Coiba National Park

🇵🇦 Panama

🐒 Endemic Howler Monkeys & Whale Sharks
🌍 #72 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #11 in Central America #4 in Wetlands & Mangrove
Pacific Islands, Panama 584 spp. recorded

Coiba National Park is a remote protected marine and coastal sanctuary situated off the Pacific coast of Panama, encompassing dense tropical rainforests, sheltered mangroves, and pristine coral reefs. This isolated island refuge remains largely untouched by mainland development, preserving wild habitats that stay remarkably intact.

7.486° N   81.723° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Whitetip Reef Shark ★

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

90–100% · Very likely
Whale Shark ★

Whale Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhincodon typus

30–40% · Possible
Scarlet Macaw ★
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Hawksbill
CR

Hawksbill

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eretmochelys imbricata

90–100% · Very likely
American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

70–80% · Very likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely
Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

70–80% · Very likely
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

60–70% · Likely
Lance-tailed Manakin
LC

Lance-tailed Manakin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chiroxiphia lanceolata

60–70% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

60–70% · Likely
Barred Antshrike
LC

Barred Antshrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thamnophilus doliatus

60–70% · Likely
Crimson-backed Tanager
LC

Crimson-backed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

60–70% · Likely
Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely
Red-crowned Woodpecker
LC

Red-crowned Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes rubricapillus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

50–60% · Likely
Coiban Agouti
NT Endemic

Coiban Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta coibae

40–50% · Likely
Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

40–50% · Likely
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
LC

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Stenella attenuata

40–50% · Likely
Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

Insufficient data
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

Insufficient data
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

Insufficient data
Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data
Eden's Whale
LC

Eden's Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Balaenoptera edeni

Insufficient data
Killer Whale

Killer Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Orcinus orca

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Scarlet Macaw ★
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely
Lance-tailed Manakin
LC

Lance-tailed Manakin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chiroxiphia lanceolata

60–70% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

60–70% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

60–70% · Likely
Barred Antshrike
LC

Barred Antshrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thamnophilus doliatus

60–70% · Likely
Crimson-backed Tanager
LC

Crimson-backed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

60–70% · Likely
Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

50–60% · Likely
Red-crowned Woodpecker
LC

Red-crowned Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes rubricapillus

50–60% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

50–60% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

40–50% · Likely
Tropical Gnatcatcher
LC

Tropical Gnatcatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polioptila plumbea

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Hawksbill
CR

Hawksbill

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eretmochelys imbricata

90–100% · Very likely
American Crocodile
VU

American Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus acutus

70–80% · Very likely
Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

70–80% · Very likely
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

60–70% · Likely
Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

50–60% · Likely
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
LC

Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Hydrophis platurus

Insufficient data
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

Insufficient data
Caribbean Least Gecko
LC

Caribbean Least Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sphaerodactylus homolepis

Insufficient data
Central American Lizard Eater
LC

Central American Lizard Eater

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Mastigodryas alternatus

Insufficient data
Central American Coral Snake
LC

Central American Coral Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Micrurus nigrocinctus

Insufficient data
Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake
LC

Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stenorrhina degenhardtii

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

Insufficient data
Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

Insufficient data
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

Insufficient data
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

Insufficient data
Pugnosed Tree Frog
LC

Pugnosed Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca sila

Insufficient data
Mexican White-lipped Frog
LC

Mexican White-lipped Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus fragilis

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Whitetip Reef Shark ★

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

90–100% · Very likely
Whale Shark ★

Whale Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhincodon typus

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Leopard Round Ray

Leopard Round Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Urobatis pardalis

50–60% · Likely
longtail stingray

longtail stingray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Hypanus longus

40–50% · Likely
Pacific Eagle Ray

Pacific Eagle Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Aetobatus laticeps

40–50% · Likely
Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray

Munk's Pygmy Devil Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Mobula munkiana

Insufficient data
Gorgona Guitarfish

Gorgona Guitarfish

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Pseudobatos prahli

Insufficient data
Pacific Nurse Shark

Pacific Nurse Shark

☀️🌙 Day & Night Shark / Ray

Ginglymostoma unami

Insufficient data
Oceanic Manta Ray

Oceanic Manta Ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Mobula birostris

Insufficient data
Requiem shark

Requiem shark

🌅 Crepuscular Shark / Ray

Carcharhinus limbatus

Insufficient data
Southern Banded Guitarfish

Southern Banded Guitarfish

☀️🌙 Day & Night Shark / Ray

Zapteryx xyster

Insufficient data
Target ray

Target ray

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Diplobatis ommata

Insufficient data
Pacific chupare whipray

Pacific chupare whipray

☀️🌙 Day & Night Shark / Ray

Styracura pacifica

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐋

Humpback Whale Season

JulAugSepOct

Humpback whales that migrated up from the southern hemisphere gather in Coiba's sheltered waters to breed and nurse their calves, breaching and slapping the surface along this migration corridor. Pods of pantropical spotted dolphins often feed alongside them, adding a second act to the show.

Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

30–40% · Possible
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
LC

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Stenella attenuata

40–50% · Likely
🦈

Whale Shark & Pelagic Season

JanFebMarApr

Dry-season currents draw whale sharks — the world’s largest fish — to the seamounts and Contreras pinnacles, where they cruise and filter-feed near the surface. Whitetip sharks gather in the same waters, making the open sea thick with circling sharks.

Whale Shark

Whale Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Rhincodon typus

30–40% · Possible
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

☀️ Diurnal Shark / Ray

Triaenodon obesus

90–100% · Very likely
🐢

Sea Turtle Nesting Season

JulAugSep

Green and hawksbill turtles haul out to nest on Coiba’s quiet beaches, digging under cover of darkness before returning to the sea. By day the hawksbills forage in the shallows, gliding through the clear water in search of sponges.

Green Turtle
LC

Green Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelonia mydas

70–80% · Very likely
Hawksbill
CR

Hawksbill

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Eretmochelys imbricata

90–100% · Very 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
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
Humpback Whale
5–10
30–40
5–10
20–30
5–10
10–20
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
5–10
Whitetip Reef Shark
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Whale Shark
30–40
60–70
60–70
50–60
20–30
30–40
20–30
10–20
30–40
30–40
60–70
20–30
Scarlet Macaw
30–40
20–30
30–40
40–50
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
Hawksbill
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
90–100
90–100
70–80
90–100
90–100
American Crocodile
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
50–60
90–100
50–60
70–80
Black Vulture
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Green Turtle
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
50–60
40–50
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
Lance-tailed Manakin
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
30–40
Bananaquit
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Barred Antshrike
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Crimson-backed Tanager
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
Magnificent Frigatebird
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
Red-crowned Woodpecker
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
30–40
Animal Events
🐋 Humpback Whale Season
🦈 Whale Shark & Pelagic Season
🐢 Sea Turtle 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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐒 Endemic Howler Monkeys & Whale Sharks

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
326
🐒 Mammals
170
🦎 Reptiles
67
🐸 Amphibians
8
🦈 Sharks & Rays
13
584 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
24 Threatened 40 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
69%
📊
Coverage (151 species at ≥5% of 584 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
26%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 4 reptile, 1 elasmobranch)
46% Global avg
72%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
104
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
13
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
34

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Coiba National Park?

The most likely sightings are Whitetip Reef Shark (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Hawksbill (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), American Crocodile (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Black Vulture (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Green Turtle (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 584 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Coiba National Park for wildlife?

July 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 Humpback Whale in Coiba National Park?

Yes — about 34% of wildlife watchers report a Humpback Whale sighting in Coiba National Park, based on 9 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Whitetip Reef Shark in Coiba National Park?

Yes — about 93% of wildlife watchers report a Whitetip Reef Shark sighting in Coiba National Park, based on 125 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Whale Shark in Coiba National Park?

Yes — about 38% of wildlife watchers report a Whale Shark sighting in Coiba National Park, based on 10 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Scarlet Macaw in Coiba National Park?

Yes — about 28% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet Macaw sighting in Coiba National Park, based on 47 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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