Wildlife Watching in Cahuita National Park

Information

This national park is an excellent option for getting to know Costa Rica's Caribbean fauna. It has great advantages such as its easy access (one of its entrances is at the end of the village of Cahuita) and the fact that it has trails that allow you to cross a large part of the protected area. Among the most common things that can be found we can mention:
- Those interested in mammals should pay attention to the trees. The Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) and the brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) are very common to see. Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) often pass overhead, and red-tailed squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) appear climbing logs, which are a common species in the Costa Rican Caribbean.
- The northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the Panamanian white-throated capuchin (Cebus capucinus) are frequent near the beaches where tourists are staying.
- A notorious characteristic of this protected area is the variety and quantity of reptiles that can be observed. An emblematic species is the eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii), a small, venomous and very colourful arboreal snake. The brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) and the green basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), identifiable by their front crest, also attract attention.
- Crabs of different shapes and colours are everywhere, with the blue land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) being striking for its colouring.
- A large number of birds are recorded, including woodpeckers, raptors and many more.