Animals to discover in the South

One of the best places to observe unusual animals in their natural habitats is undoubtedly the South. I will always remember the morning I was woken up by howler monkeys in Costa Rica. At first, I couldn't understand where the strange sound was coming from, so I went out onto the porch of my small hotel and saw these large black creatures, sitting on tree branches, simply chatting amongst themselves—or rather, simply howling. At that moment, I felt so privileged to witness this wildlife that I thought no zoo could ever replicate such a spectacle. Costa Rica is a country with particularly abundant wildlife. In addition to howler monkeys, with a bit of luck, you can see squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys, and capuchin monkeys, all freely going about their business, never feeling threatened by our presence.

Another destination renowned for its incredible variety of exotic animals, each more fascinating and magnificent than the last, is undoubtedly Mexico. Thanks to its rich biodiversity, Mexico is an incredibly abundant sanctuary for all kinds of animals. If you visit the Yucatan, for example, you're likely to spot quetzals, those absolutely resplendent birds with their emerald green plumage and bright red belly, and their iridescent "mosaic" pattern. You might also discover a colony of pink flamingos gracefully nestled in the center of a lagoon or even encounter a coati, that funny little mammal with a pointed nose, which is as common in its country as raccoons are in ours.

In Jamaica, you might spot the manatee. This curious animal, also called a "sea cow," is now endangered, but it's easily found in shallow waters, such as rivers flowing into the sea. In the Dominican Republic, it's more likely you'll encounter the harmless rhinoceros iguana, resembling a small prehistoric creature.

The Caribbean is also home to a wide variety of amazing animals, including the opossum, also known as the manicou. This small, nocturnal mammal is about the size of a cat, but has mouse-like ears, a small, pointed nose, and a tail as long as a monkey's. In Guadeloupe, the agouti is another surprising animal, a small, tailless rodent that typically lives in tree trunks and can jump distances of up to 6 meters.

We must not forget all the extraordinary marine mammals that populate the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, such as playful dolphins, elegant whales, immense sea turtles and all the species of multicolored fish that can easily be discovered by scuba diving or even snorkeling.

Taking a trip to the South is not just about piña coladas by the sea at sunset, but also - and above all - about extraordinary natural spectacles, which promise to dazzle and move us to the point of stealing the spotlight from that fantasy novel that was supposed to entertain us during our vacation!