Santa Rosa National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐢 Olive Ridley Arribada
🌍 #63 Global · 4.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #8 in Central America #20 in Tropical Forest
Guanacaste, Costa Rica 830 spp. recorded

Santa Rosa protects the largest remaining tropical dry forest in Central America — a unique ecosystem where trees shed their leaves in the dry season, creating open canopy conditions ideal for wildlife spotting. The park is home to olive ridley sea turtle mass nestings (arribadas) at Playa Nancite, one of the most important nesting sites in the world.

10.853° N   85.672° 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

Pacific Ridley ★
VU

Pacific Ridley

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lepidochelys olivacea

Insufficient data
Central American White-faced Capuchin ★
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

60–70% · Likely
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

50–60% · Likely
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana ★
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

60–70% · Likely
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
LC

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes hoffmannii

60–70% · Likely
Milk Frog

Milk Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Trachycephalus macrotis

60–70% · Likely
Sheep Frog
LC

Sheep Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Hypopachus variolosus

60–70% · Likely
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

50–60% · Likely
Banded Wren
LC

Banded Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryophilus pleurostictus

50–60% · Likely
White-tipped Dove
LC Endemic

White-tipped Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptotila verreauxi

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Great Curassow
VU Endemic

Great Curassow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crax rubra

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-backed Wren
LC

Rufous-backed Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus capistratus

50–60% · Likely
Squirrel Cuckoo
LC

Squirrel Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piaya cayana

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-capped Warbler
LC

Rufous-capped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Basileuterus rufifrons

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American White-faced Capuchin ★
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

60–70% · Likely
Mantled Howler Monkey ★
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

60–70% · Likely
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

50–60% · Likely
Central American Spider Monkey
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

40–50% · Likely
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

30–40% · Possible
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

20–30% · Possible
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

20–30% · Possible
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

20–30% · Possible
Big-eared Climbing Rat
LC

Big-eared Climbing Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ototylomys phyllotis

20–30% · Possible
Baird's Tapir

Baird's Tapir

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Tapirella bairdii

10–20% · With luck
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

10–20% · With luck
Derby's Woolly Opossum
LC

Derby's Woolly Opossum

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Caluromys derbianus

10–20% · With luck
Salvin's Spiny Pocket Mouse

Salvin's Spiny Pocket Mouse

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Liomys salvini

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Hoffmann's Woodpecker
LC

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes hoffmannii

60–70% · Likely
Banded Wren
LC

Banded Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryophilus pleurostictus

50–60% · Likely
White-tipped Dove
LC Endemic

White-tipped Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptotila verreauxi

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Great Curassow
VU Endemic

Great Curassow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crax rubra

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-backed Wren
LC

Rufous-backed Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus capistratus

50–60% · Likely
Squirrel Cuckoo
LC

Squirrel Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piaya cayana

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-capped Warbler
LC

Rufous-capped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Basileuterus rufifrons

50–60% · Likely
White-Throated Magpie-Jay

White-Throated Magpie-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calocitta formosa

40–50% · Likely
Brown-crested Flycatcher
LC

Brown-crested Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiarchus tyrannulus

40–50% · Likely
Inca Dove
LC

Inca Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columbina inca

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
LC

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Pacific Ridley ★
VU

Pacific Ridley

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lepidochelys olivacea

Insufficient data
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana ★
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Slender Hognose Viper
LC

Slender Hognose Viper

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Porthidium ophryomegas

40–50% · Likely
Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake
LC

Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Leptodeira rhombifera

40–50% · Likely
Central American Rattlesnake
LC

Central American Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus simus

30–40% · Possible
Central American Lyresnake
LC

Central American Lyresnake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Trimorphodon quadruplex

30–40% · Possible
Central American Banded Gecko
LC

Central American Banded Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Coleonyx mitratus

30–40% · Possible
Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake
LC

Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptodeira nigrofasciata

30–40% · Possible
Cope's Black-striped Snake
LC

Cope's Black-striped Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Coniophanes piceivittis

30–40% · Possible
Central American Boa
LC

Central American Boa

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Boa imperator

30–40% · Possible
Yellowbelly Gecko
LC Endemic

Yellowbelly Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Phyllodactylus tuberculosus

20–30% · Possible
Blackbelly Racerunner
LC

Blackbelly Racerunner

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis deppii

20–30% · Possible
Central American Coral Snake
LC

Central American Coral Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Micrurus nigrocinctus

20–30% · Possible
American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Milk Frog

Milk Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Trachycephalus macrotis

60–70% · Likely
Sheep Frog
LC

Sheep Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Hypopachus variolosus

60–70% · Likely
Mexican Smilisca
LC

Mexican Smilisca

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Smilisca baudinii

40–50% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

40–50% · Likely
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

40–50% · Likely
Yellow Toad
LC

Yellow Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Incilius luetkenii

40–50% · Likely
Stauffer's Tree Frog
LC

Stauffer's Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax staufferi

30–40% · Possible
Forrer's Grass Frog
LC Endemic

Forrer's Grass Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Lithobates forreri

20–30% · Possible
Turbo White-lipped Frog
LC

Turbo White-lipped Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus poecilochilus

20–30% · Possible
Dry Forest Toad
LC

Dry Forest Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius coccifer

20–30% · Possible
Yellow Treefrog
LC

Yellow Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus microcephalus

20–30% · With luck
Mexican Burrowing Toad
LC

Mexican Burrowing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinophrynus dorsalis

10–20% · With luck

Animal Events

🐢

Olive Ridley Turtle Arribada

AugSepOctNov

In one of nature's great synchronized spectacles, thousands of olive ridley sea turtles storm the same beach together over a few nights, hauling their bodies up the sand to dig nests shoulder to shoulder. This mass nesting, known as an arribada, turns the shoreline into a churning field of flippers and freshly laid eggs.

Pacific Ridley
VU

Pacific Ridley

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lepidochelys olivacea

Insufficient data
🐒

Dry Season Wildlife Congregation

JanFebMarApr

As the tropical dry forest bakes and waterholes shrink to a few precious pools, wildlife is forced into the open to drink. White-faced capuchins, mantled howler monkeys, and white-tailed deer converge on the last remaining water, making animals that are usually scattered and hidden easy to spot in one place.

Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

60–70% · Likely
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

60–70% · Likely
Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

50–60% · Likely
🦜

Dry Forest Birding Season

DecJanFebMarApr

When the dry forest sheds its leaves, the bare branches strip away the canopy's cover and lay the birds bare to view. The turkey-sized great curassow struts in plain sight, raucous white-throated magpie-jays move through in noisy flocks, and male long-tailed manakins pair up to perform their acrobatic cartwheeling courtship dance.

Great Curassow
VU Endemic

Great Curassow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crax rubra

50–60% · Likely
White-Throated Magpie-Jay

White-Throated Magpie-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calocitta formosa

40–50% · Likely
Long-tailed Manakin
LC

Long-tailed Manakin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chiroxiphia linearis

40–50% · 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
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
Pacific Ridley
5–10
10–20
<5
5–10
10–20
5–10
5–10
<5
30–40
10–20
10–20
5–10
Central American White-faced Capuchin
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
30–40
30–40
80–90
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
Mantled Howler Monkey
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
20–30
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
80–90
60–70
80–90
White-tailed Deer
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
30–40
50–60
80–90
70–80
50–60
60–70
30–40
60–70
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
Milk Frog
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
30–40
40–50
60–70
70–80
Sheep Frog
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
Central American Agouti
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
80–90
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
Banded Wren
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
White-tipped Dove
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
Great Kiskadee
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
30–40
60–70
Great Curassow
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
Rufous-backed Wren
30–40
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
Squirrel Cuckoo
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
Rufous-capped Warbler
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
Animal Events
🐢 Olive Ridley Turtle Arribada
🐒 Dry Season Wildlife Congregation
🦜 Dry Forest Birding Season

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
🐢 Olive Ridley Arribada

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
503
🐒 Mammals
190
🦎 Reptiles
109
🐸 Amphibians
28
830 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
28 Threatened 68 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (240 species at ≥5% of 830 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
29%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (6 bird, 3 mammal, 2 amphibian, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
87%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
134
🌟
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
18
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
36

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Santa Rosa National Park?

The most likely sightings are Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), White-tailed Deer (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Central American White-faced Capuchin (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Hoffmann's Woodpecker (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Milk Frog (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 830 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Santa Rosa National Park for wildlife?

July 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 Pacific Ridley in Santa Rosa National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 12% of wildlife watchers report a Pacific Ridley sighting in Santa Rosa National Park, based on 3 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Central American White-faced Capuchin in Santa Rosa National Park?

Yes — about 66% of wildlife watchers report a Central American White-faced Capuchin sighting in Santa Rosa National Park, based on 119 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Mantled Howler Monkey in Santa Rosa National Park?

Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Mantled Howler Monkey sighting in Santa Rosa National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Black Spiny-tailed Iguana in Santa Rosa National Park?

Yes — about 82% of wildlife watchers report a Black Spiny-tailed Iguana sighting in Santa Rosa National Park, based on 234 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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