The Wildlife of The Sanctuary Estate

Come to the water at the right hour and you will find the estate busy. What wildlife lives at The Sanctuary Estate? Howler monkeys and coatis daily; anteaters, armadillos, tortoises, and jungle fowl often enough; and, for the fortunate few, an ocelot or a jaguar passing along the edges. The land sits between a mountain range and the Nosara River, and animals move through it to drink and feed.

The river is the reason. Everything needs fresh water, and the Nosara River along the southern boundary draws animals down out of the hills. Over the years, a wide range of species has been recorded on the 16.3-acre property, each a small window into the region’s wildlife.

Which animals will I see at The Sanctuary Estate?

Howler monkeys

The most audible residents. Their deep calls carry across the grounds, and troops move through the canopy to feed. You are more likely to hear them first, then find them in the branches.

Coati (pizote)

Known locally as pizote, the coati is curious and active by day. Long snout, ringed tail, usually nose-down in the leaf litter or the gardens, hunting insects and fruit. Often seen and easy to like.

Ocelot and jaguar

Rare, and worth the wait if it happens. Both the ocelot and, more elusive still, the jaguar have been recorded on the estate. They keep to the forested edges between the mountains and the river. Seeing one is a matter of luck; knowing they still pass through is a measure of intact habitat.

Anteaters and armadillos

Both have been spotted on the grounds. They are shy and mostly nocturnal, so a sighting takes patience. Watching an anteater work the underbrush for ants is one of the quieter pleasures here.

Tortoises and jungle fowl

Smaller residents round out the picture. Tortoises make their slow way across the grounds; jungle fowl move through the undergrowth. Neither is dramatic, but both belong.

Why does the estate draw so much wildlife?

Two reasons, working together.

• Position. The land lies between a mountain range and the Nosara River — a natural corridor animals use to move and drink.
• Recovery. The property was regenerated from overgrazed pasture with more than 9,000 trees and plants over roughly ten years. Restored cover and food brought the animals back.

Costa Rica’s wider record helps, too. More than a quarter of the country is protected as parks and reserves, and the Nosara region shares that ethic. A property that keeps its habitat intact becomes a place wildlife can rely on.

At a glance

• Where: The Sanctuary Estate, Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
• Setting: between a mountain range and the Nosara River, on 16.3 acres
• Seen daily: howler monkeys, coatis
• Seen often: anteaters, armadillos, tortoises, jungle fowl
• Seen rarely: ocelot, jaguar
• Why: a river corridor plus 9,000+ trees regenerated over ~10 years

The short version: the estate sits on an animal highway between mountain and river, and it was replanted to give wildlife a reason to stay. That is why a morning here can hand you a coati in the garden and a howler in the trees, and why the rarer cats still find their way through.