Costa Rica Sloths: Meet Rapida, Our Friendly Surprise Houseguest

Written by Nikki Solano

Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️

SLOTHS IN COSTA RICA: MEET RAPIDA

Here’s a first for us. We are familiar with Costa Rica sloths–we’ve seen them hanging out in the trees overhead while exploring Costa Rica’s numerous national parks, watched one glide across a telephone cable in Monteverde, and even transported one to a local zoo just outside La Fortuna de San Carlos that had fallen from a tree and was lying on the side of the road (it sadly passed away in our van en route)–however, we have never had the privilege of entertaining one at home. Not until this past week, that is.

Meet Rapida (“fast”), a sloth that randomly showed up on our back porch. We gave her the cheeky moniker as she was the speediest three-toed sloth in Costa Rica that we have ever seen.

Typically known for being agonizingly slow movers, this particular Costa Rican sloth made her way around the house in no time at all. She visited with us for a few hours (napping every so often as sloths regularly do) before she continued on to the nearby forest.

Here’s a short video of Rapida on the move. Oops! She accidentally bumps her head on our lightbulb.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et_gpJ6YGsU?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

DIY COSTA RICA SLOTH COSTUME

If you’re feeling creative next Hallowe’en, follow the instructions we offer here to make your own three-toed Costa Rica sloth costume!

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COSTA RICA SLOTHS

For more information about Costa Rica sloths (specifically the three-toed variety, like Rapida), apart from visiting Costa Rica and experiencing them firsthand of course, check out National Geographic’s biography.

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Costa Rica sloths are one of the cutest species of local wildlife; do you agree or disagree?

Pura vida!

If you’re more of a visual learner, take a moment to view our gallery photos below from Rapida’s visit.

Costa Rica Sloths: Meet Rapida, Our Friendly Surprise Houseguest

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