Costa Rica is filled with animals of all shapes and sizes. It is home to about 5% of the total species estimated worldwide which for a small country is pretty impressive. Wildlife spotting is inevitable and so much fun. You will spot them on the forest floor, in the sky, along riverbanks, swimming in the oceans, and of course, in the cover of trees. Up in the safety of the tree canopy, they will sleep, swing, jump, hang, and snack. What could be a favorite tree dweller in Costa Rica is our sleepy, slow Sloth and Chachagua Rainforest Hotel & Hot Springs has some resident sloths that keep our guests looking up into the trees constantly!
Thanks to its privileged location, Chachagua Rainforest Hotel, and Hot Springs sits between the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the Arenal Volcano National Park. This means, that during your relaxing stay, not only will you enjoy one of the most beautiful corners of Costa Rica, you will be part of a very important area of protected land for many species of animals, birds, and plants. This special corner is also home to sloths, a definite favorite for guests and animal lovers.
WHAT ARE SLOTHS, ANYWAY?
Sloths are tree-dwelling mammals that belong to the order Pilosa and the family Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths) and Megalonychidae (two-toed sloths). There are six species of sloths, and you will find them in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, from Nicaragua to northern Argentina. Sloths are known for their slow movements, moving at an average rate of about 0.24 km/hour. While slow, this means, there is more time to observe them snuggled up in the forest canopy.
According to National Geographic, the Sloth is the world’s slowest animal. It is so sedentary that algae grow on its furry coat! This is a unique behavioral adaptation called algae farming. This is why you see a greenish hue that also works as camouflage in the Central American rainforests, they call home. What also helps them remain undercover is that they remain still for up to 15 hours a day as they are asleep and when they are awake, they still don’t move a lot.
WHAT TYPES OF SLOTHS CAN YOU SPOT IN COSTA RICA?
Costa Rica is home to two species of sloths: the two-toed sloth and the three-toed sloth. The two-toed sloth, also known as the Hoffman’s sloth, is a larger species that can weigh up to 10 kilograms. They have shaggy, brown fur and a round face. Unlike the three-toed sloth, the two-toed sloth has two long claws on its front feet and three on its back feet. This species is mostly arboreal and they live in the canopy of the rainforest, where it feeds on their favorite foods including, leaves, fruits, and flowers.
The three-toed sloth, also known as the brown-throated sloth, is a smaller species that weigh between 3 to 5 kilograms. They have shaggy, grayish-brown fur, and a pointed snout and they look like they are perpetually smiling too! As their name suggests, they have three long claws on both their front and back feet. This species is built for life in the treetops and can be found in the canopy of the rainforest, where it feeds on leaves, buds, and fruits.
Lala and her fellow Chachagua Rainforest sloths can often be spotted hanging upside down from tree branches, sleeping or slowly moving about to feed on leaves and buds. There are many trees to choose from and they slowly yet surely move from tree to tree searching for food and comfortable branches to sleep on.
During the daily, complimentary Guided Nature Walk, Chachagua’s in-house naturalist guide will not only show you lots of fun and interesting things about the rainforest, but they will also do their best to spot the sleepy sloths that call Chachagua home. Thanks to their knowledge, they can identify the trees that sloths most like, so chances are you will spot one. Then it is time to just contemplate them and admire their serenity and meditative state!
DO SLOTHS MAKE SOUNDS?
Yes, they do! Their sound actually triggered a nickname for them. Sloths are also called “Ais” thanks to the unusual call they have. It is a long, high-pitched call that echoes through the forests and sounds like “ahhh-eeee”. So, thanks to this cry, sloths are sometimes called ais which is pronounced as “eyes”.
So, when staying at Chachagua Rainforest Hotel & Hot Springs, keep your eyes open and focused on the rainforest canopy to spot our sleepy friends. Without a doubt, they are fascinating creatures that have a unique set of physical and behavioral adaptations that allow them to thrive in their treetop environment.
