3.     Mangrove Hummingbirds

Costa Rica is a country renowned for its world-class birdwatching, with almost a thousand bird species native to the country. With nature reserves dotted all over the jungles and forested areas of the country, there are incredible opportunities to spot technicolour tropical birds at almost every turn.

Hummingbirds are one of Costa Rica’s most iconic bird species, and are hugely important in the pollinating of the delicately balanced ecosystems. The country is home to at least 50 species of hummingbirds, with only a few endemic to Costa Rica.

One such bird is the Mangrove Hummingbird, characterised by a shining blue-green head and a white belly. These beautifully delicate creatures are currently under threat due to a loss of their mangrove forest home, which can be found on the Pacific coast.

4.     Howler Monkeys

You’ll probably hear a howler monkey before you see one. They produce some of the loudest vocal sounds from any animal on earth, which might be exciting for a brief moment, but can become grating if you’re a local…

You can find them virtually anywhere in the Costa Rican Highlands, in places like the Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, and particularly in Guanacaste. They are generally a calm species that will ignore humans for the most part.

If an intruder gets too close however, or they are disturbed by human activity, then you are certainly going to know about it. The sound of a howler monkey is comparable in volume to a lion’s roar and can travel for 3 miles, and will certainly go on for a lot longer than the latter.

5.     Three-Toed Sloths

Famed for being some of the slowest land mammals on earth, three-toed sloths stick strictly to the tree canopy, as they can barely support themselves as they move across the ground. However, they will descend from the trees in order to defecate, making each toilet trip a potentially fatal one!

You might have seen in recent times that they are surprisingly strong swimmers, as featured on Planet Earth 2, and they can comfortably cross short bodies of water to head to new food sources.

They’re relatively common throughout the country, but can be fairly difficult to spot unless you head out with a trained naturalist. If you are particularly keen on seeing some, your best bet is heading to the south Pacific.

6.     Jaguars

We’ll finish with perhaps Costa Rica’s most spectacular, and most elusive, wildlife. Jaguars are extremely rare in Costa Rica, especially as hunting was legal until the 1980’s causing them to be incredibly shy of human activity.

They can still be found in national parks where they have more protection, with approximately 50 living in Corcovado National Park, Puntarenas Province. The majestic creatures generally own a territory that can stretch for 40 km, so sightings, even in places where they are known to reside, are rare.

However, there are few experiences on a wildlife holiday that can match the moment you spot a jaguar, two metres long, weighing up to 115 kilos, they are one of the most beautiful animals you can spot in the wild – anywhere in the world.

At Not In The Guidebooks, we are passionate about protecting parts of the world that are hugely important for conserving biodiversity in the world. In order for future generations to see giant anteaters, jaguars, whales and caimans in Costa Rica, and in order for us to preserve our wild spaces, we need to travel responsibly.

We work with local partners in Costa Rica who only run tours with the environment in mind, so that you know when you explore with NITGB, you are ensuring your money is being invested in the future of the incredibly beautiful country.