Monkeys From Costa Rica
Did you know that there are over 200 mammal species living in Costa Rica?
Are there monkeys in Costa Rica?
Did you know that out of the 200 species, 100 of them are bats and only four are monkeys!
Yet, 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 about. The best places to look at monkeys from Costa Rica are at the Manuel Antonio National Park and the Corcovado National Park. They are great as a wildlife destination in general.
My advice is when you are staying in a super cool rainforest retreat/hotel wake up early and step outside. 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 you’ll see Capuchins looking earnestly 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! You even can for a Costa Rica Monkey Tour, that way you sure will spot one.
Here’s a list of the cute and silly Monkeys from Costa Rica. This way, when you do come face to face with a monkey, you’ll know exactly what you’re talking about!
What kind of monkeys are in Costa Rica?
There are 4 Types of Monkeys in Costa Rica
1. 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 aggressive and extremely opportunistic.
They will grab any opportunity to steal your food. They are omnivores and like to feast on leaves, insects, small lizards. They even know how to steal bird’s eggs and nestlings. Yeah, a Costa Rica monkeys stealing eggs!
The best places to spot animals in Costa Rica, including them, are inside Manuel Antonio National Park and Santa Rosa National Park.
2. 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 too are omnivores, eating fruit, leaves, insects, and lizards.
The best places to find them are in Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park.
3. Spider Monkeys
The supreme acrobat! You can see this monkey swinging from branch to branch, usually in groups. Their famous prehensile tails, which are the size of their whole bodies, allow them to reach the hard to get fruits and branches.
At one point, they were the most populated of all monkey species. Unfortunately, they are also the most sensitive to human intrusion and their numbers have declined drastically, putting them on the endangered list. And even worse, they are known to be tasty and are hunted for their meat! With as many obstacles as they face, they are still in some abundance in Costa Rica due to the safety of national parks.
4. Howler Monkeys
Gratefully, this monkey is the least affected by human intervention and can survive in many 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. They are 100% herbivores, eating mainly fruits and leaves. They are loud to the ears, but extremely sedentary. I have had the luck of seeing them often because they live practically everywhere there are forests.
Keep your eyes open, and I know you’ll have a close encounter too!
Please tell me all about it, I love monkey stories 🙂
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