Tropical rainforest
High humidity and layered vegetation support immense diversity of plants, fungi, insects, amphibians, birds and mammals.
Nature connecting territories
Costa Rica biodiversity: wildlife, plants and ecosystems
A visual guide to Costa Rica’s emblematic species, forests, mangroves, páramo and responsible wildlife observation.
More than a species list
Diversity means relationships
Biodiversity includes ecosystems, species, genes and associated knowledge. A position between two oceans, complex terrain and rapid elevation changes help explain why so many environments fit within a small territory.
Protected areas are essential, but wildlife also depends on biological corridors, farms, rivers, coasts and everyday decisions beyond park boundaries.
From sea level to the summits
Ecosystems changing within a few kilometres
Tropical dry forest
A pronounced dry season transforms the landscape; many trees lose leaves and water availability organizes wildlife.
Cloud forest
Mist supplies moisture to epiphytes, mosses and ferns. Small elevation changes create different communities.
Wetlands and mangroves
They connect rivers, coasts and sea, supporting waterbirds, fish, crustaceans and coastal protection.
Coasts and marine environments
Reefs, rocky shores, seagrass and ocean zones support life that is not always visible from land.
Páramo
Above montane forest, cold, wind and radiation favour special adaptations and high regional endemism.
Featured wildlife
Emblematic animals and their role
Finding an animal depends on habitat, time, weather and luck. A responsible experience never chases or guarantees sightings.
Panthera onca
Jaguar
The country’s largest cat is a key predator requiring extensive, connected habitat. Seeing one in the wild is exceptional, not a normal tour expectation.
Tapirus bairdii
Baird’s tapir
This large herbivore disperses seeds and helps shape forests. It mainly inhabits well-preserved wooded areas and is threatened by habitat loss and roads.
Two species occur in the country
Sloths
Costa Rica has two-toed and three-toed sloths. Their stillness is not an invitation to touch: handling, feeding or using them for photographs causes stress and may transmit disease.
Cebus imitator
White-faced capuchin
This intelligent, social and adaptable primate inhabits several forest types, particularly on the Pacific slope. Feeding changes its diet and behaviour, increases conflict and can spread disease.
Ara macao
Scarlet macaw
Pairs and flocks stand out in the Central and South Pacific, among other areas. They depend on large trees for food and nesting, making forest protection essential.
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Keel-billed toucan
Its multicoloured bill makes it one of the most recognizable birds of Caribbean and northern humid forests. It eats fruit and disperses seeds, while also including other foods in its diet.
Pharomachrus mocinno
Resplendent quetzal
An emblematic cloud-forest species, it inhabits areas including Los Quetzales, Monteverde and Talamanca. Sightings depend on food, season, weather, patience and quiet.
Several species nest on both coasts
Sea turtles
Caribbean and Pacific beaches receive leatherback, green, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles, among others. During nesting, follow local guides and rules; light, noise and crowding disrupt the process.
Agalychnis callidryas
Red-eyed tree frog
This nocturnal frog is associated with humid forests and breeding water. Never move one for a photograph: its skin is sensitive to chemicals, heat and handling.
Plants and living landscapes
Plants that build habitat
Plants are not a background for wildlife: they produce food, shelter, shade, soil and ecological connections.
Guarianthe skinneri
Guaria morada orchid
The national flower and a native orchid. Cultural value never justifies wild collection; choose legally propagated plants from traceable sellers.
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Guanacaste tree
The national tree is known for its broad crown and ear-shaped fruit. It is associated with tropical dry forest and rural Pacific landscapes.
Forests between land and sea
Mangroves
Their species tolerate salt and flooding. Mangroves act as nurseries, refuges, natural filters and coastal buffers; visit without cutting roots or disturbing nests.
Mountain ecosystems
Cloud forest and páramo
Mosses, ferns, bromeliads, oaks and cold-adapted plants change with elevation. Talamanca páramo protects endemic life in small, sensitive areas.
Responsible observation
The best photograph changes no behaviour
- Keep your distance; never touch, feed, capture or move animals or plants.
- Avoid flash with nocturnal wildlife and repeated playback used to attract birds.
- Stay on trails, respect capacity limits and follow park ranger and accredited guide instructions.
- Never buy wildlife, wild-collected plants or souvenirs made from animal parts.
- Slow down on roads near forest and report injured wildlife to the appropriate authorities.
- Share sensitive locations cautiously; publicizing nests or threatened species can attract disturbance.
Sources and tools for further exploration
Records change as research advances. Consult official platforms and protected-area profiles before treating any count or sighting as certain.