29/05/2026
MoonWalk, the female Two-Toed Sloth
Monteverde Waterfall-Catarata Los Murciélagos
The afternoon was cool and inviting, with no tours on my schedule. Eager for adventure, I set out on a spontaneous nature quest, camera in hand, heading to the Monteverde Waterfall just a short walk from home. The path to the creek and waterfall takes only fifteen minutes, but what happened next made time blur. I can hardly recall what wildlife I spotted or whether I managed to capture the scenery on film. My memory fades because, as I reached the final step of the trail, something unusual caught my eye in the trees. I paused, peered, circled, and squinted, trying to confirm what I was seeing. There, nestled high above behind the reception office and perched at the cliff’s edge, was a patchwork of dark and light brown fur. I was amazed I had missed this sleeping mammal on my way down. Only from this precise angle could I spot the two-toed sloth, hidden from view for anyone descending to the waterfall. It was around 4:30 pm, and with the waterfall closing at 5, I knew my time was limited.
With little time to spare, I hurried to the reception and told Kelly about the sloth hidden behind the building. Together, we crept over and found her—a large, shadowy ball of brown fur, perfectly blended into the tree by the cliff. I snapped a few photos, knowing our two-toed sloths are nocturnal and that she would likely still be asleep for hours. Suddenly, she stirred. A familiar call echoed through the trees, prompting me to ready my camera and slip quietly into the woods. The white-faced monkeys’ chatter signaled a rare chance to photograph the sloth awake. Animals sense danger long before we do. Moon Walk had already detected the monkeys’ approach before their calls reached my ears. White-faced monkeys are notorious omnivores, eating whatever they please. Every creature in the forest knows to hide, flee, sound the alarm, or prepare to defend itself when the monkeys are near. Some, like the sloth, freeze and hope to blend in.
Moon Walk stayed wide-eyed and alert as the monkeys swarmed behind the reception, feasting, playing, and leaping from branch to branch. I crouched in the bushes, camera poised, ready to protect the sloth if needed, though she seemed just as prepared. Surrounded by the noisy troop, Moon Walk tracked their every move, her gaze never leaving them. While it is rare to witness monkeys preying on other animals, it is not impossible. Fortunately, the monkeys soon lost interest and drifted away, leaving Moon Walk undisturbed. As peace returned, she curled up and drifted back to sleep.
I felt relieved by the happy ending and delighted to have captured so many photos to remember the moment. Another blessed, precious moment in nature.
I treasure every one of these daily gifts. Tomorrow brings a morning tour, and I hope to share more wild wonders with my clients. Until then, sleep well and greet the day with joy.
Blessings, early risers and late sleepers.
Dulce Wilson, Naturalist Tour Guide.
Monteverde Wildlife Experiences-Costa Rica
WhatsApp (506) 87394345
