Costa Rica has two sloth species: the brown-throated three-toed sloth and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. Both spend almost their whole lives in the treetops, live on a low-energy diet of leaves, climb down about once a week to relieve themselves and move slowly to save energy. They’re common in lowland forests on both coasts, and a good guide can usually find one for you.
These sloth facts cover how to tell the two species apart, how sloths eat, sleep and survive, which myths to ignore, and how to see them in the wild without harming them.
| Feature | Brown-throated three-toed sloth | Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Bradypus variegatus | Choloepus hoffmanni |
| Front claws | Three | Two |
| Size | 17–31 inches; 5–14 pounds | 21–28 inches (head and body); 5–20 pounds |
| Face | Dark eye mask that looks like a smile | Pale face, bare pinkish snout |
| Active | Day and night | Mostly at night |
| Diet | Leaves only, especially cecropia | Leaves, plus fruit, flowers and shoots |
| IUCN status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
The basics
Costa Rica’s Two Sloth Species
Six sloth species live in Central and South America, and two of them live in Costa Rica. The names cause confusion: both species have three toes on their back feet. “Two-toed” and “three-toed” refer to the claws on the front limbs, which is why scientists often call them two-fingered and three-fingered sloths.
The three-toed sloth is the one you’ll see in most photos. It has grayish-brown fur, a pale face and dark stripes around the eyes that give it a permanent smile. It’s active by day as well as at night, so it’s the species you’re most likely to spot on a daytime walk.
The two-toed sloth is bigger and shaggier, with blond to brown fur and a bare, pinkish snout. It does most of its moving at night, which makes night walks the best time to find one.
Habitat
Where Sloths Live in Costa Rica
Sloths live in lowland rainforest, mangroves, riverside forest and leafy towns along both coasts and across the northern plains. Two-toed sloths range higher, into cloud forest. A three-toed sloth’s home range can be just a few acres, so the same animal often stays in the same group of trees for long stretches.
Look for them in cecropia trees, called guarumo in Costa Rica. These trees have big, hand-shaped leaves and open crowns, which makes a sloth easier to see. Sloths also rest in beach almond trees along the coast.
Biology
How Sloths Eat, Move and Survive
A slow diet for a slow life
Leaves are tough and low in energy. Sloths digest them slowly in a stomach with several chambers full of microbes, and a meal can take days or even weeks to pass through. To get by on so little energy, sloths have a low metabolism and a body temperature that rises and falls with the air around them. Moving slowly is how they save energy.
The weekly trip to the ground
Sloths don’t relieve themselves in the trees. About once a week, they climb down, dig a small hole at the base of a tree, go and climb back up. It’s the most dangerous part of their week, because a sloth on the ground is slow and exposed. Scientists still debate why they take the risk.
A coat that’s a whole ecosystem
Sloth fur grows grooves that hold algae, which can tint the coat green and help hide the animal in the canopy. Three-toed sloths also carry small moths that live in their fur and lay their eggs in sloth dung.
Built for hanging
Long, hooked claws let sloths hang from branches with little effort, and they eat, sleep and even give birth upside down. Three-toed sloths have extra neck vertebrae and can turn their heads about 270 degrees. Sloths are also strong swimmers and sometimes cross rivers.
Myths
Sloth Myths to Ignore
- “Sloths are monkeys” or “sloths are bears.” Neither. Sloths are related to anteaters and armadillos. In Spanish they’re often called oso perezoso, or “lazy bear,” but they aren’t bears.
- “Sloths sleep 20 hours a day.” Captive sloths sleep a lot, but research on wild three-toed sloths found they sleep closer to 10 hours a day.
- “Sloths are lazy.” Their slow pace is an energy-saving strategy, and staying still helps them avoid predators that hunt by spotting movement.
- “It’s fine to hold one for a photo.” Handling stresses sloths and can make them sick. Reputable rescue centers don’t allow it.
Conservation
Are Sloths Endangered in Costa Rica?
No. The IUCN lists both of Costa Rica’s sloth species as Least Concern. Locally, though, sloths face real threats: forest clearing, roads, dogs, uninsulated power lines and people taking babies as pets or for photos. Protected forests help; see how much of Costa Rica is protected.
Costa Rica made sloths a national symbol in 2021, a law that also called for wildlife crossings over roads and measures to cut electrocutions on power lines. A sloth also appears on the ₡10,000 bill, and International Sloth Day falls on Oct. 20.
Several rescue centers care for injured and orphaned sloths, including the Sloth Sanctuary near Cahuita, the Jaguar Rescue Center near Puerto Viejo and Toucan Rescue Ranch in the Central Valley. Choose places that put rehabilitation and release first and keep visitors at a distance.
See them
Where to See Sloths in Costa Rica
You can see sloths in many parts of the country. These are reliable bets:
- Manuel Antonio National Park. Both species live along the main trails, and guides with spotting scopes find them most days.
- Cahuita and Puerto Viejo. On the Caribbean coast, sloths often hang in trees beside roads and beach trails.
- Tortuguero. Boat tours along the canals give you a good angle up into the riverside trees.
- La Fortuna and Arenal. Private reserves and guided sloth walks around town are popular and easy to book.
- The Osa Peninsula. Corcovado National Park and the forest around it are home to both species, along with much more wildlife.
Traveling with kids? Our guide to where to see sloths in Costa Rica with kids covers easy, family-friendly spots in more detail.
Be a good visitor
How to Watch Sloths Responsibly
- Keep your distance. Use binoculars or a zoom lens instead of moving closer.
- Never touch, hold or feed a sloth. Skip any business that offers sloth photos or “sloth encounters.”
- Skip the flash and keep your voice down.
- Let a sloth cross the road on its own. If one is in danger, call a local rescue center instead of picking it up.
For more of Costa Rica’s animals, see our guide to Costa Rica wildlife, the month-by-month wildlife calendar and our guides to white-faced monkeys and toucans.
FAQ
Sloth Facts FAQ
How many sloth species live in Costa Rica?
Two: the brown-throated three-toed sloth and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth.
What is the difference between two-toed and three-toed sloths?
The names refer to claws on the front limbs; both have three toes on their back feet. Three-toed sloths are smaller, have a dark eye mask and are active by day. Two-toed sloths are larger, have a pale face and are mostly active at night.
Are sloths endangered?
No. The IUCN lists both Costa Rican species as Least Concern, though habitat loss, roads, dogs and power lines threaten them locally.
How often do sloths poop?
About once a week. They climb down to the ground to do it, which is the riskiest part of their routine.
How long do sloths sleep?
Captive sloths can sleep 15 hours or more, but wild three-toed sloths have been measured sleeping closer to 10 hours a day.
Can sloths swim?
Yes. Sloths are strong swimmers and sometimes cross rivers.
Can you touch a sloth in Costa Rica?
You shouldn’t. Handling stresses sloths and can harm them, and reputable rescue centers don’t allow it.
The short version
Costa Rica has two sloths: the day-active three-toed sloth and the mostly nocturnal two-toed sloth.
They live on leaves, move slowly to save energy and come down about once a week.
See them with a guide in Manuel Antonio, on the Caribbean coast or around La Fortuna, and never touch one.