes peeled for them swinging gracefully through the canopy, especially in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Arenal Volcano National Park. The sheer power and volume of their call is something that just has to be experienced close up.
Seen: and heard! Almost every single day, a troop would pass overhead. And often I would hear them way before they came into view.
15. Squirrel Monkey
The smallest of the four primate species I would see around the Osa Peninsula, the squirrel monkey might just be my favourite. With their endearing faces and lively demeanour, squirrel monkeys add a playful charm to Costa Rica’s canopy. These diminutive primates are known for their energetic antics and distinctive vocalizations, which serve as communication within their troops. Costa Rica is home to the Central American squirrel monkey, a species known for its vibrant colours and agile movements. Visitors to wildlife reserves and national parks such as Manuel Antonio and Corcovado may have the opportunity to observe squirrel monkeys as they forage for insects, fruits and seeds in the forest canopy.
Seen: absolutely. I used to watch huge groups of them chase each other and gorge on wild bananas in the trees above me (and sometimes on the ground right next to my cabin!).
16. Capuchin
With their expressive faces and nimble antics, capuchin monkeys are among the most charismatic inhabitants of Costa Rica’s jungles. These intelligent primates are known for their dexterous hands, which they use to forage for food and manipulate objects. Capuchin monkeys live in troops led by an alpha male and their social dynamics provide fascinating insights into primate behaviour. Visitors to Manuel Antonio and Carara National Park may have the opportunity to observe capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees or foraging for fruits and insects.
Seen: all the time. Easy to spot with their white heads and expressive eyes, large groups liked to gather around our dining area each day.
17. Spider Monkey
With their long, slender limbs and prehensile tails, spider monkeys are true treetop acrobats. These graceful primates are known for their agility and arboreal lifestyle, spending much of their time swinging effortlessly from branch to branch in search of ripe fruits and tender leaves. Costa Rica is home to two species of spider monkeys: the Geoffroy’s spider monkey and the endangered Central American spider monkey. Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park provide ample opportunity to spot them, so you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these elusive creatures as they navigate the dense canopy.
Seen: almost too much! Probably the most commonly seen monkeys at Osa Conservation, I don’t think a single day passed without seeing their cheeky faces.
Best practices around seeing wildlife in Costa Rica
Remember, wildlife is wild and should stay that way. Always keep a respectful distance to prevent any harm to you or the animal, and to prevent the animal from becoming stressed. Never feed wildlife, as this can create harmful behaviours or make the animals sick, and make sure to leave their home as you found it.
Want more information on ethical wildlife tourism? Download my free guide!
Costa Rica and the Osa Peninsula in particular are a wildlife lover and photographer’s dream. The diversity of animals and the beautiful forest never gets old. And while I won’t claim that living in remote areas surrounded by nature is a walk in the park, it’s certainly an unforgettable experience.
If you want to see what living in the rainforest of the Osa Peninsula is really like, check out open opportunities with Osa Conservation. They are an incredible organisation I feel really proud to have been a part of and the work they do is brilliant for both protecting and researching deeply into nature. They accept volunteers and interns, sometimes have job openings and offer a yearly fully-funded research fellowship.
Organised wildlife tours in Costa Rica
Like in most places, the best places to look for wildlife in Costa Rica often involve travelling to lesser-trod areas of the country, like Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. Typically, this requires having your own transport, or multiple transport changes, if there even is public transport to the area. However, there are many guided trips available that include transport, and these can be incredible, because not only are you able to get to these places, but an experienced guide can make all the difference for spotting wildlife, as they will generally know the best places and times to look.
Just remember to research each trip before booking to ensure the company is adhering to laws and best practices, and be especially wary of any place calling itself a “sanctuary”. This is not a protected term, so anyone can use it without having to adhere to particular standards of care.
Where’s the best place for spotting wildlife you’ve ever been to?
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