Tenorio Volcano National Park
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🐦 Costa Rica's Top Toucan ForestTenorio Volcano National Park protects 12,867 hectares of pristine cloud forest and rainforest on the slopes of Volcán Tenorio, home to the legendary Río Celeste — a river that turns an impossible shade of turquoise blue where volcanic minerals meet the water. The park harbors one of Costa Rica's most important populations of Baird's tapir, alongside jaguars, pumas, three species of monkeys, and over 300 bird species including the rare bare-necked umbrellabird and tody motmot.
10.679° N 85.015° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Baird's Tapir
Tapirella bairdii
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Red-eyed Treefrog
Agalychnis callidryas
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Strawberry Poison-dart Frog
Oophaga pumilio
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Mantled Howler Monkey
Alouatta palliata
📊 Most Spotted
Middle American Ameiva
Holcosus festivus
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl
Black-mandibled Toucan
Ramphastos ambiguus
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
Ramphocelus passerinii
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Yellow-throated Euphonia
Euphonia hirundinacea
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Keel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Central American White-faced Capuchin
Cebus imitator
Warszewitsch's Frog
Lithobates warszewitschii
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
White-nosed Coati
Nasua narica
Central American White-faced Capuchin
Cebus imitator
Brown-throated Sloth
Bradypus variegatus
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
Choloepus hoffmanni
Deppe's Squirrel
Sciurus deppei
Gabb's Cottontail
Sylvilagus gabbi
Central American Dwarf Squirrel
Microsciurus alfari
Northern Tamandua
Tamandua mexicana
Central American Agouti
Dasyprocta punctata
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
Tayra
Eira barbara
📊 Most Spotted
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl
Black-mandibled Toucan
Ramphastos ambiguus
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
Ramphocelus passerinii
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Yellow-throated Euphonia
Euphonia hirundinacea
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Keel-billed Toucan
Ramphastos sulfuratus
Carmiol's Tanager
Chlorothraupis carmioli
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum cinereum
Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
📊 Most Spotted
Middle American Ameiva
Holcosus festivus
Cope's Vine Snake
Oxybelis brevirostris
Border Anole
Anolis limifrons
Fer-de-lance
Bothrops asper
Helmeted Iguana
Corytophanes cristatus
Humble Anole
Anolis humilis
Spotted Least Gecko
Sphaerodactylus millepunctatus
Basiisk Verde
Basiliscus plumifrons
Rainforest Hog-nosed Viper
Porthidium nasutum
Yellow-spotted Night Lizard
Lepidophyma flavimaculatum
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Stream Anole
Anolis oxylophus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Warszewitsch's Frog
Lithobates warszewitschii
Masked Tree Frog
Smilisca phaeota
Giant Marine Toad
Rhinella horribilis
Pygmy Rain Frog
Pristimantis ridens
Harlequin Treefrog
Dendropsophus ebraccatus
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
Craugastor fitzingeri
Sipurio Snouted Treefrog
Scinax elaeochroa
Red-webbed Tree Frog
Boana rufitela
Vaillant's Frog
Lithobates vaillanti
Atlantic Broad-headed Litter Frog
Craugastor megacephalus
Eastern Masked Tree Frog
Smilisca manisorum
Wet Forest Toad
Incilius melanochlorus
Recent sightings in Tenorio Volcano National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Howler Monkey Dawn Chorus
Before first light, troops of Mantled Howler Monkeys unleash guttural territorial roars that swell into a rolling chorus across the canopy — a low, throaty rumble that carries for over a kilometer through the rainforest. It is one of the loudest sounds any land animal makes, and it happens year-round.
3Baird's Tapir Activity Peak
Central America's largest land mammal, the elusive Baird's Tapir, grows most active through the wetter months, when it forages along muddy forest trails and lingers near streams and water sources. Patient hikers have their best chance of glimpsing this shy, prehistoric-looking browser slipping through the undergrowth.
2Rainy-Season Frog Chorus
When the wet season floods the forest floor and swells the streams, treefrogs and dart frogs erupt into breeding congregations after dark. Emerald Red-eyed Treefrogs cling to leaves above rain pools, tiny crimson Strawberry Poison-dart Frogs call from the leaf litter, and Warszewitsch's Frogs gather along the running streams to breed.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Howler Monkey Dawn Chorus
- 2Rainy-Season Frog Chorus
- 3Baird's Tapir Activity Peak
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
One group near us actually spotted a deadly viper just off the trail (yikes!)—a good reminder to always keep an eye on your surroundings!
Though it wasn’t the bright, banana-yellow color morph I was hoping to see, the viper was tolerant enough to allow us to observe it for quite a while within close proximity, making the encounter all the more memorable.
A lovely little anecdote: just before arriving in the area, we spotted two sloths in the trees.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Tenorio Volcano National Park?
The most likely sightings are Middle American Ameiva (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Clay-colored Thrush (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Red-eyed Treefrog (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Black-mandibled Toucan (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1135 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Tenorio Volcano National Park for wildlife?
August has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Baird's Tapir in Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Baird's Tapir sighting in Tenorio Volcano National Park, based on 50 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Red-eyed Treefrog in Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Red-eyed Treefrog sighting in Tenorio Volcano National Park, based on 131 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Strawberry Poison-dart Frog in Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Strawberry Poison-dart Frog sighting in Tenorio Volcano National Park, based on 45 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Mantled Howler Monkey in Tenorio Volcano National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Mantled Howler Monkey sighting in Tenorio Volcano National Park, based on 32 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
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