Because we all love sloths

Visitor’s Guide to Sloths in Costa Rica

Sloths are adorable and amazing creatures, and we simply can’t get enough of them. You can find sloths on stickers to socks; they simply fascinate us. From their adorable little faces to their truly unique fur, we simply can’t seem to get enough of them. Maybe in this speedy, highly connected world, but their chill demeanor and slow speed are a good reminder of living Pura Vida. Therefore, they recently became a national symbol of Costa Rica.

Why is Costa Rica the best place in the world to see sloths?

Costa Rica has amazing biodiversity of wildlife, boasting 5% of the world’s different species. Costa Rica has an amazingly diverse landscape from rainforests to high mountain peaks, where many amazing animals live.

How can you see sloths in Costa Rica?

The best way to see a sloth in the wild is to hire a naturalist guide; we are expert spotters. If you absolutely must see a sloth, then the best option is to visit a wildlife refuge or rescue center.

Where do Sloths live?

There are six species of sloth, and they live exclusively in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America from Honduras in the north to Bolivia and Brazil in the south. Costa Rica is a great place to see them because of the diversity of species and the conservation support the country provides them.

What kind of sloths live in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica has two varieties, Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloth (Choloepus Hoffmanni) and the Brown-throated Three-fingered sloth (Bradypus Variegatus).

• Hoffman’s Two-Toed Sloth (Choloepus Hoffmanni):
  • Nocturnal, usually napping during the day
  • Harder to find
  • Can be seen around Monteverde
  • Need a guide to spot
• Brown-throated Three-fingered sloth (Bradypus Variegatus):
  • The most common type of sloth in the world
  • Slightly smaller than Hoffman’s.

What color are sloths?

There are lots of pictures of sloths with many different coat colors, from gray in black to bright green. Wild sloth fur is almost an ecosystem to itself because its fur can contain many different types of mites and other organisms like algae.

Why are sloths so slow?

It is mainly because their metabolism is so slow, it takes them about two weeks to digest one meal. Their main food source of leaves and foliage isn’t very energy-dense and can be hard to digest, which also slows down their movements. Sloths are almost impossible to find on your own because they’ve mastered the art of not moving; our guides are expert sloth spotters and can help you see one in the wild.

Which Horizontes Tour has sloth spotting?

If you are a nature lover and include hikes in the rainforest of Costa Rica, then you may be able to spot sloths at different places of your journey. Sloths live all over the country; you don’t need to travel to a specific region to spot one, but there are areas of Costa Rica that have higher concentrations of sloths, including the Caribbean region, the central Pacific region, and the Osa Peninsula. If you travel to one of these areas, you’ll have a greater chance of seeing a sloth in the wild.

More Amazing Facts about Sloths

• They are arboreal mammals related to anteaters, which have a similar set of claws.
• They are excellent swimmers.
• They are active day and night and sleep for about 15-20 hours a day.
• They live for around 20 to 30 years.
• They are excellent swimmers.
• The best way to see a sloth in the wild is to hire a naturalist guide; they are expert spotters.
• These rainforest animals are easier to see in the Central and South Pacific and the Caribbean due to the high humidity and lush rainforest all year round.
• If you absolutely must see a sloth, then the best option is to visit a wildlife refuge or rescue center.
• Congratulations to sloths! They recently became a National Symbol of Costa Rica. The aim is that this will promote the conservation of the species as well as their habitats.

Written by Federico Solano, Marketing Director, Horizontes Nature Tours

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