Piedras Blancas National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐒 All Four Monkeys, Golfo Dulce Dolphins
🌍 #30 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #2 in Central America #6 in Tropical Forest
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica 1068 spp. recorded

Sharing the same rich lowland rainforest as its famous neighbor Corcovado, Piedras Blancas protects one of Costa Rica's last pristine tropical forests along the shores of the Golfo Dulce. With 96 mammal species, 375+ birds, resident dolphin pods, and a fraction of the visitors, this is the Osa Peninsula's best-kept wildlife secret.

8.703° N   83.268° 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

Central American Squirrel Monkey ★
EN

Central American Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri oerstedii

30–40% · Possible
Scarlet Macaw ★
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

20–30% · Possible
Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

20–30% · Possible
Bottlenose Dolphin ★
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

70–80% · Very likely
Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

70–80% · Very likely
Many-scaled Anole
LC

Many-scaled Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis polylepis

60–70% · Likely
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

60–70% · Likely
Common Caiman
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

60–70% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
White-tipped Dove
LC Endemic

White-tipped Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptotila verreauxi

50–60% · Likely
Variable Seedeater
LC

Variable Seedeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporophila corvina

50–60% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog
LC

Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Boana rosenbergi

50–60% · Likely
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Central American Squirrel Monkey ★
EN

Central American Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri oerstedii

30–40% · Possible
Central American Spider Monkey ★
EN

Central American Spider Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ateles geoffroyi

20–30% · Possible
Bottlenose Dolphin ★
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

60–70% · Likely
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

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

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

30–40% · Possible
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

30–40% · Possible
Collared Peccary
Endemic

Collared Peccary

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pecari tajacu

20–30% · Possible
Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

20–30% · Possible
Proboscis Bat
LC

Proboscis Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rhynchonycteris naso

10–20% · With luck
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

10–20% · With luck
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
LC

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Stenella attenuata

10–20% · With luck
Kinkajou
LC

Kinkajou

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Potos flavus

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Scarlet Macaw ★
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

70–80% · Very likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

50–60% · Likely
White-tipped Dove
LC Endemic

White-tipped Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptotila verreauxi

50–60% · Likely
Variable Seedeater
LC

Variable Seedeater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sporophila corvina

50–60% · Likely
Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely
Gray-cowled Wood-Rail

Gray-cowled Wood-Rail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aramides cajanea

50–60% · Likely
Riverside Wren
LC

Riverside Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cantorchilus semibadius

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
LC

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazilia tzacatl

50–60% · Likely
Black-striped Sparrow
LC

Black-striped Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Arremonops conirostris

50–60% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

50–60% · Likely
Clay-colored Thrush
LC

Clay-colored Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus grayi

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

70–80% · Very likely
Many-scaled Anole
LC

Many-scaled Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis polylepis

60–70% · Likely
Common Caiman
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

60–70% · Likely
Fer-de-lance
LC

Fer-de-lance

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Bothrops asper

50–60% · Likely
Middle American Ameiva
LC

Middle American Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus festivus

40–50% · Likely
Ornate Cat-eyed Snake

Ornate Cat-eyed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptodeira ornata

40–50% · Likely
Green Iguana
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely
Turniptail Gecko
LC

Turniptail Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Thecadactylus rapicauda

30–40% · Possible
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

30–40% · Possible
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

30–40% · Possible
Delicate Ameiva
LC

Delicate Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus leptophrys

20–30% · Possible
Bighead Anole
LC

Bighead Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis capito

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

50–60% · Likely
Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog
LC

Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Boana rosenbergi

50–60% · Likely
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

50–60% · Likely
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

50–60% · Likely
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

40–50% · Likely
Rainforest Toad
LC

Rainforest Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Incilius aucoinae

40–50% · Likely
Green Climbing Toad
LC

Green Climbing Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Incilius coniferus

30–40% · Possible
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

30–40% · Possible
Boulenger's Snouted Tree Frog
LC

Boulenger's Snouted Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax boulengeri

30–40% · Possible
Drab Tree Frog
LC

Drab Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca sordida

30–40% · Possible
Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

Sipurio Snouted Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scinax elaeochroa

30–40% · Possible
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
LC

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor fitzingeri

30–40% · Possible

Animal Events

🐬

Golfo Dulce Cetacean Season

JulAugSepOct

Bottlenose dolphins gather to feed in the calm, tropical-fjord waters of Golfo Dulce, cruising and surfacing in loose pods along the shoreline. Their fishing forays often bring them close enough to watch bow-riding and cooperative feeding from boat and beach.

Bottlenose Dolphin
LC

Bottlenose Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tursiops truncatus

20–30% · Possible
🦜

Scarlet Macaw Nesting

DecJanFebMarApr

Scarlet macaws pair off and claim hollow tree cavities to raise their chicks, filling the canopy with brilliant red, blue, and gold as mates fly in tandem to and from the nest. Their raucous squawks make an active nesting tree hard to miss.

Scarlet Macaw
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

20–30% · Possible
🐒

Squirrel Monkey Troop Season

JulSepNovDec

Fast-moving troops of Central American squirrel monkeys sweep through the mid-canopy in search of fruit and insects, often trailed by bolder white-faced capuchins working the same fruiting trees. When both species forage together the forest erupts with chatter and rustling branches.

Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

30–40% · Possible
Central American Squirrel Monkey
EN

Central American Squirrel Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saimiri oerstedii

30–40% · Possible
🐸

Rainy-Season Frog Breeding

JulAugSepOct

When the wet season fills forest pools, red-eyed treefrogs and tiny granular poison frogs launch into breeding, the males calling through the humid nights to draw in mates. It is the best time to spot the treefrog's flame-orange feet and the poison frog's jewel-bright colors.

Granular Poison Frog
VU

Granular Poison Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Oophaga granulifera

10–20% · With luck
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

50–60% · 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
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Central American Squirrel Monkey
40–50
20–30
20–30
40–50
30–40
60–70
50–60
30–40
30–40
10–20
40–50
30–40
Scarlet Macaw
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
10–20
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
Central American Spider Monkey
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
20–30
Bottlenose Dolphin
40–50
20–30
20–30
40–50
20–30
<5
20–30
<5
40–50
5–10
20–30
<5
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
80–90
70–80
60–70
Common Basilisk
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
40–50
80–90
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Many-scaled Anole
60–70
80–90
60–70
70–80
40–50
40–50
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
Central American Agouti
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Common Caiman
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
20–30
70–80
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
Black-mandibled Toucan
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
20–30
60–70
60–70
50–60
White-tipped Dove
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
Variable Seedeater
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
50–60
50–60
Giant Marine Toad
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
10–20
50–60
10–20
Great Kiskadee
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
5–10
Red-eyed Treefrog
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
20–30
50–60
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
60–70
Animal Events
🐬 Golfo Dulce Cetacean Season
🦜 Scarlet Macaw Nesting
🐒 Squirrel Monkey Troop Season
🐸 Rainy-Season Frog Breeding

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
🐒 All Four Monkeys, Golfo Dulce Dolphins

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
657
🐒 Mammals
209
🦎 Reptiles
134
🐸 Amphibians
68
1068 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
38 Threatened 67 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
62%
📊
Coverage (301 species at ≥5% of 1068 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
28%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (5 bird, 3 reptile, 3 amphibian, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
93%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
182
🌟
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
31
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
42

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Piedras Blancas National Park?

The most likely sightings are Scarlet-rumped Tanager (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Basilisk (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Many-scaled Anole (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Central American Agouti (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Common Caiman (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1068 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

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

February 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 Central American Squirrel Monkey in Piedras Blancas National Park?

Yes — about 38% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Squirrel Monkey sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 47 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Scarlet Macaw in Piedras Blancas National Park?

Yes — about 26% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet Macaw sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 494 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Central American Spider Monkey in Piedras Blancas National Park?

Yes — about 23% of wildlife watchers report a Central American Spider Monkey sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bottlenose Dolphin in Piedras Blancas National Park?

Yes — about 28% of wildlife watchers report a Bottlenose Dolphin sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 28 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Piedras Blancas or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Corcovado National Park 📍 37 km 🐗 Baird's Tapir on the Sirena Trails

Corcovado National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #73 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #12 in Central America #27 in Tropical Forest
Marino Ballena National Park 📍 71 km 🐋 Humpback Whales Off the Whale's Tail

Marino Ballena National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #111 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in Central America #48 in Tropical Forest
Volcán Barú National Park 📍 81 km 🐦 Quetzals and Solitaires on Volcán Barú

Volcán Barú National Park

🇵🇦 Panama 🌍 #173 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #29 in Central America #80 in Tropical Forest
Chirripó National Park 📍 96 km 🐦 Highland Hummingbird Haven

Chirripó National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🌍 #214 Global · 3.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #35 in Central America #95 in Tropical Forest