I have this memory of sitting on the plane on the way down here, writing a note in my iPhone of all the possible blog posts I could do while visiting Costa Rica.
Creepy Crawly Costa Rica topped that list.
Based on my previous experiences here, I knew I would likely encounter all sorts of crazy critters. Let me tell you, Costa Rica did not disappoint.
So, here is a list of a couple of my favourites that I’ve documented a long the way and their score of how creepy I think they were!
Be advised, if you get the hibbie-jeebies easily…this post might not be for you.

Praying Mantis: These guys are just COOL. I’m bummed that this is such a bad picture, but It was the only time I’ve seen one when I’ve had my camera at the ready.
This little guy was creeping around the floor one night in Playa Coco being as elegant as all get out.
Hope to see more of these before I go!
Creepy Crawly Score: 2/10
Toad: We’ve encountered these little toad friends a couple times during our travels. This guy is from Mal Pais, but my favourite toad friend encounter happened in Tamarindo. We were eating dinner outside our room when one of these little guys decided to jump off our door frame and on to my back. Needless to say I was slightly jumpy after that!
Creepy Crawly Score: 3/10
Ants: Brace yourself, you are about to encounter an ant rant. Ants are insane. One moment you will be going about your day, minding your own business, then, all of a sudden, there will be zillions ants all over the place. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened our travel food bag, only to find that there are hundred of ants inside. Actually I can tell you…it’s three times. But that is three times to many.The third time I made the discovery while travelling on a shared shuttle. Yes…I was THAT girl.
The ants you find in the food bag are actually fine. They are sugar ants, and are just looking for food. Once the food is gone, they’ll just leave on their own. Very polite little creatures.
The ones in the picture on the other hand, they are jerkwads. They look like the sugar ants and seem so unassuming, but these nasty creatures will bite you like crazy. Luckily for me they appear to like the taste of Shaun more. The only thing that will convince them to leave is a big ole can of Raid. If you catch my drift.
Although I wouldn’t necessarily call them “creepy”, their bitey, “come out of no where”, jerkwad status gives them a bit of a higher score.
Creepy Crawly Score: 5/10

Scorpion: Okay, moving on to something a little more disturbing. We haven’t actually seen a live scorpion, but this little dead guy somehow ended up all tangled in my sarong. I was throwing it in the washing machine and noticed his sad little body on the ledge. I’m pretending that he was dead the whole time and didn’t crawl into my space on his own accord. A girl can dream eh?
Apparently their sting is like a bad bee sting. Regardless, it is not something I feel I need to experience myself.
Creepy Crawly Score: 6/10.
Grasshopper on Steriods: SERIOUSLY! I know right? These massive grasshoppers are all over the place here in Costa Rica. You can guarantee that if one is visible there will be a group of tourists around it taking photos (like me at this moment in time)
We saw this one outside of the grocery store in Tamarindo. My brother’s very brave girlfriend Nat put her hand there for perspective. What a trooper!
Although I think these are more cool then creepy, the thought of one of these guys landing on me gives me the willy’s. So their score gets a boost for their “don’t touch me” factor.
Creepy Crawly Score: 8/10
Snake…head?: Can you imagine waking up to find this on your porch? Well we can! Yes my friends, that is the head of a snake, covered in ants.I think maybe a howler monkey in the trees above our place ate the other half, but I can’t be sure. I’ll just give you a moment to let the picture sink in.
Snakes are the one thing that I CANT handle. Just writing about them gives me the shimmy shakes. This one would have gotten a 10/10 in the creepy crawly score had it been alive, but the dead factor and its comical face lessened its score a little bit.
Creepy Crawly Score: 8.5/10
Golden Orb Spider: Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner! Neither Shaun and I are big fans of spiders, especially these Golden Orb guys. Not only are they all over the place in Costa Rica, but they are really big fans of hiding in or around Tatonka, and making me squeal like a little girl.
You know that gross stat about how many spiders people eat while they are sleeping?
Ewww!!
Creepy Crawly Factor: 10/10
So there you have it, a little taste of what we are encountering here in Costa Rica. I should point out that lizards, cockroaches, and centipedes did not make the cut. Maybe I’ll have to do a part 2?
Or maybe not.
Which of these creepy crawlies do you dislike the most?
Pura Vida!
Kate
Follow me on Twitter:@caketress
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