Meet the Locals: Iguanas, Birds, and Other VIPs Around Iguana Surf
Published in honor of World Wildlife Day – March 3
When people come to Iguana Surf Camp in Tamarindo, they’re usually here for the waves. That makes total sense. The surf here is incredible. But somewhere between paddling out and grabbing a cold drink at the end of the day, most guests notice something else going on. The trees are moving. Something’s watching from a branch. A pelican just dive-bombed the lineup!
Here in Costa Rica, the wildlife isn’t hiding behind some impenetrable forest. It’s living its best life right alongside you. And that makes complete sense when you look at the numbers.
Costa Rica covers less than 0.03% of the Earth’s surface, yet it’s home to around 5% of all known species on the planet. Over 500,000 species, from tiny poison dart frogs to massive leatherback turtles, share this small but extraordinary country. The Guanacaste region, where we’re based, sits at a crossroads of tropical dry forest, wetlands, and Pacific coastline, making it one of the most biodiverse corners of an already biodiverse nation.
So in honor of World Wildlife Day on March 3, let us introduce you to a few of the VIPs you’re likely to meet during your surf trip to Costa Rica.
1. The Iguanas (Obviously)
We named our camp after these gorgeous guys for a reason. Iguanas just fit this place. That unhurried, sun-soaked, totally-at-home energy? That’s what we wanted for the camp, so the name was a no-brainer.
Green iguanas are absolutely everywhere around Tamarindo, and you’ll see them sprawled across rocks in the sun and hanging out in the trees. Occasionally, you’ll also see them wandering through the camp like they own the place (which, to be fair, they kinda do). Iguanas have been here long before any of us showed up, and it shows.
Adult green iguanas can grow over five feet long and are surprisingly good swimmers, so don’t be shocked if you see one cruising through the estuary on your boat tour. They’re herbivores, so no need to worry about fingers and toes. The main thing iguanas are really good at is soaking up the sun and making new guests pull out their cameras. Give them space, don’t try to feed them, and you’ll get along just fine. They’re used to people, but they’re still wild animals, and they like to be respected.
2. The Howler Monkeys
Your first morning at Iguana Surf, you might wake up thinking a dinosaur is outside your window. Nope, that’s just the howler monkeys saying good morning. These guys are loud. Like, truly, impressively loud. The howler monkey holds the record as one of the loudest animals on the planet, and when a troop gets going at dawn, you will absolutely hear it.
Look up into the treetops, and you’ll spot them: stocky black monkeys with wide faces and thick tails, usually moving slowly through the canopy in family groups. They’re not as flashy or cheeky as the white-faced capuchins (more on those another time), but there’s something really special about watching a howler troop move through the trees at sunrise before you paddle out for your morning session.
It’s one of those moments that reminds you you’re not just on a beach vacation, you’re deep in one of the most biodiverse places on earth. A Costa Rica wildlife trip is never complete without hearing that sound at least once.
3. The Pelicans and Frigatebirds
Spend any time in the water at Tamarindo, and you’ll have company from above. Brown pelicans are a constant presence along the coastline, gliding in formation just above the surface of the water and then tucking into steep nose-dives when they spot a fish. Once you get used to having them around, they become a kind of background entertainment while you’re waiting for a set.
Up higher, the magnificent frigatebirds cruise the thermals with their long forked tails and huge wingspans, which can stretch up to an impressive seven feet across. We love to call them aerial pirates, since they occasionally steal fish right from other birds mid-flight.
The estuary is a great spot to watch both species up close, especially in the early morning when the fishing boats are active, and the birds are working the water. It’s one of the reasons the Estuary Boat Tour we include with our March Surf Camp is such a huge hit; it puts you right in the middle of it all.
4. The Sea Turtles
Tamarindo sits right next to Las Baulas National Marine Park, one of the most important leatherback sea turtle nesting sites in the Pacific. Olive ridley turtles also nest along nearby beaches throughout the year. If you’re timing your surf trip to Costa Rica between October and March, there’s a real chance of witnessing a turtle nesting event, one of those bucket-list wildlife moments that guests talk about for years.
Out in the water, you might spot a sea turtle surfacing for air while you’re out in the lineup. It happens more often than you’d think. They’re completely at ease in the ocean and tend to pay no attention to surfers. The most important thing to know is to follow the local guidelines around nesting beaches: no lights, no flash photography, and stay behind the guides. These turtles have been coming to these beaches for millions of years. We’re the guests here, not them. Respect that and you’ll have an experience you’ll never forget.
5. The Scarlet Macaws
If you see a flash of red and blue cutting across the sky with a loud, raspy call, congratulations, you just spotted a scarlet macaw. These birds are stunning. Like, genuinely stop-you-in-your-tracks, drop-dead-gorgeous. They almost always fly in pairs and mate for life, which makes them incredibly endearing.
The Guanacaste region has seen a real comeback in scarlet macaw populations over the last couple of decades, thanks to conservation efforts and protected nesting zones. Spotting them from the beach or on the zipline tour through the jungle canopy is one of those unplanned highlights of a Costa Rica wildlife trip that ends up being a favorite memory.
Keep your eyes on the sky, especially around the big almond trees near the coastline; macaws absolutely love them. Hearing them before you see them is usually how it goes. Trust us: you’ll know the call when you hear it.
6. The Sloths
Costa Rica is home to two species of sloth: the three-toed sloth and the two-toed sloth. Both can be found in the trees around Tamarindo and along the estuary, though spotting one takes a patient eye and a chilled-out itinerary. They move so slowly that algae actually grows in their fur, giving them a faint greenish tint that acts as natural camouflage in the canopy. It’s one of nature’s most brilliantly lazy adaptations.
Sloths descend from their trees only about once a week, usually to relieve themselves or switch trees. The estuary tour sometimes gives you a front-row seat to one hanging in the branches just above the water. And when that happens, the whole boat goes super quiet. We swear you could hear a pin drop in the water. There’s something about sloths that just mesmerizes people.
If there’s one animal that captures the pure, unhurried spirit of Costa Rica, it’s definitely this one.
7. The American Crocodiles
Yes, there are crocodiles in Tamarindo!
The Tamarindo Estuary is home to a healthy population of American crocodiles, and they are something else entirely to see up close. These reptiles can grow up to 14 feet long, and they’ve been around in more or less the same form for over 70 million years. You’re looking at a living dinosaur, and it knows it.
The good news is that American crocodiles are generally much calmer than their Australian saltwater or Nile cousins, and encounters on guided estuary tours are safe and well-managed. Our boat guides know exactly where the crocs like to rest along the riverbanks, and pulling up alongside one of these giants on the Estuary Boat Tour is one of the most memorable moments guests take home from Iguana Surf. Give them space, keep your hands inside the boat, and you’ll walk away with a story and a photo that none of your friends back home will believe.
8. The White-Nosed Coatis
Last but definitely not least: the coatis. These guys look like someone crossed a raccoon with a small anteater, gave them a striped tail and a twitchy nose, and then turned their confidence up to maximum +. Coatis travel in bands of females and young, and they roam through the forest edges and sometimes right through town like they’ve got places to be, people to see, and errands to run. They’re bold, curious, and insanely entertaining to watch.
A word of warning, though: do not attempt to feed them. They look sweet, but they’re wild animals with sharp claws and zero personal space boundaries. Once they associate people with food, they will become a nuisance, and that kind of interaction never ends well for either party. So please, do just admire them from a respectful distance, enjoy their ridiculous energy, and let them do their thing.
Our estuary tour often brings you close to coati territory, so keep your eyes open near the riverbanks. They’re one of those animals that make every guest on a Costa Rica wildlife trip beam with happiness.
Ready to Meet the Locals?
Book a 7-day Surf Camp with us in March, and we’ll throw in a free Estuary Boat Tour AND a free Zipline Tour — both incredible ways to get up close with all the wildlife you just read about.
This promotion is valid for stays anytime in 2026, so you can lock in the deal now and plan your trip on your schedule.
The waves are waiting. So are the iguanas. Come say hi!
