Which sloths live in Manuel Antonio National Park?
Two species live in the park: the brown-throated three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni). The three-toed sloth is the one you see more often in daylight; the two-toed sloth is mostly active at night and spends the day curled into a ball high in the canopy.
How do you tell the two species apart?
Count the claws on the front limbs: three on the three-toed sloth, two on the two-toed. The three-toed sloth has a pale face with a dark eye stripe that looks like a mask and a short stubby tail; the two-toed sloth is larger, with a pinkish snout, no visible tail and a lighter, shaggier coat.
Where and when do you see sloths in the park?
Sloths are seen year-round. Mornings are the best time to enter the park: it opens at 7:00 a.m. and is closed every Tuesday. Sloths often rest in cecropia trees and in the dense trees along the main trail and near the beaches. Because they barely move and are covered in algae, most visitors walk right under one without noticing it.
Why a guide with a spotting scope changes everything
A sloth 25 meters up looks like a clump of leaves to the naked eye. Our naturalist guides carry a Swarovski spotting scope, find the animal and frame it so you see the face, the claws and even the algae on the fur, and take photos with your phone through the scope at no extra cost.
Jason Solano Zamora, who leads Costa Rica Wakoo Tours, has guided in Manuel Antonio for 18 years with ICT licenses 1206 and 1901. Our Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour starts at $30 per person (park ticket bought separately from SINAC at $18.08 for foreign adults).
Rules to protect the sloths
Never touch, feed or hold a sloth, and avoid any business that offers photos holding one. Keep your voice low, do not use flash and give the animal space if it is on a low branch or crossing the ground.