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Costa Rica Wildlife ~ Day Trip Pictures

Coati, Sloth, Iguana, Monkey, Crocodiles near San Jose

Costa Rica Wildlife : Pictures of a sloth, crocodiles, a bandicoot and an iguana from day trips from San Jose. While there are tours to CR designed specifically for wildlife viewing, I wasn't on any of them :-) That's on the agenda for my next visit. I came across these critters on tours to a coffee plantation to see coffee beans growing and being processed, and getting close to volcanoes like Irazu and Poas (with waterfalls hikes) and to the beaches of the Pacific Coast.

Wildlife Costa Rica ~ Sloth on a Hydro Wire near San Jose Costa Rica sloth hanging on a hydro wire along highway from San Jose to Poas.

 

On the day trip to Poas La Paz, the tour bus driver pulled over to the shoulder of the highway north east from San Jose.

He'd spotted a sloth hanging from the hydro wires, and knew this was something we day trippers would like to see.

Soon, other drivers had pulled over and we all watched this sloth head into the tree canopy before continuing our tour.

Coati (previously ID'd as Bandicoot) in Costa Rica near Irazu Volcano Near Volcano Irazu, Costa Rica, a bandicoot begs for handouts from day trippers.

Another day trip took me southeast from San Jose through the farmlands around Cartego to Irazu volcano.

Near the small restaurant gift shop at the top of the mountain, this bandicoot (reminds me of a raccoon) begged for handouts from visitors.

I'd seen bandicoots in Iguazu, Argentina, but hadn't got a picture before.

Update: Thanks to an alert visitor, I've correct this animal's name to 'coati'. See comments section at bottom of page.

iguana on a tree branch in Park west of San Jose Costa Rica Costa Rica wildlife iguana in a tree in a park near Pacific Coast.

Still another tour, this time from San Jose to the west (Pacific) coast, we left the van to take a boat ride along the Rio Tarcoles.

The sharp eyed guide spotted this large iguana in the trees on the  river bank.

Baby crocodile on muddy river bank near Punta Leona Costa Rica Costa Rica baby crocodile on a mud bank along river west of San Jose.

This day tour to Punta Leona on the Pacific Ocean, and boat ride was a treasure trove of wildlife spotting.

This baby crocodile was almost invisible against the muddy river bank.

Monkey in Costa Rica Entertains  Diners near Punta Leona Costa Rica Monkey on roof at Punta Leona hotel.

At lunch, this monkey and his fellow simians made a racket jumping along the rooftop beams at Punta Leona resort.

 

 

 

Crocodile, Rio Tarcoles, Costa Rica  Large adult crocodile on Rio Tarcoles riverbank, west of San Jose Costa Rica.

Sun warms the back of this large crocodile on the Rio Tarcoles mud banks, near Punta Leona, Costa Rica.

 

Mud Crab among the mangrove roots, Costa Rica Mud crab, riverbank in Costa Rica.

Crabs, too, scurried among the mangrove roots lining the river banks.

This tour with its stops to view wildlife allowed much opportunity to take pictures.

I'll post a separate page of this river boat tour, as well as bird and butterfly photos.

Costa Rica Travel Photo Menu

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Costa Rica Travel Information

San Jose Costa Rica (Teatro National Theatre)

Costa Rica Hotels : Adventure Inn and Best Wetern Irazu

Costa Rica Day Tours (San Jose to Cartago, farms, brahma cows)



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  • photo of 'bandicoot'
    bj stewart - November 30, 2010, 8:22 am
    dear sir/madam

    the image 'bandicoot in costa rica' i think is actually
    a 'coati' or 'pizote' or many of the other names they have.
    unless there that is a local name used very specific to that region.
    bandicoots are marsupials mostly from australia. look
    a bit like rodents.

    hope this helps.
    all the best.
    bj
  • Coatis Bandicoots
    Karen - November 30, 2010, 9:48 am
    Mea Culpa:
    Thanks for this : Coati it is then.

    I was given the name by someone who was on the tour in Costa Rica, and recalled the animal but didn't double check the name.

    I just checked my Lonely Planet Argentina guide, for Iguazu Falls NP wildlife, and see they call this animal a coati.

    Thanks for taking the time to set the record straight.

    Appreciate it!

    (Mme) Karen :-)
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