Lucy the sloth
Found as an adult on a power line near houses, with old burns on her hands. Releasing her back to the same place risked electrocution, so she came to Diamante.
Wildlife · Discovery Pass
Costa Rica Wildlife Sanctuary
Rescued sloths, jaguars, toucans, monkeys and crocodiles — cared for with SINAC supervision.
The sanctuary
Wildlife that needed a home, not a cage
Diamante’s Animal Sanctuary is home to rescued wildlife that cannot be released back into the forest: animals confiscated from smugglers, kept illegally as pets, or injured too badly to survive on their own. Costa Rica’s wildlife authority, SINAC, places them here, and the park builds each habitat around the species rather than around the visitor.
More than a dozen biologists, including resident veterinarians, care for the animals. Some are part of national and international breeding programs for endangered species. Every animal has a name, a rescue story and a job as an ambassador for its species — as the park puts it, animals are not pets.
Who you will meet
Rescued animals at Diamante
Walk the habitats at your own pace, with biologists on hand to answer questions. These are the species you will see, each with its own guide:
- Two-toed sloths
- Jaguars
- Toucans
- Spider monkeys
- White-faced monkeys
- Crocodiles
- Baird’s tapirs
- White-nosed coatis
- Raccoons
The sanctuary is also home to pumas, margays, white-tailed deer, snakes, frogs and a butterfly observatory, with more than a dozen birds on site including scarlet macaws.
Conservation
Why these animals live here
Our jaguars
Confiscated in Ciudad Quesada at about three months old, after being kept illegally as pets. They arrived in poor condition and now live in one of the sanctuary’s largest habitats.
Bob, Dylan, Ronaldo and Messi
Yellow-throated toucans that were confiscated and placed with the park, now part of the national and international breeding program for their species.
Balú’s troop
White-faced monkeys moved here by SINAC after authorities concluded they could not survive in the forest. Balú, the alpha male, is recognisable by half a tail.
Sanctuary rules
How to visit respectfully
- Do not touch, feed or call the animals. Look and learn; let the biologists handle the rest.
- Keep to the marked paths, even when an animal looks close enough to reach.
- Keep quiet around the habitats. Loud noise stresses wildlife, especially the cats and monkeys.
- Be patient at the sloths: they move slowly and are often asleep high in the branches. Your guide knows where to look.
- Take photos without flash, and never tap on glass.
Questions
Sanctuary FAQs
Do I need a guide to visit the sanctuary?
No. The Discovery Pass lets you walk the habitats at your own pace, and biologists are stationed around the sanctuary to answer questions. Personal guides can be added for $45 per hour if you want a fully guided visit.
Can we touch or hold the animals?
No. Diamante does not offer animal encounters. The sanctuary exists for animals that cannot live in the wild, and the park keeps contact with people to the minimum the animals can tolerate. Visitors watch, ask questions and learn.
Is the sanctuary suitable for young children?
Yes. All ages are welcome and the paths are easy walking. It is one of the most popular parts of the park for families, and the kids guide to Costa Rica’s animals gives children the fun facts before they arrive.
Is the zipline included?
No. The Discovery Pass covers the sanctuary only. If you want the sanctuary and the zipline, book the Diamante Adventure Pass, which includes both plus the Cultural Experience, Hammock Beach and lunch.
Book the Sanctuary Pass
Adult$45Ages 11 and up
Child$38Ages 5–10
Price per person in US dollars. Self-guided visit, biologists on site.
Cancellation: cancellations under 24 hours and no-shows are invoiced. Written cancellations by email to our reservations team. Dates can be changed free of charge subject to availability.
Turn it into a full day
The Adventure Pass adds the Superman zipline, the Cultural Experience, Hammock Beach and lunch.
Reviews
What visitors say about the sanctuary
Unedited TripAdvisor reviews from guests who walked the habitats.
“We loved our time at the animal sanctuary. The guides were very knowledgeable and it was cool to see so many amazing animals and reptiles up close! Definitely worth the opportunity to see animals you won’t see anywhere else.”
“The park was beautiful and well-maintained. The animal habitats were clean and beautiful as well. The staff was always around and happy to answer questions. We had such a great time and highly suggest going!”
“Great experience and enjoyed learning from the very knowledgable staff. Huge variety of animals to see in wonderful habitats. Easy to walk about and guide yourself around the park.”
Keep exploring
Learn about the animals first
Two-toed sloths
Why algae grows in their fur, and the rescue story behind Mia, Diesel, Ziggy and Lucy.
Jaguars
The largest cat in the Americas, and the rosettes that work like a fingerprint.
Costa Rica animals for kids
A family guide to the park’s wildlife, with the questions children ask most.
Your day at Diamante starts here
Book a pass in a couple of minutes, or call (506) 2105 5200 and our reservations team will help you choose. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
From $45