Wild Things

For many travelers, getting a glimpse of an exotic creature while traveling can make an entire trip. From adorable white-faced capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica, to deadly lions in Botswana, Oyster.com has the best picks for what to see and where to see it on your next exotic vacation. Read on to find out.

White-Faced Capuchin Monkey

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa RicaHabitat: Many types of forest

Among the most adorable of the New World monkeys, the White-Faced Capuchins still roam wild in the rainforests of Costa Rica. They can even be spotted near many of the resorts in Manuel Antonio, which is home to the country's most famous national park. Arenas Del Mar is one of the best resorts for spotting them: Before constructing the hotel, developers studied the native monkeys and built in areas that wouldn't interfere with their daily routes. Arenas del Mar also has access to two beautiful, white-sand beaches near the park, which these monkeys frequent.

Elephant

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: Okavango Delta Region, BotswanaHabitat: Grasslands are one of the most common elephant habitats, but elephants are adaptable and live in many environments.

Botswana is a safe, democratic country and a popular safari destination, with numerous wildlife reserves in the Okavango Delta region in particular. Visitors have a good chance of seeing elephants on game drives from safari lodges, such as Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp.

Green Sea Turtle

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: HawaiiHabitat: Shallow coastal waters, near seagrass beds

Green sea turtles can be found near many tropical destinations, and they're common around the Hawaiian Islands. Black Rock, one of the most popular snorkeling destinations on Maui, right in front of the Sheraton Maui Resort, is a good spot to try.

Morpho Butterfly

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: Costa RicaHabitat: Forested areas

These beautiful blue, iridescent butterflies can be spotted in forested areas throughout the country. There are also a number of butterfly sanctuaries where visitors can see them, such as the one at Si Como No Resort.

Lion

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: Okavango Delta region, BotswanaHabitat: Grasslands

Visitors should not attempt to spot these majestic creatures without the help of an experienced guide. The game drive guides at &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp are first-rate.

Bottlenose Dolphin

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: JamaicaHabitat: Warm waters, both coastal and the open ocean

The waters around Jamaica are a popular place to spot -- and even swim with -- wild bottlenose dolphins. Visitors have a very good chance of spotting wild dolphins on the boat trips from Treasure Beach, and on scuba diving trips in Negril. For a guaranteed dolphin experience, visit the dolphin lagoon at Half Moon.

Crocodile

Oyster's Pick for Where to See Them: Costa RicaHabitat: Rivers, lakes, and swampy areas

Costa Rica hosts a large population of crocodiles. Crocodiles are tolerant of salwater, and can even be seen in brackish areas near Costa Rica's beaches. They don't often attack humans, but visitors should exercise extreme caution if they spot one. A safer way to get a look is to visit them at Si Como No Resort's wildlife refuge, where this photo was taken.

Parrot

Oyster's Pick for Where to See It: Dominican RepublicHabitat: Parrots live in a wide range of habitats, including forests and even some cities.

The Dominican Republic has three native species of parrots, and is a popular bird watching destination. For those not patient enough to spend time watching for wild ones, some resorts --such as the Paradisus Palma Real -- keep pet parrots visitors can meet.

Howler Monkey

Oyster's Pick for Where to See it: GuatemalaHabitat: Forests in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico

There's something magical about falling asleep at night listening to a chorus of howler monkeys. Their deep, booming calls can be heard from up to three miles away. Though the Guatemalan Black Howler Monkey can also be seen in Mexico and Belize, there's really no better place to see it than, well, Guatemala. We spotted a mother and her baby on the grounds of Francis Ford Coppola's luxury rainforest retreat La Lancha, built on a hillside overlooking Lake Peten Itza.

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