Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐒 Reliable Monkey Sightings

⏱ 1 day 🥾 Moderate trails

🌍 #144 Global · 3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #26 in Central America #71 in Tropical Forest

Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica 749 spp. recorded

Cabo Blanco is Costa Rica's very first protected area, established in 1963 by Swedish conservationist Nils Olof Wessberg. At the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, where dry and wet tropical forests converge, the reserve shelters an extraordinary mix of wildlife — white-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, white-tailed deer, agoutis, coatis, and over 240 bird species including Costa Rica's largest colony of brown boobies.

9.504° N 85.082° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

60–70% · Likely

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

60–70% · Likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

50–60% · Likely

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

50–60% · Likely

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

50–60% · Likely

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

40–50% · Likely

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

40–50% · Likely

Rose-bellied Lizard

Sceloporus variabilis

40–50% · Likely

Black-headed Trogon

Trogon melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely

White-Throated Magpie-Jay

Calocitta formosa

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

60–70% · Likely

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

40–50% · Likely

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

40–50% · Likely

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

30–40% · Possible

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

20–30% · Possible

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

10–20% · Possible

Northern Ghost Bat

Diclidurus albus

10–20% · Possible

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

10–20% · With luck

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data

Greater Bulldog Bat

Noctilio leporinus

Insufficient data

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

Stenella attenuata

Insufficient data

Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

0–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

50–60% · Likely

Rufous-backed Wren

Campylorhynchus capistratus

50–60% · Likely

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

Melanerpes hoffmannii

50–60% · Likely

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Brotogeris jugularis

40–50% · Likely

Black-headed Trogon

Trogon melanocephalus

40–50% · Likely

White-Throated Magpie-Jay

Calocitta formosa

40–50% · Likely

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

40–50% · Likely

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

40–50% · Likely

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

40–50% · Likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

30–40% · Possible

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

Rose-bellied Lizard

Sceloporus variabilis

40–50% · Likely

Common Basilisk

Basiliscus basiliscus

40–50% · Likely

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

30–40% · Possible

White-throated Gecko

Gonatodes albogularis

30–40% · Possible

Central American Boa

Boa imperator

30–40% · Possible

Mourning Gecko

Lepidodactylus lugubris

20–30% · Possible

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

20–30% · Possible

Pacific Ridley

Lepidochelys olivacea

20–30% · Possible

Copper Anole

Anolis cupreus

20–30% · Possible

Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake

Leptodeira rhombifera

10–20% · Possible

Central American Lyresnake

Trimorphodon quadruplex

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

50–60% · Likely

Mexican Smilisca

Smilisca baudinii

20–30% · Possible

Milk Frog

Trachycephalus macrotis

20–30% · Possible

Yellow Toad

Incilius luetkenii

10–20% · Possible

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

Craugastor fitzingeri

10–20% · Possible

Red-eyed Treefrog

Agalychnis callidryas

10–20% · With luck

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

Leptodactylus savagei

10–20% · With luck

Boulenger's Snouted Tree Frog

Scinax boulengeri

Insufficient data

Mexican White-lipped Frog

Leptodactylus fragilis

Insufficient data

Turbo White-lipped Frog

Leptodactylus poecilochilus

Insufficient data

Sheep Frog

Hypopachus variolosus

Insufficient data

Yellow Treefrog

Dendropsophus microcephalus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐒

Howler Monkey Breeding Season

AprMayJunJul

Troops of mantled howler monkeys turn the forest canopy into a theater of deep, throaty roars that carry for kilometers as males call to defend territory and win mates. Follow the booming chorus at dawn and dusk to find them lounging and feeding in the treetops.

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

🐦

Seabird Nesting Congregation

DecJanFebMarApr

Magnificent frigatebirds and brown pelicans crowd together to nest in a raucous seabird colony, the males inflating scarlet throat pouches while pelicans plunge-dive offshore for fish. The dense congregation of squabbling adults and downy chicks makes for an unforgettable spectacle.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

50–60% · Likely

🐦

Migrant Bird Season

OctNovDecJanFebMar

When northern migrants pour south, flame-red summer tanagers and flashing orange Baltimore orioles brighten the forest edge while ospreys hover and dive over the coastal waters. Their arrival swells the birdlife with a burst of color and activity.

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

10–20% · Possible

Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

20–30% · Possible

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

Mantled Howler Monkey

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

40–50

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

40–50

50–60

50–60

Central American White-faced Capuchin

70–80

60–70

60–70

20–30

50–60

50–60

80–90

50–60

70–80

50–60

70–80

50–60

Magnificent Frigatebird

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

20–30

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

30–40

30–40

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

30–40

60–70

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

80–90

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

30–40

30–40

30–40

50–60

40–50

60–70

Variegated Squirrel

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

70–80

70–80

30–40

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

20–30

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

Rufous-backed Wren

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

30–40

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

Giant Marine Toad

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

40–50

50–60

40–50

Hoffmann's Woodpecker

50–60

60–70

40–50

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

20–30

30–40

40–50

30–40

60–70

Orange-chinned Parakeet

40–50

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

20–30

40–50

30–40

30–40

50–60

White-nosed Coati

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

30–40

20–30

30–40

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

Rose-bellied Lizard

50–60

40–50

70–80

20–30

50–60

40–50

20–30

40–50

10–20

40–50

30–40

30–40

Black-headed Trogon

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

20–30

20–30

40–50

30–40

50–60

40–50

White-Throated Magpie-Jay

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

40–50

40–50

20–30

30–40

20–30

30–40

40–50

Animal Events

🐒 Howler Monkey Breeding Season

🐦 Migrant Bird Season

🐦 Seabird Nesting Congregation

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

🐒 Reliable Monkey Sightings

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

472

🐒 Mammals

168

🦎 Reptiles

85

🐸 Amphibians

24

749 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

29 Threatened 59 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

59%

📊

Coverage (220 species at ≥5% of 749 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

29%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 3 mammal, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian)

47% Global avg

78%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

125

🌟

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

14

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

21

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