Wildlife of Costa Rica
Costa Rica holds nearly 5% of the world's known species inside less than 0.03% of its land — cloud forests full of resplendent quetzals and glass frogs, lowland rainforest with sloths, tapirs and jaguars, and both Pacific and Caribbean coasts with nesting sea turtles. Almost 30% of the country is protected as national park or reserve.
Best timeDecember – April dry season for wildlife viewing, July – October for sea turtle nesting.
- 1Costa Rica has 5% of the world's biodiversity on 0.03% of its land.
- 2Sloths in the Caribbean lowlands descend from trees only once a week to defecate.
- 3The Osa Peninsula has jaguars, tapirs and scarlet macaws — all in one park.
Signature species
Curated for Costa Rica, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- EN
Baird's tapir
Tapirus bairdii
- NT
Jaguar
Panthera onca
- LC
Scarlet macaw
Ara macao
- NT
Resplendent quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
- LC
Three-toed sloth
Bradypus variegatus
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Book with SINAC-approved guides — fees fund parks.
- Turn off pool lights during sea-turtle nesting nights.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't touch red-eyed tree frogs — skin oils harm them.
- Don't hire tour boats that lure dolphins with food.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 100km, last 30 days.
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