10 Unique Caribbean Animals to Encounter
Table of contents
1. Snorkeling with wild sea turtles in Barbados
2. Stingray City in Grand Cayman
3. Sperm whales in Dominica
4. Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica
5. Swim with wild pigs in Nassau
6. Interact with playful dolphins in Curaçao
7. Fruit bats in Grand Cayman’s Crystal Cave
8. Lobsters, urchins, anemones and starfish in the waters of St. Kitts
9. Exotic butterflies at the Butterfly Farm in Aruba
10. White-faced capuchin monkeys of Monkey Island, Fuerte Amador
For animal lovers, ecotourism in the Caribbean provides endless opportunities to interact with local wildlife. Take a look at some of the best places to encounter Caribbean wildlife, and 10 unique Caribbean animals you can expect to spot many of which are not found anywhere else on the planet.
Key takeaways
- The Caribbean is home to an incredible lineup of wildlife
- Princess excursions bring you face-to-face with unforgettable creatures, whether you’re snorkeling coral reefs, watching whales off Dominica or meeting capuchin monkeys in Panama’s jungles
- Many of these animals aren’t just rare — some, like the fruit bats in Crystal Cave or the Blue Morpho butterflies in Aruba, play a crucial role in local ecosystems
- Getting up close with Caribbean animals is as easy as joining a guided tour, where you’ll learn fun facts and local legends from expert guides
- Every encounter — whether it’s a dolphin’s splash, a sloth’s slow-motion stroll or a butterfly landing on your hand — creates memories that stick long after your vacation
1. Snorkeling with wild sea turtles in Barbados
Barbados is one of the go-to Caribbean vacation spots for those who want to see hawksbill or leatherback turtles in their natural environment any time of the year.
One of the reasons Barbados is able to offer this unique ecotourism excursion is that there are numerous close-to-shore reef systems surrounding the island. These reefs are the perfect habitats for the turtles, and their proximity to shore allows visitors to easily spot the turtles throughout the year.
2. Stingray City in Grand Cayman
Off the coast of Grand Cayman, visitors can take part in a memorable excursion: feeding wild stingrays.
For decades, the shallow sandbars found off the coast of the island have witnessed a large growth in the stingray population. These gentle creatures first gathered here to eat discarded pieces of food from fishing ships; over time, they have grown accustomed to snorkelers and divers feeding them by hand. Today, visitors to Grand Cayman's beaches are able to get up close to stingrays on this interactive outing.
3. Sperm whales in Dominica
Known as "The Nature Island", Dominica is home to an impressive number of hiking trails and waterfalls. But off the coast of this lush destination is an attraction of another sort involving Caribbean wildlife: whale watching.
Sperm whales breed in the deep waters off the coast of Dominica, and whale-watching excursions are available to witness these majestic and massive creatures. Whale watchers may also encounter pilot whales and false killer whales, along with several types of dolphins.
4. Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica
One of the most popular ecotourism attractions in the Caribbean is located in Costa Rica – the Sloth Sanctuary Rescue Center outside of Limón. The sanctuary takes in injured and abandoned sloths and rehabilitates them so that they can live peaceful lives.
Visitors can tour the adult sloth exhibit, see baby sloths, and learn more about this treasured creature of the rainforest.
5. Swim with wild pigs in Nassau
When pigs fly… or how about when pigs swim? In Nassau, you can swim in the pristine turquoise waters of the Bahamas alongside some wild pigs — who were supposedly abandoned by sailors (or maybe pirates) in the 90s and have created a flourishing colony on this special beach.
Head out to Pig Island on a Princess excursion to immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind experience where you can swim with adorable pigs and piglets. Then sit back and relax on the white sand beach and soak in some rays.
6. Interact with playful dolphins in Curaçao
You’re going to flip out when you get to get up-close-and-personal with these intelligent and playful creatures: the bottlenose dolphin. On an excursion to the Curaçao Dolphin Academy, you can wade out onto a submerged platform to interact with the 20 bottlenose dolphins who live here. Meet their trainers, watch the dolphins perform tricks and see them splash and jump in the pool around you. You’ll love your new friends in Curaçao and check playing with dolphins off the bucket list.
Fun fact: bottlenose dolphins are one of the most intelligent creatures on earth with the ability to recognize themselves in the mirror and can even reach speeds of 30 mph when they swim.
7. Fruit bats in Grand Cayman’s Crystal Cave
There’s only one flying mammal in the world, and it’s the bat. These tiny, nocturnal creatures are one of the biggest pollinators of bananas, avocados and mangoes — and help spread cacao seeds to help make chocolate. When you visit Crystal Cave in Grand Cayman with Princess, you can see fruit bats, stalagmites and stalactites and a secret reflective lake.
Don’t worry about these bats sucking your blood, though. Fruit bats mostly eat night insects and fruit.
8. Lobsters, urchins, anemones and starfish in the waters of St. Kitts
Lobsters, starfish and urchins, oh my. Coral reefs are packed with unforgettable sea life that you can see when you snorkel off the coast of St. Kitts. Dive down into the azure ocean and explore the reefs where you can see a rainbow of fish, the snapping claws of lobsters, bright green anemones waving in the currents and starfish clinging to the reefs.
Visit the reefs with Princess, and enjoy a day riding on a swift-running catamaran and a snorkeling lesson to get you prepped to see these beautiful underwater creatures.
9. Exotic butterflies at the Butterfly Farm in Aruba
Surround yourself with hundreds of exotic butterflies from all across the globe — from South America to South East Asia and Africa. Spot the iridescent Blue Morpho from the jungles of South America and the zebra-stripes of the Caribbean Longwings that are native to the area. Visit this Butterfly Farm on an excursion and see the lifestyle of these beautiful and gentle insects, from the tiny eggs, caterpillars and jewel-like pupas.
Fun fact: Butterflies taste with their feet, so if one lands on you during your visit to Aruba, they’ll know exactly what your skin tastes like.
10. White-faced capuchin monkeys of Monkey Island, Fuerte Amador
Get ready to monkey around in Fuerte Amador, Panama where you can see adorable and friendly monkeys up close. Keep your eyes peeled for the white-faced capuchin monkeys — the most intelligent of monkeys native to Central and South America. In fact, these monkeys are known to use tools like a makeshift hammer to crack open their nuts for an afternoon snack.
When you visit the jungle with Princess, you’ll have an expert guide to help you find monkeys and identify the howler monkey calls.
Encounter first-hand these fascinating Caribbean animals
These 10 amazing creatures are only the tip of the iceberg of what you can expect to see on your cruise. From jaw-dropping underwater coral reefs to rainforests packed with monkeys and colorful birds, Caribbean animals are an unforgettable part of your vacation. See all of these amazing animals up-close when you book Princess excursions — and we’ll handle all the logistics and provide you with guides to teach you about what you’re seeing.
Ready to swim with pigs, play with dolphins and see whales breach? Learn more about Princess Caribbean cruises.