From Creepy to Cute: Visiting the Monteverde Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica
You might rarely think about three-toed or two-toed sloths in your daily life. But upon arriving in Monteverde, Costa Rica, they're suddenly everywhere. While guided tours offer chances to spot these leisurely creatures, it's often unnecessary—sloths are abundant. Right outside our hostel near the aptly named 'Sloth' hotel, guests gathered on the street to watch one perform a painstakingly slow tightrope walk along overhead power lines.
The next day, hiking the seven kilometers from Monteverde Cloud Forest back to Santa Elena village, we spotted a new building: the Monteverde Sloth Sanctuary. Intrigued by our first encounter, we decided to visit.
This sanctuary is Costa Rica's second, following Aviarios del Caribe in Cahuita, founded by American animal lover Judy Arroyo. Years ago, she rescued a baby sloth orphaned after its mother was killed. As more injured sloths arrived—hit by cars, bitten by dogs, or electrocuted on power lines—Arroyo and her husband established Aviarios del Caribe. Costa Rica's expanding infrastructure has encroached on sloth habitats, and these animals struggle to adapt.
Both sanctuaries, managed by Arroyo, rehabilitate injured sloths for release into the wild. Some, hand-raised from birth, cannot return to the jungle. While Aviarios houses over 100 sloths, we spent an hour admiring about a dozen three-fingered (commonly called three-toed) and two-fingered sloths.
These unique animals can seem almost human-like at times but are more closely related to marsupials. Though they appear bulky lounging in trees, adult males weigh just 12 lbs (6 kg)—light as a feather.
We instantly fell in love with these endearing creatures and believe anyone would. As private rescue and research centers, both sanctuaries depend on donations. Volunteers are always needed to care for baby sloths—feeding, cleaning, providing medical care, and raising awareness about these quirky Costa Rican icons. Watch this video clip where the owners discuss the sloths and conservation efforts.
Have you visited a sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica? Share your experiences in the comments below.
