Spider Monkey in Costa Rica: My Photograph Published in The Guardian
The Guardian published my spider monkey Costa Rica photograph, taken on the Osa Peninsula, on August 5, 2026. It shows a Central American spider monkey, its tail wrapped around its own head.
Caption: A spider monkey wraps its tail around its head on the ground at Botanika Resort on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, on 4 July 2026. Photograph: Ronen Tivony
A Spider Monkey Costa Rica Moment Worth Sharing
What made this one worth a second look was the tail. It’s normally the monkey’s most active tool: gripping branches, taking its weight, steadying fast moves between trees. Here, it curled over the monkey’s own head instead. That’s the small, quiet behavior you only catch by spending real time in the field, ready when it happens.
Meet the Central American Spider Monkey
This is a Central American spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). People also know it as Geoffroy’s spider monkey or the black-handed spider monkey. It’s the largest of the region’s four native monkey species. It shares the forest with the mantled howler, the white-faced capuchin, and the Central American squirrel monkey. These monkeys live in loose, shifting social groups and eat mostly fruit. Their long limbs and prehensile tail let them cross the canopy almost like they’re flying. That fruit-heavy diet makes them important seed dispersers, so a healthy population signals a healthy forest.
Why the Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey Is Endangered
The IUCN Red List classifies this species as Endangered. Researchers consider it the most at-risk of the country’s four monkey species. It has already disappeared from parts of the Nicoya Peninsula. Forest loss between 2004 and 2018 set the pace for what’s ahead. If that pace continues, the species could lose over a third of its remaining habitat across Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia by 2063. Reliable sightings have narrowed to a short list, per recent reporting from the Tico Times. That list includes Santa Rosa, Rincón de la Vieja, Caño Negro, and the Osa Peninsula. This photograph came from that last spot.
Spider Monkeys on the Osa Peninsula
Puerto Jiménez sits at the edge of the Osa Peninsula, right where the rainforest meets the Golfo Dulce. Botanika Resort sits just outside town. Corcovado National Park is close by. This is one of the few places left where all four of the region’s native monkey species still overlap.
How to Photograph Spider Monkeys in Costa Rica
Shots like this come from time in the field, not luck alone. You wait, you watch how the animals move and rest, staying ready when something like this happens. I lead wildlife photography workshops on the Osa Peninsula. They include dedicated time for the region’s monkeys, plus parrots, frogs, snakes, and macro subjects. You can find details on the Costa Rica wildlife photography workshop page.
FAQ
What kind of spider monkey lives in Costa Rica?
This is the Central American spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). People also know it as Geoffroy’s spider monkey or the black-handed spider monkey. It’s the largest monkey species in the country.
Are spider monkeys endangered in Costa Rica?
Yes. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Endangered. Researchers consider it the most vulnerable of the country’s four native monkey species.
Where can you see spider monkeys in Costa Rica?
The Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park are among the most reliable places. Santa Rosa, Rincón de la Vieja, and Caño Negro also have regular sightings.
Can I photograph spider monkeys on a workshop with you?
Yes. My Costa Rica wildlife photography workshops run on the Osa Peninsula. They include dedicated time with all four of the country’s monkey species.