Every time I hear a rustle in the leaves near my home in Costa Rica...
I stop. More often than not, something incredible is looking back at me. A lizard painted in colors and patterns that feel almost prehistoric. Some are bright emerald green, others striped or speckled in browns, golds and deep blacks. A few look like they walked straight out of a Jurassic Park scene… just a whole lot smaller.
They live everywhere here.
Some cling to tree trunks and branches, perfectly camouflaged until they move. Others dart across the forest floor or freeze mid-step when they sense me nearby. There’s a real variety in this part of Costa Rica. From sleek, fast runners to chunkier, more deliberate climbers and each one carries its own quiet personality.
What I love most is how present they are. You don’t have to hike deep into the jungle to find them. A simple walk near the house, a pause on the trail or even standing still on the deck can reveal one. Sometimes it’s just the tip of a tail disappearing under a leaf. Other times a full, perfect lizard is sitting right there, watching me with the same curiosity I’m feeling.
Their colors and patterns are what keep me coming back with the camera. Some look like living jewels against the green. Others blend so perfectly into bark or leaf litter that you only notice them when they shift. Every encounter feels like a small exciting tiny dinosaur discovery. a reminder that the wild is always moving just beyond the edge of what we expect to see.
They’re part of the quiet soundtrack of the jungle. The soft rustle, the sudden stillness, the flash of unexpected color. And every time one looks back at me, I feel lucky to be standing in their world.
These lizard moments have filled my walks (and my camera) with so much wonder.
Explore lizard prints in the shop. And bring a little prehistoric Costa Rica energy home with you.
