Arenal Volcano National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🦃 Costa Rica's Top Guan & Curassow Forest
⏱ 1–2 days 🥾 Moderate trails
🌍 #40 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #5 in Central America #12 in Tropical Forest
Northern Lowlands, Costa Rica 1298 spp. recorded

Arenal Volcano is Costa Rica's most iconic volcano, a near-perfect cone rising 1,670 meters above Lake Arenal and surrounding rainforest. The park protects a transition zone between lowland rainforest and cloud forest, creating exceptional habitat diversity. Old lava flows host a remarkable succession of pioneer plants and wildlife, while the surrounding forests shelter toucans, howler monkeys, coatis, and over 500 bird species.

10.455° N   84.711° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Red-eyed Treefrog ★
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

70–80% · Very likely
White-nosed Coati ★
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

80–90% · Very likely
Brown-throated Sloth ★
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

40–50% · Likely
Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

70–80% · Very likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

70–80% · Very likely
Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

70–80% · Very likely
Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

60–70% · Likely
Crested Guan
NT

Crested Guan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Penelope purpurascens

60–70% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

60–70% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

60–70% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

50–60% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

50–60% · Likely
Great Curassow
VU Endemic

Great Curassow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crax rubra

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

White-nosed Coati ★
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

80–90% · Very likely
Brown-throated Sloth ★
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

40–50% · Likely
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

30–40% · Possible
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

30–40% · Possible
Central American Spider Monkey
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

20–30% · Possible
Dicotyles tajacu
Endemic

Dicotyles tajacu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pecari tajacu

20–30% · Possible
Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

20–30% · Possible
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

20–30% · Possible
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

10–20% · Possible
Gabb's Cottontail
LC

Gabb's Cottontail

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Sylvilagus gabbi

10–20% · With luck
Proboscis Bat
LC

Proboscis Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhynchonycteris naso

Insufficient data
Tayra
LC

Tayra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Eira barbara

0–10% · With luck
Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

0–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Keel-billed Toucan ★
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

70–80% · Very likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

70–80% · Very likely
Montezuma Oropendola
LC

Montezuma Oropendola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Psarocolius montezuma

60–70% · Likely
Crested Guan
NT

Crested Guan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Penelope purpurascens

60–70% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

60–70% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

60–70% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

50–60% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

50–60% · Likely
Great Curassow
VU Endemic

Great Curassow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Crax rubra

50–60% · Likely
Green Honeycreeper
LC

Green Honeycreeper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chlorophanes spiza

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

70–80% · Very likely
Basiisk Verde

Basiisk Verde

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus plumifrons

30–40% · Possible
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

30–40% · Possible
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

30–40% · Possible
Fer-de-lance
LC

Fer-de-lance

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Bothrops asper

30–40% · Possible
Decorated Anole
LC

Decorated Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis insignis

30–40% · Possible
Ornate Cat-eyed Snake

Ornate Cat-eyed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptodeira ornata

30–40% · Possible
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

20–30% · Possible
Cloudy Snail-eating Snake
LC

Cloudy Snail-eating Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Sibon nebulatus

20–30% · Possible
Helmeted Iguana
LC

Helmeted Iguana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Corytophanes cristatus

20–30% · Possible
Neotropical Green Anole
LC

Neotropical Green Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis biporcatus

20–30% · Possible
Blunthead Tree Snake
LC

Blunthead Tree Snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Imantodes cenchoa

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Red-eyed Treefrog ★
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

40–50% · Likely
Warszewitsch's Frog

Warszewitsch's Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lithobates warszewitschii

40–50% · Likely
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

40–50% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

40–50% · Likely
Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

40–50% · Possible
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

30–40% · Possible
Mahogany Tree Frog
LC

Mahogany Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Tlalocohyla loquax

30–40% · Possible
Emerald Glass Frog
LC

Emerald Glass Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Espadarana prosoblepon

20–30% · Possible
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
LC

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor fitzingeri

20–30% · Possible
Wet Forest Toad
LC

Wet Forest Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius melanochlorus

10–20% · Possible
Pygmy Rain Frog
LC

Pygmy Rain Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pristimantis ridens

10–20% · Possible
Atlantic Broad-headed Litter Frog
LC

Atlantic Broad-headed Litter Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Craugastor megacephalus

10–20% · Possible

Animal Events

🦅

Raptor Migration

MarAprMay

Vast rivers of raptors funnel over the volcano as American Swallow-tailed Kites carve the sky on forked, black-and-white wings and thousands of Broad-winged Hawks spiral upward in swirling 'kettles.' The steady lift off Arenal's slopes makes it a front-row seat for one of the continent's great aerial migrations.

Broad-winged Hawk
LC

Broad-winged Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo platypterus

10–20% · With luck
American Swallow-tailed Kite
LC

American Swallow-tailed Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanoides forficatus

10–20% · Possible
🐦

Fruiting-Season Toucan & Aracari Activity

MarMayJunOct

As forest trees heavy with fruit ripen, boisterous flocks of toucans and aracaris move in to feast, tossing berries down their throats with a flick of the head. Watch for the rainbow bill of the Keel-billed Toucan, the sleek Collared Aracari, and the deep-voiced Black-mandibled Toucan gathering in the canopy.

Keel-billed Toucan
NT

Keel-billed Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos sulfuratus

40–50% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
Collared Aracari
LC

Collared Aracari

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pteroglossus torquatus

40–50% · Likely
🐸

Frog Chorus & Night-Tour Season

MayJunJulAugSep

When the rains swell the forest, Arenal's amphibians erupt into a nocturnal breeding chorus led by the neon-green Red-eyed Treefrog clinging to leaves above the ponds, the tiny crimson Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, and the delicate Harlequin Treefrog. Night tours turn a headlamp beam into a treasure hunt of jewel-bright frogs calling for mates.

Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

40–50% · Possible
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

70–80% · Very likely
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
LC

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Oophaga pumilio

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
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Red-eyed Treefrog
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
White-nosed Coati
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Brown-throated Sloth
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
Keel-billed Toucan
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
20–30
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
Middle American Ameiva
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
50–60
70–80
60–70
Montezuma Oropendola
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Crested Guan
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
Clay-colored Thrush
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Great Kiskadee
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
Blue-gray Tanager
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Bananaquit
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Black-mandibled Toucan
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
40–50
Palm Tanager
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
Great Curassow
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦅 Raptor Migration
🐦 Fruiting-Season Toucan & Aracari Activity
🐸 Frog Chorus & Night-Tour 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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🦃 Costa Rica's Top Guan & Curassow Forest

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
818
🐒 Mammals
214
🦎 Reptiles
157
🐸 Amphibians
109
1298 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
45 Threatened 99 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
69%
📊
Coverage (314 species at ≥5% of 1298 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 1 mammal, 1 amphibian, 1 reptile)
47% Global avg
56%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
194
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
21
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
41
⚖️

Arenal Volcano or ?

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