Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🦥 Poison Dart Frog & Sloth Rainforest
🌍 #57 Global · 4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #6 in Central America #3 in Wetlands & Mangrove
Southern Caribbean, Costa Rica 983 spp. recorded

Gandoca-Manzanillo protects 19 km of pristine Caribbean coastline — from coral reefs and mangrove wetlands to lowland tropical forest stretching to the Panamanian border. The refuge is a critical nesting site for leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles, while its offshore waters are home to bottlenose and tucuxi dolphins, and one of Costa Rica's last remaining manatee populations.

9.630° N   82.625° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Leatherback Sea Turtle ★
VU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog ★
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

70–80% · Very likely
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth ★
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

60–70% · Likely
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

60–70% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely
Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

60–70% · Likely
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
LC

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes pucherani

60–70% · Likely
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

60–70% · Likely
Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

50–60% · Likely
Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

50–60% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Greenlet
LC

Lesser Greenlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hylophilus decurtatus

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth ★
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

60–70% · Likely
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

60–70% · Likely
Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

50–60% · Likely
Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

30–40% · Possible
Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

30–40% · Possible
Kinkajou
LC

Kinkajou

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Potos flavus

10–20% · With luck
Central American Spider Monkey
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

10–20% · With luck
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

Insufficient data
Sumichrast's Vesper Rat
LC

Sumichrast's Vesper Rat

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Nyctomys sumichrasti

Insufficient data
Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data
Derby's Woolly Opossum
LC

Derby's Woolly Opossum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Caluromys derbianus

Insufficient data
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

5–10% · With luck
Proboscis Bat
LC

Proboscis Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhynchonycteris naso

5–10% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely
Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

60–70% · Likely
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
LC

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes pucherani

60–70% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
Lesser Greenlet
LC

Lesser Greenlet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hylophilus decurtatus

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
Keel-billed Toucan
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

50–60% · Likely
Hudsonian Whimbrel

Hudsonian Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius hudsonicus

50–60% · Likely
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

50–60% · Likely
Red-lored Parrot
LC

Red-lored Parrot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazona autumnalis

50–60% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Leatherback Sea Turtle ★
VU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

60–70% · Likely
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

50–60% · Likely
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

50–60% · Likely
Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

40–50% · Likely
Brown Basilisk
LC

Brown Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus vittatus

40–50% · Likely
Helmeted Iguana
LC

Helmeted Iguana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Corytophanes cristatus

30–40% · Possible
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

30–40% · Possible
Basiisk Verde

Basiisk Verde

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus plumifrons

30–40% · Possible
Crested Anole

Crested Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis cristatellus

30–40% · Possible
Four-lined Ameiva
LC

Four-lined Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus quadrilineatus

30–40% · Possible
Common Caiman
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

20–30% · Possible
Neotropical Green Anole
LC

Neotropical Green Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis biporcatus

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog ★
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

50–60% · Likely
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

50–60% · Likely
Sylvia's Tree Frog
LC

Sylvia's Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Cruziohyla sylviae

40–50% · Likely
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

30–40% · Possible
Striped Poison-Dart Frog
LC

Striped Poison-Dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Phyllobates lugubris

30–40% · Possible
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

30–40% · Possible
Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

30–40% · Possible
Striped Rocket Frog
LC

Striped Rocket Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Allobates talamancae

30–40% · Possible
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

30–40% · Possible
Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax elaeochroa

20–30% · Possible
Atlantic Broad-headed Litter Frog
LC

Atlantic Broad-headed Litter Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Craugastor megacephalus

20–30% · Possible
Green Climbing Toad
LC

Green Climbing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Incilius coniferus

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🐢

Leatherback Sea Turtle Nesting

MarAprMayJunJul

The world's largest sea turtle, a leathery-shelled giant that can top two meters, hauls onto these dark-sand beaches under cover of night to dig deep nests and lay clutches of eggs. Watching a leatherback drag her enormous body up the shore is one of the great spectacles of the Caribbean coast.

Leatherback Sea Turtle
VU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Dermochelys coriacea

Insufficient data
🐸

Red-eyed Treefrog Breeding Chorus

JunAugSepNov

After nightfall the rains draw red-eyed treefrogs to pond edges, where males cling to overhanging leaves and call in ringing choruses to attract mates. Their vivid green bodies, orange feet, and startling ruby eyes make this one of the most photographed frogs of the neotropics.

Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

50–60% · Likely
🐸

Poison Dart Frog Breeding Season

MayJunJulAugSepOct

When the rains swell the leaf litter, tiny Strawberry and Green-and-Black poison-dart frogs turn boldly territorial, the males calling and wrestling for the best spots. The females carry hatched tadpoles up into water-filled bromeliads one by one, an intimate act of parental care from thumbnail-sized jewels of the forest floor.

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

50–60% · Likely
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

70–80% · Very likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Leatherback Sea Turtle
<5
<5
10–20
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
Mantled Howler Monkey
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
40–50
60–70
Great Kiskadee
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
White-throated Gecko
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
Black Vulture
70–80
80–90
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
Montezuma Oropendola
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
Central American Agouti
40–50
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
Brown-throated Sloth
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
60–70
40–50
20–30
50–60
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
Black-mandibled Toucan
40–50
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
Border Anole
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
Lesser Greenlet
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
30–40
60–70
50–60
40–50
20–30
Turkey Vulture
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
40–50
Animal Events
🐢 Leatherback Sea Turtle Nesting
🐸 Poison Dart Frog Breeding Season
🐸 Red-eyed Treefrog Breeding Chorus

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦥 Poison Dart Frog & Sloth Rainforest

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
587
🐒 Mammals
201
🦎 Reptiles
129
🐸 Amphibians
66
983 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
35 Threatened 50 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
64%
📊
Coverage (263 species at ≥5% of 983 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
27%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (5 bird, 4 mammal, 2 amphibian, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
91%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
171
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
20
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
33

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

The most likely sightings are Strawberry Poison-dart Frog (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Great Kiskadee (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), White-throated Gecko (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Mantled Howler Monkey (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Black Vulture (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 983 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge for wildlife?

February has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Leatherback Sea Turtle in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 3% of wildlife watchers report a Leatherback Sea Turtle sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 1 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Strawberry Poison-dart Frog in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

Yes — about 71% of wildlife watchers report a Strawberry Poison-dart Frog sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 169 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

Yes — about 65% of wildlife watchers report a Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 137 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mantled Howler Monkey in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge?

Yes — about 66% of wildlife watchers report a Mantled Howler Monkey sighting in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, based on 139 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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