There are many animal species in Costa Rica, 200 are mammals and out of the 200 species, 100 of them are bats and only FOUR are monkeys! I know those statistics don't look good but the chances of seeing a monkey while visiting Costa Rica are extremely high.
Maybe they're not as common as squirrels in NY or black bears in Alaska, but they do like to show their cute little faces and smiley looks.
My suggestion to you is that whenever you stay in a super cool rain forest retreat/hotel wake up early and step outside and you'll hear howlers in the distance or right in front of you. You'll see spider monkeys hanging from branches with their supersonic tails and may be you'll see Capuchins looking for food. Plus, when you go to the National Park, go a bit early and hire a guide, they will almost always spot the monkeys!
Here's a list of those cute and silly creatures. This way when you do come face to face with a monkey, you'll know exactly what you're looking at!
Capuchins
I bet you know exactly who these guys are! They're the ones that dance around on leashes at different street fairs. These guys seem friendly; however, they are quite hostile and extremely opportunistic. They will take any opportunity to steal your food and run away. They are omnivores and like to feast on leaves, insects, small lizards. They're even known to steal bird's eggs and nestlings.
The best places to find them are inside Manuel Antonio National Park and Santa Rosa National Park.
Squirrel Monkeys
This is the smallest of all the Costa Rican Monkeys, also known as the Titi monkey. They are very social and it's not uncommon to find them in bunches of 30 or more. They are omnivores too and enjoy eating fruit, leaves, insects and lizards. They will look up at you with curious eyes. The best places to find them are in Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park.
Spider Monkeys
They are one hell of an acrobat! You can see this monkey swinging from branch to branch, usually in groups. Their famous prehensile tails, are the size of their whole bodies and allow them to reach fruits and branches. Their tail also supports them in their movements.
Once they were a very abundant monkey species but unfortunately they have suffered humans' violence and have been listed as an endangered species. And even worse, they are known to be tasty and are hunted for their meat! Even with that many obstacles they are still in some Costa Rican national parks.
Howler Monkeys
Gratefully, this monkey is the least effected by human intervention and can survive in many different types of eco-systems. You can hear these amazing creatures howl early in the morning hours or around the time the sun is about to set. Their howling can create a great impression among human because of how much noise they can make.
Gratefully, this monkey is the least effected by human intervention and can survive in many different types of eco-systems. They are 100% herbivores, eating mainly fruits and leaves. They are also extremely sedentary. I have had the luck of seeing them often because they live practically everywhere near forests.
Keep your eyes open and I know you'll have a close-encounter too!
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. Traveling with her family to all parts of Costa Rica and Guatemala, she now loves organizing vacations for people and offers first hand experience. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
