Palo Verde National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐦 Jabiru Storks Over Flooded Marshes

⏱ 1 day 🥾 Easy trails

🌍 #38 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #4 in Central America #11 in Tropical Forest

Guanacaste, Costa Rica 889 spp. recorded

Palo Verde protects Central America's most important Pacific wetland — 18,000+ hectares of seasonal marshes, tropical dry forest, and mangroves where the Tempisque River floods a vast floodplain each rainy season. During the dry months (Dec–Apr), shrinking pools concentrate up to 250,000 waterbirds into a wildlife spectacle visible from lookout points and boat tours.

10.374° N 85.350° W

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Jabiru

Jabiru mycteria

30–40% · Possible

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

40–50% · Likely

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

60–70% · Likely

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

Great Egret

Ardea alba

80–90% · Very likely

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

80–90% · Very likely

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

70–80% · Very likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

70–80% · Very likely

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

60–70% · Likely

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

60–70% · Likely

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

60–70% · Likely

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

60–70% · Likely

Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa

60–70% · Likely

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Central American White-faced Capuchin

Cebus imitator

80–90% · Very likely

White-nosed Coati

Nasua narica

70–80% · Very likely

Mantled Howler Monkey

Alouatta palliata

60–70% · Likely

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

50–60% · Likely

Proboscis Bat

Rhynchonycteris naso

50–60% · Likely

Dicotyles tajacu

Pecari tajacu

30–40% · Possible

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

30–40% · Possible

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

30–40% · Possible

Northern Tamandua

Tamandua mexicana

10–20% · Possible

Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

10–20% · Possible

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck

Central American Spider Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Jabiru

Jabiru mycteria

30–40% · Possible

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

40–50% · Likely

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Egret

Ardea alba

80–90% · Very likely

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

70–80% · Very likely

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum

60–70% · Likely

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

60–70% · Likely

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

60–70% · Likely

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

60–70% · Likely

Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa

60–70% · Likely

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

60–70% · Likely

Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

60–70% · Likely

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

60–70% · Likely

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

80–90% · Very likely

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

60–70% · Likely

White-throated Gecko

Gonatodes albogularis

40–50% · Likely

Common Basilisk

Basiliscus basiliscus

40–50% · Likely

Central American Lyresnake

Trimorphodon quadruplex

30–40% · Possible

Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake

Leptodeira rhombifera

30–40% · Possible

Common House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

30–40% · Possible

Central American Boa

Boa imperator

30–40% · Possible

Copper Anole

Anolis cupreus

20–30% · Possible

Cope's Snail Sucker

Sibon anthracops

20–30% · Possible

Köhler’s Vine Snake

Oxybelis koehleri

20–30% · Possible

Mexican Parrot Snake

Leptophis mexicanus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Stauffer's Tree Frog

Scinax staufferi

40–50% · Likely

Mexican Smilisca

Smilisca baudinii

40–50% · Likely

Giant Marine Toad

Rhinella horribilis

40–50% · Likely

Yellow Treefrog

Dendropsophus microcephalus

30–40% · Possible

Milk Frog

Trachycephalus macrotis

30–40% · Possible

Sheep Frog

Hypopachus variolosus

30–40% · Possible

Yellow Toad

Incilius luetkenii

30–40% · Possible

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

Engystomops pustulosus

20–30% · Possible

Mexican Burrowing Toad

Rhinophrynus dorsalis

20–30% · Possible

Forrer's Grass Frog

Lithobates forreri

20–30% · Possible

Mexican White-lipped Frog

Leptodactylus fragilis

10–20% · Possible

Black Jungle-Frog

Leptodactylus melanonotus

10–20% · Possible

Animal Events

🐊

Crocodile Basking Season

FebMarApr

As the Tempisque River drops and its banks bake in the dry-season sun, American Crocodiles haul out to bask in dense numbers, forming Costa Rica's largest concentration of the species. Rows of these armored reptiles lie motionless along the mud, jaws agape to shed heat.

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

70–80% · Very likely

🦩

Jabiru Nesting Season

JanFebMar

The Jabiru, Central America's tallest stork, returns to the lower Tempisque basin to nest as shrinking wetlands concentrate its fish and reptile prey. Standing over head-high with a massive black bill and bare red throat, these giants build their bulky stick nests in the treetops.

Jabiru

Jabiru mycteria

30–40% · Possible

🦩

Waterbird Mega-Congregation

DecJanFebMar

As the marshes shrink and their floodwaters draw down, tens of thousands of waterbirds crowd onto the last remaining pools in one of Central America's great aquatic bird gatherings. Wood Storks, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and rose-pink Roseate Spoonbills pack the mudflats shoulder to shoulder.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis

60–70% · Likely

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

60–70% · Likely

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

20–30

30–40

40–50

30–40

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

40–50

40–50

20–30

30–40

Roseate Spoonbill

50–60

40–50

40–50

30–40

40–50

40–50

20–30

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

American Crocodile

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

40–50

50–60

70–80

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

90–100

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

90–100

80–90

90–100

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

Central American White-faced Capuchin

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

80–90

50–60

50–60

70–80

White-nosed Coati

60–70

50–60

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

40–50

70–80

50–60

40–50

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

60–70

40–50

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

70–80

50–60

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

50–60

50–60

Mantled Howler Monkey

70–80

50–60

70–80

80–90

40–50

60–70

50–60

80–90

50–60

50–60

10–20

50–60

Groove-billed Ani

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

Northern Jacana

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

Animal Events

🦩 Waterbird Mega-Congregation

🐊 Crocodile Basking Season

🦩 Jabiru Nesting 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

🐦 Jabiru Storks Over Flooded Marshes

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

536

🐒 Mammals

210

🦎 Reptiles

103

🐸 Amphibians

40

889 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

31 Threatened 78 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

73%

📊

Coverage (224 species at ≥5% of 889 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

25%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 3 mammal, 2 reptile)

47% Global avg

76%

🔭

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

132 Global avg

127

🌟

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

17

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

41

Explore Other Parks

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

📍 49 km 🦎 Black Spiny-tailed Iguana Volcanic Trails

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #102 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #19 in Central America #47 in Tropical Forest

Tenorio Volcano National Park

📍 50 km 🐦 Costa Rica's Top Toucan Forest

Tenorio Volcano National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #47 Global · 4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #7 in Central America #15 in Tropical Forest

Ostional Wildlife Refuge

📍 57 km 🐢 Pacific Ridley Arribada at Ostional

Ostional Wildlife Refuge

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #153 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #28 in Central America #75 in Tropical Forest

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

📍 61 km 🐦 Quetzals and Bellbirds in the Clouds

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #129 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #24 in Central America #63 in Tropical Forest