Super smart
Capuchins use sticks and rocks as tools to reach food.
The Sanctuary · Primates
White-faced monkeys
Costa Rica’s clever capuchins: tool users, 30 different calls, and Balú’s troop of rescued monkeys.
In the wild
The smartest monkey in Central America
White-faced capuchins are curious, clever and always on the move. They use sticks and stones as tools, communicate with more than 30 different sounds, and live in troops of 8 to 20 animals.
Their name comes from the brown robes and hoods worn by Capuchin monks — the dark head fur and pale face look strikingly similar. In Costa Rica they are common around the coast, along with howler and spider monkeys.
Fun facts
Things you probably did not know
Biologists at Diamante share these facts with guests on every walk through the sanctuary.
Jungle chatters
More than 30 different sounds, plus facial expressions and scent, carry their messages.
Foodie explorer
Their menu runs from fruit and nuts to insects, crabs, frogs and bird eggs.
Tail like a rope
The tail is as long as the body and can grip branches, though it is not as strong as a spider monkey’s.
Troop life
Groups of 8 to 20 work together to find food, protect each other and raise young.
Named after a monk
The name comes from the hooded brown robes of Capuchin monks.
Coast to canopy
They live from sea level up to 2,100 m (6,800 ft).
Long lives
Up to 35 years in the wild, and up to 47 with care in a protected environment.
Meet ours
Balú’s troop
“Hola! I am Balú, the leader of the troop. You might recognise me because I only have half of my tail. But I am still the alpha male.”
Balú’s troop — Jerónimo, Margarita, Etiopía, Pandora, Yansy, Coquito and Jack Jack — lived in different rescue centres before SINAC concluded they could not survive in the forest and brought them to Diamante.
Questions about white-faced monkeys
Why can’t these monkeys go back to the forest?
They were raised among people and in rescue centres, and lack the skills a wild troop needs. SINAC placed them at Diamante permanently.
Are white-faced monkeys common in Costa Rica?
Yes. They are one of the most common monkeys in the country, along with howler and spider monkeys, and you may see wild ones near the coast.