There are few places on the planet where you can experience such an astounding diversity of natural wonders as you can in Costa Rica: from slow-moving sloths to vibrant toucans and the rare resplendent quetzal, Costa Rica is home to its own “Big Five”. A truly unforgettable experience is to encounter some of these species in their natural habitat, but these moments don’t always come easily - many of Costa Rica’s most iconic animals are elusive, hidden deep within the forest or high in the canopy. That’s where travelling on a Costa Rica escorted tour with KE makes all the difference. With in-depth knowledge of the land and its inhabitants, our local guides know exactly where and when to look, giving you the very best chance of spotting your dream wildlife. In this guide, we’ll take you through five of the most sought-after wildlife encounters and where you can experience them on a KE Costa Rica adventure tour.

Many people hope that on their Costa Rica adventure holiday they’ll spot the iconic, ever-smiling, slow-moving sloth. These adorable forest dwellers are a true symbol of the country’s wildlife and seeing one in the wild is a moment you won’t forget.

There are six species of sloth in the world, two of which can be found in Costa Rica. The Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth is the more elusive of the pair - nocturnal by nature, it spends much of the day curled up asleep in the canopy, making sightings a little more challenging. The brown-throated sloth, on the other hand, is the most commonly spotted and, by sloth standards, the more active of the two.

You can spot these loveable creatures across all three of our wildlife holidays in Costa Rica, with itineraries taking you through the rich forests of Rincón de la Vieja National Park, the breathtaking landscapes of Arenal National Park (home to the iconic Arenal Volcano) and the misty cloud forests of Monteverde, one of the best places to search for the elusive Hoffmann’s sloth. On our Costa Rica family adventure holiday, you’ll even have the chance to enjoy a fantastic cooking class in this region, adding a cultural highlight to your wildlife experience.

The resplendent quetzal is often described as the emerald jewel of Costa Rica - a bird that seems almost too vibrant to be real. Its iridescent feathers shimmer between shades of green and blue, changing with the light as it moves through the forest canopy. This striking colour isn’t from pigment, but from the way light reflects off the structure of its feathers - giving it that unmistakable, almost magical glow.

Spotting a quetzal in the wild is no easy feat, which makes the experience all the more special. On our Costa Rica Walks and Wildlife tour package, you’ll head into the cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota, one of the best places to search for this elusive bird. With the help of a specific quetzal guided tour in Costa Rica, you’ll visit the fruiting trees where quetzals are known to feed, giving you the best possible chance of a sighting.

For those looking at Costa Rica family holidays, our Costa Rica Family Adventure also offers the chance to explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, where conservation and reforestation projects have helped create thriving habitats for these remarkable birds.

Few wildlife experiences are as powerful as witnessing sea turtles in their natural habitat. Between March and November, Costa Rica’s beaches come alive as thousands of turtles emerge from the ocean under the cover of darkness to lay their eggs in the soft, white sand.

Each female can lay up to 100 eggs at a time and weeks later, in the glow of the moonlight, tiny hatchlings begin their brave journey back to the sea - a truly unforgettable and emotional sight.

If you’re considering a Costa Rica cycling tour, our Costa Rica Pura Vida Cycling Adventure takes you to Ostional Beach, one of the most important nesting sites in the world, where you may witness turtles laying their eggs. You’ll also ride along the coast at Playa Avellanas, keeping an eye out for nesting turtles along the shoreline.

On our Costa Rica family adventure, you’ll visit the wildlife-rich waterways of Tortuguero National Park, a key nesting area and explore the Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum to learn about the vital conservation work protecting these incredible creatures.

Meanwhile, on our Costa Rica Walks and Wildlife tour, you can experience the marine world from another perspective, with the chance to snorkel near Corcovado National Park, where sea turtles are often spotted gliding through the warm tropical waters, making this more than just your average Costa Rica hiking tour.

A playful and ever-present part of Costa Rica adventure travel, monkeys bring energy and character to the rainforest. There are four species to look out for: howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, spider monkeys and squirrel monkeys - each with their own unique behaviours and personalities.

The howler monkey, the largest and most common in Costa Rica, often announces its presence before you even catch a glimpse. Its deep, echoing call travels for miles through the jungle, giving this species its name.

White-faced capuchins are the mischievous ones - highly intelligent and known for their curiosity, they’re not shy about coming down to ground level and have even been known to sneak food from unsuspecting visitors.

Spider monkeys are incredibly agile and sociable, often seen swinging effortlessly through the canopy and interacting with other groups, while squirrel monkeys, the smallest of the four, travel in lively troops of up to 75 - meaning if you spot one, there’s a good chance many more are nearby.

With so many opportunities to encounter these loveable creatures, all of our Costa Rica adventure packages visit the national parks and rainforest regions where they thrive. On our Costa Rica family adventure, you’ll even stay in an eco-lodge where you can wake to the unforgettable sound of howler monkeys calling through the forest - a true immersion into life in the rainforest.

Often described as the clowns of the rainforest, toucans are one of Costa Rica’s most colourful and charismatic birds. With their oversized, vibrant beaks and playful nature, they’re an unforgettable sight. Costa Rica is home to six species with the Keel-billed Toucan (pictured above) being the most well known with its iconic rainbow bill and the Yellow-throated toucan with its yellow chest and large yellow-and-brown bill being the most commonly spotted.

Despite their striking appearance, they can be surprisingly well camouflaged among the forest canopy, hopping between branches in search of fruit. You might even spot them tossing berries into the air before catching them - a behaviour that only adds to their playful reputation.

With habitats across many of the national parks and rainforest regions visited on our Costa Rica wildlife holidays, there’s a strong chance you’ll encounter these incredible birds on your adventure. Whether perched high in the trees or gliding between branches, a toucan sighting is the perfect colourful finale to your Costa Rica wildlife experience.