Three kinds of monkeys visit us at ECOTICA, and each one has its own way of saying hello. One of them, the white-faced capuchin, likes to say it from very close.
Our three monkeys
- Howler monkeys stay mostly high in the trees. They don’t come close to us.
- White-faced capuchins arrive in big family groups and come very, very close. They are curious and clever, and at times they can be aggressive.
- Squirrel monkeys are small, cute and more cautious. They keep their distance, and they usually pass by around sunrise or sunset.
The sugar problem
Capuchins love sugar. Sugar is bad for them, so we keep it out of their reach. But when a guest has some sugar on the table, a capuchin will notice. Once in a while one jumps in and runs through the tables to try for it. It’s entertaining, and it’s over quickly.
The day a capuchin took a seat
One day a capuchin came in and sat down right where a couple was sitting. They moved over and let him have the spot. Then he started drinking her water. He was thirsty.
And he drank it with the straw. Capuchins watch what we do and copy it, and this one had clearly seen how a straw works. Everyone around stopped to watch. It was a lot of fun, and a good reminder of whose forest this really is.
Monkeys at sunset at YOLO Social
If you want to see monkeys, come to YOLO Social around sunset. A lot of the time you can see monkeys passing by, and the deck works like a monkey observatory: you watch them travel through the trees, along the corridor they use to cross the property. It’s never on a schedule, but it happens often.
Enjoying monkeys the right way
- Never feed monkeys, not even a little. Sugar and human food make them sick and teach them to take food from people.
- Keep sugar, fruit and drinks close when monkeys are around.
- Give capuchins space. If one comes to your table, step back and let our staff handle it. Don’t touch or chase it.
- No flash, and enjoy the show from where you are.
Read more in our guide to the monkeys of Manuel Antonio and the wildlife guide. You might also like the story of the rainy day a sloth came to YOLO Social.
