Some 260 different species of monkeys are known: the babouine is the largest hand and the smallest titi the smallest. They are mammal animals, of sociable behavior that can sometimes become violent if they feel intimidated. In Costa Rica we have 4 species in total, different from each other. When you visit Tortuguero, the mountains of Monteverde, La Fortuna, Manuel Antonio… with a GPS Rent A Car car you could see some in their natural habitat. Travelers visiting wildlife hotspots like Corcovado National Park can see all four.
Mantled Howler Monkey
The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata) is a species of howler monkey. The mantled howler is one of the largest Central American monkeys, and males can weigh up to 9.8 kg (22 lb). It is the only Central American monkey that eats large quantities of leaves; it has several adaptations to this folivorous diet. Since leaves are difficult to digest and provide less energy than most foods, the mantled howler spends the majority of each day resting and sleeping. They are aptly named “howler” because they make a very loud howling sound which can be quite scary the first time you hear it at 5:30 in the morning. You can see howler monkeys in Osa Peninsula, Manuel Antonio National Park, Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula, Monteverde, Arenal, Sarapiqui and the Caribbean coast. Pretty much all throughout the country except not as much in the high elevation places.
White Face Monkey or Capuchin Monkey
These monkeys are omnivorous and highly active, living in troops of more than 20 members. They also walk on the ground more than other New World Monkeys. Considered to be the most intelligent New World Monkey, they have been observed using tools and adapting to human behavior.It is a medium-sized monkey, weighing up to 3.9 kg (8 lb 10 oz). It is mostly black, but with a pink face and white on much of the front part of the body, giving it its common name. It has a distinctive prehensile tail that is often carried coiled up and is used to help support the monkey when it is feeding beneath a branch. You can see white face monkeys in Manuel Antonio, Osa Peninsula, Monteverde, Arenal, Nicoya, Tortuguero and Palo Verde. They are especially common in Manuel Antonio National Park, where they are known to steal food from tourists
Squirrel Monkey
The squirrel monkey is mostly a greenish yellow color, with a white throat, face, and ears and a black muzzle and tail tip. The undersides of its limbs are white or yellow, and it has a long prehensile tail.It has an omnivorous diet, eating fruits, other plant materials, invertebrates and some small vertebrates. In turn, it has a number of predators, including raptors, cats and snakes. You can see these monkeys in Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula and Manuel Antonio National Park.
Spider Monkey
Spider monkeys, with their powerful prehensile tails, are the most agile species of monkey found in Costa Rica. Spider monkeys are commonly seen in Corcovado National Park and Osa Peninsula. They primarily eat fruits, but will also occasionally consume leaves, flowers, and insects. Spider monkeys are large New World monkeys that live in tropical rainforests.