Watchingwildlifewell
How to see more, disturb less and come home with better memories of Costa Rica's animals.
Seeing animals in the wild is the reason many people come to Costa Rica. Doing it well is partly about where and when you look, and partly about how you behave once you've found them.
Seeing more
- Go early. The first hours after dawn are usually the most active.
- Walk slowly and stop often. Much of the forest's life is still and camouflaged.
- Go with a naturalist guide. Their eyes, ears and spotting scope make a remarkable difference.
- Try a night walk. A whole second cast of animals appears after dark.
Disturbing less
- Never feed wild animals, including monkeys and coatis that approach people.
- Keep a respectful distance, and let animals move away if they choose.
- Avoid flash photography, particularly at night and on turtle beaches.
- On the water, choose operators who follow responsible whale- and dolphin-watching practice.
Managing expectations
Wild animals keep their own schedules, and no responsible guide or travel planner can promise a particular sighting. What good planning can do is put you in the right habitats, at the right time, with people who know them well. The rest is patience, and a little luck.
