White-faced capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys share the same trails in Manuel Antonio National Park, and most first-time visitors cannot tell them apart from a distance. Here is how to identify each one on your Manuel Antonio tour, and why one of the two is far harder to see.

What is the size and color difference between capuchins and squirrel monkeys?

White-faced capuchin monkeys are the larger of the two, with a dark brown to black body and a distinctive cream-white face and chest. Squirrel monkeys are noticeably smaller — about half the size of a capuchin — with a short olive-and-orange coat, a white face mask, and a black muzzle. If the monkey you spot is small enough to fit in two cupped hands and moves in a tight, fast-moving troop, it is a squirrel monkey.

Which one is endangered?

The Central American squirrel monkey subspecies found in this park is listed as endangered. Manuel Antonio and the nearby Quepos coastline hold one of the last stable populations in Costa Rica. Capuchins, by contrast, are common and widespread across the country and are not considered endangered.

Where in the park is each species more likely to appear?

Capuchins are seen throughout the park, including close to the main trails and beaches, because they are more tolerant of people. Squirrel monkeys tend to stay in denser canopy and move in larger troops of 20 or more, so they are spotted less predictably and usually earlier in the morning, before the trails fill with visitors.

Can I tell them apart by behavior?

Capuchins are more deliberate — they forage individually or in small clusters and will sometimes approach trail-side vegetation for fruit or unattended food. Squirrel monkeys travel in large, fast troops that move through the canopy together and rarely pause, which is itself a useful identification clue even before you see a face clearly.

Why does it matter which one I see?

Feeding or approaching either species disrupts natural behavior and is prohibited inside the park. A licensed local guide with a spotting scope can find and identify both species from a safe distance without disturbing them, which is the difference between a five-second glimpse and several minutes of clear viewing.

Guide: Jason Solano Zamora, ICT-certified naturalist guide and founder of Costa Rica Wakoo Tours.

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Planning your visit for December or January? Check dates and prices on the Manuel Antonio December 2026 booking page.