Those visiting Costa Rica often have one animal at the top of their wish list. Sloths! These furry, slow-moving creatures have captured the hearts of millions. With their kind eyes and smile-shaped fur pattern, who wouldn’t love them? But be careful, sloths have become big business in some parts of Costa Rica. In this article, we’ll give some background on sloth tours in Costa Rica so you can have an ethical encounter to remember.
What’s Happening with Sloths?
Costa Rica has many healthy populations of sloths living in the wild. However, with their popularity, some people are taking advantage for their own financial gain. Here are a few examples to be aware of.
Moving Sloths
Sloths generally live in rainforests, cloud forests, and humid tropical forests. This means that some parts of the country, like Guanacaste on the northern Pacific coast, are not suitable for them. Sloths just don’t live in tropical dry forests. But sloth tours are still popping up there.
This is because people have taken sloths from their natural environment and moved them to these new areas. Since they don’t have the correct food and habitat, the sloths often become malnourished and stressed. If kept there, they will die.
If taking a sloth tour from Guanacaste, make sure you are going on a long day trip inland to where sloths live naturally.
Grouping Sloths Together
Even in areas where wild sloths are common like in La Fortuna/Arenal, there’s a lot of competition for sloth tours.
Some businesses have reportedly captured and released many sloths together on small private properties. This makes it so that you are guaranteed to see one during a visit.
Sloth sightings should never be guaranteed.
These animals are very territorial and mostly solitary. Having many together causes fighting between the sloths and a lot of stress. If you see a few sloths on a property, that may be normal. But a half-dozen or more in a small geographic area could mean that something suspicious is going on.
Close Encounters
People are getting too close to sloths. Unscrupulous guides allow people to take selfies, feed, or even hold a sloth. This is illegal and harmful to the animals.
In 2019, Costa Rica’s tourism sector launched a campaign to stop animal selfies. It cited a World Animal Protection International survey that listed Costa Rica as the 7th worst location for inappropriate wildlife photos.
We all want good photos to remember but make sure to take them from a distance. Also, don’t use a flash or make too much noise when photographing a sloth. Sloths live quiet lives and require their own space to stay healthy.
How to See Sloths in Costa Rica Ethically
There are two main ways you can safely see sloths on your vacation to Costa Rica: on a nature walk at a national park or reserve or at a wildlife rehabilitation center.
Seeing Sloths in the Wild
Costa Rica has two species of sloth, the two-toed sloth and the three-toed sloth. Their habitats overlap but they are completely different from one another.
The best way to encounter a sloth in the wild is to hire a certified naturalist guide. These guides are trained to know where sloths hang out. They can teach you a lot about the species you are seeing.
Guides also have powerful scopes that will let you see a sloth close up. Not only that, but they’re often able to take photos through the scope with your phone so you can have an up-close image without bothering the animal.
Where to See Sloths in Costa Rica
Some good destinations to see sloths include Costa Rica’s central and southern Pacific coast (Manuel Antonio, Dominical, Uvita, and the Osa Peninsula), the Caribbean coast (Tortuguero, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, and Manzanillo), and the north-central region (La Fortuna, Bijagua/Rio Celeste, Sarapiqui, and Monteverde).
This isn’t an all-inclusive list but a good start.
In La Fortuna/Arenal, there’s a nice sloth and bird tour we’ve taken with a guide to a nature reserve. We saw a few sloths living in the rainforest around the property. This is a good option for an ethical sloth tour.
Visiting a Wildlife Rehab Center
Another great way to see sloths is at a wildlife rehabilitation center.
There are several centers around Costa Rica that do important work. These facilities bring in injured or confiscated animals and try to release them when healed.
Sometimes sloths must remain in captivity because of the extent of their injury or stress they have experienced. These animals then act as ambassadors for spreading knowledge about sloths.
Here area a few wildlife rehab centers that we have enjoyed visiting.
Toucan Rescue Ranch
Located near San Jose, this facility offers a unique tour where you can have coffee with a sloth. Staying a safe distance, you’ll observe the sloth while it does its daily enrichment activities. Learn more in our article, Toucan Rescue Ranch: Wildlife and Sloth Tour.
Kids Saving the Rainforest
On Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast near Manuel Antonio is Kids Saving the Rainforest.
For decades this group has been helping local wildlife, including sloths. At their facility you can meet a couple of the resident sloths and hear their story. Learn more through our article, Kids Saving the Rainforest.
Proyecto Asis
Located near La Fortuna/Arenal, Proyecto Asis has been taking in animals in need for over 20 years. They are also an important watchful eye for what has been happening to sloths in recent years. Their wildlife center tour has an optional volunteering element as well.
Jaguar Rescue Center
Located along the southern Caribbean coast, this rescue center takes in many sloths that have, unfortunately, been electrocuted, attacked by dogs, or hit by cars. Some will never leave the center but do become important educational ambassadors. Read more here: Jaguar Rescue Center Wildlife Tour in Puerto Viejo.
Conclusion
Seeing a sloth on your trip to Costa Rica can be a highlight. But don’t forget, these celebrity animals are sensitive and real. If you take a sloth tour, make sure the company is operating in an ethical way. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and express your concerns. This will make everyone realize that authentic experiences are essential and what we need to keep the sloth population healthy and smiling.
Have a question about sloth tours in Costa Rica? Ask us below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
A Sloth and Bird Tour in La Fortuna: This guided tour is a good option for seeing sloths in the wild in an ethical way.
Bijagua: A Gateway to the Rio Celeste – This small town is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see sloths.
Sustainability: Check out our Sustainability section for articles on sustainable hotels and activities.
We loved our tour in Manuel Antonio. The guide was very knowledgeable and we saw sloths through his viewfinder, way up in the trees. Lots of other animals, too. I hate that people exploit animals, who should be left in peace, in their natural habitats.
Hi Kathrin, Thanks for your comment and glad you had a nice tour in Manuel Antonio! We hate how people exploit animals too. Luckily, the Costa Rican government does help with that, though the process can be slow.
I have a question about Rainmaker. It sounds wonderful, but where do I stay? Planning to be in that area just a few days. We won’t have a car. Also, I’ve been to Costa Rica five times and would love to see even more hanging bridges. Rainmaker May do it!
Thanks! Love your blog
Hi Julie, Rainmaker isn’t close to much as far as tourist destinations go. The closest is definitely Manuel Antonio, at about 25 minutes. It may be worth it to do a guided tour. For $65 pp, the entrance fee ($20 pp) and transportation is included, plus you have the benefit of the guide. Feel free to reach out if you’d like help with the arrangements. We work with an excellent local company for this tour. Here’s the link to our booking page in case you’re interested.
Is there anywhere you recommend in Guanacaste region? Thanks so much!
Hi Lola, Sloths don’t live in Guanacaste so you have to drive a bit. The closest town is Bijagua, about 1.5-2 hours away, depending on where you’re staying in Guanacaste. There’s a really nice tour that takes you to a property there where it’s usually easy to see sloths and then to a gorgeous waterfall on the way back. This includes transportation, the guide, and lunch. Let us know if you’d like more information about this and we could send it to you by email.
Hey! I am going to Costa Rica the Quepos area, I am going from November 4th to 9th I am landing in Juan Santamaría International Airport I read a bunch of your articles! very helpful!
I have 3 questions
1: I want to rent from adobo thru your link but I was wondering if the drive from the airport to quepos is rough (road wise) also would they charge me for all those miles i would put into the car due to the drive
2: To get the most out of my USD should I exchange it there? I know its 500 colonel per 1 USD or did that change. I don’t want to get ripped off when I exchange it
3: Since I am near the MA area I have things like catamaran, zipline, horseback riding, waterfalls, turtle release, chocolate tour, MA national park and farmers market. Am I missing something ?
-I know its November (Rainy season) would that affect things like beaches being open or catamaran or horseback riding?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Brian, Glad our articles have been helpful! Here are our thoughts on your questions.
1. The drive from San Jose Airport to Quepos is not bad at all. It’s along all smooth, paved highway and major roads. Just make sure not to do this drive at night since visibility can be bad, especially in rainy season. Here’s a link to our Road Conditions post with more info. Just look up Route 27 and Route 34. The rental car company won’t charge you for miles, just by the day.
2. That is about the current exchange rate but it could change by November. We find it easiest to use credit cards for most purchases and cash only when necessary. It’s easiest to get cash out of the ATM here with your debit card. Here’s a link to our post on Money in Costa Rica that explains all of this more. We recently updated it.
3. That’s a really good list for activities. There’s also a fun canyoning/ziplining combo tour that people love. When you’re ready to book your activities, feel free to reach out through our online tour bookings page. We book many of those tours for people regularly. For closures during rainy season, everything will be open. If it happens to be really rainy on one of the days you’re here, the tour operator will try to reschedule with you or refund you. We would plan activities in the morning when rain is less likely.