Sloths are everywhere in Costa Rica — in theory. In practice, most visitors walk right past three of them. Our guides can spot a sloth from 40 metres away through dense canopy. Here's what they actually look for.
Why sloths are so hard to see
A sloth's entire existence is built around not being noticed. They move so slowly that no motion catches the eye. Their fur is the exact colour of weathered bark and lichen — in overcast light, a sloth at rest looks precisely like a dead branch with a lump on it. And they spend 15–18 hours per day completely motionless.
"A guest once asked me if that tree had a tumour. It was a three-toed sloth, eyes open, watching us the whole time." — Daniela
Which trees to check
- Cecropia trees (guarumo): the number-one sloth tree in Costa Rica. Their large palmate leaves, hollow trunk and high-sugar sap are irresistible. If there's a cecropia, scan every branch.
- Trumpet trees (guarumo colorado): similar attraction to sloths as cecropia.
- Almendro trees: larger, slower-growing, beloved by three-toed sloths especially.
- Yagrumos: any tree with a large, distinctive silhouette — sloths like to be at the highest exposed point on a sunny morning.
The key insight: don't look at the leaf clusters. Sloths sit ABOVE the leaves, usually on a fork in the main branches. Look for irregular shapes at branch junctions, especially anything that looks slightly too rounded.
The best light
Early morning (6–8am) and late afternoon (4–6pm) are best. Three-toed sloths are diurnal and slightly more active at these times — they'll be turning to face the sun, which makes them easier to spot and photograph. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal and stay higher in the canopy during the day.
Look for fresh claw marks on tree bark at eye level. Sloths scratch their way down the trunk once or twice a week — pale, parallel scratches on the grey bark are a sign the tree is a regular sloth route. Scan upward from there.
Three-toed vs two-toed
Costa Rica has both species. Three-toed sloths (Bradypus) have a distinctive pale face, a dark eye mask and often an orange saddle on their back. They're more often seen in open areas near the coast. Two-toed sloths (Choloepus) are larger, darker, and stay higher in closed canopy — they're harder to find but fascinating up close.
When you find one
- Stay at least 5 metres back — flash photography and stress can harm them.
- Observe quietly for 5–10 minutes before moving on.
- Don't clap, whistle or throw things to make them move.
- If you see a sloth on the ground — do NOT approach. Call a ranger or local guide immediately. A sloth on the ground is usually crossing between trees (normal), but could also be injured or unwell.
The single best way to guarantee a sloth sighting? Book a guided walk with a naturalist who does this every day. Our guides average 8–12 wildlife sightings per forest walk. Browse Costa Rica packages