Sun, sea, savings! Book your summer escape today (including £100 child reductions).

Green Iguana Green Iguana

Green Iguanas are native to Central America, South America and the Caribbean. They are both arboreal and terrestrial, their preferred habitat is shaded trees along rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps. However, they will live in relatively open, arid areas if food resources are sufficient. They also prefer to have water around as they are excellent swimmers and will dive beneath the water to avoid predators. When swimming, an iguana remains submerged, letting its four legs hang limply against its side. They propel through the water with powerful tail strokes. Although called green iguanas, these animals can vary from a uniform green colour to a mottled green and brown colour. This colour can vary according to their age, mood, temperature, health or even social status.

They can live up to 20 years, weigh around 8 kg and can reach a length of seven feet. They have a long body covered with soft leathery scales, a long tail and short legs. The tail is used as a weapon and for balance when climbing. They possess a row of spines along their backs and along their tails which helps to protect them from predators. Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one.

Orange Iguana Orange Iguana

They have excellent vision, enabling them to detect shapes and motions at long distances. Green iguanas have very sharp teeth that are capable of shredding leaves and even human skin. They tend to breed in the dry season, ensuring that young hatch in the wet season when food is more readily available. During the mating season the male becomes more aggressive and conflicts between males are not uncommon. Courtship behaviour of males includes head bobbing, extending and retraction of the dewlap (the flap of skin under the chin), and nuzzling or biting a female’s neck.

Females lay their eggs around 65 days after mating and over the course of three days they can lay over 60 eggs. The eggs are deposited into shallow nests and incubation lasts up to 120 days. Once they have hatched the young iguanas are independent and disperse rapidly in order to survive from being eaten by predators.

Green Iguanas are primarily herbivorous, eating green leafy plants or ripe fruits, but they will occasionally eat small amounts of insects and spiders. This is particularly important for juveniles who require higher amounts of protein in their first two to three years to ensure fast growth.

 

Green Iguana 2 Green Iguana 2

Although they are found in the wild throughout Costa Rica, we feature a number of hotels where it is possible to get up close and personal to some resident Iguanas!

The Sunvil Family

By The Sunvil Family

18th June 2014



The Sunvil Family
The Sunvil Family
The Sunvil Family

Sunvil's holidays are designed by passionate travellers just like you. Our reservations experts and product teams, many of whom have been with us for many years, are passionate about our destinations and, through their personal, first-hand knowledge can answer any questions that you may have. They are well qualified to advise and recommend, based on your own holiday criteria. We can point you to those special, little-known places, some not found even in guidebooks.

Call one of our experts to discuss your next holiday with Sunvil on

020 8568 4499

We open today at 9:15 AM

Make an Enquiry

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774
  • Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

* Mandatory Information
Title *
First name *
Surname *
Telephone number *
Alternative telephone number
Email address *
Confirm email address
Preferred method of communication *
If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Details

Preferred departure date *
Duration *
Preferred UK departure airport *
Party size *

Back

  • Adults(12+ yrs)
  • Children(2 to 11 yrs)
  • Infants(Under 2 yrs)
Budget range
Other comments:

Email newsletters

 

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774
  • Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

* Mandatory Information
Title *
First name *
Surname *
Telephone number *
Alternative telephone number
Email address *
Confirm email address
Preferred method of communication *
If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify
Booking reference number *
Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

 

Thank you for your enquiry

Thank you for your enquiry. A member of our specialist reservation teams will be in touch shortly.

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

  • Greece: 020 8758 4758
  • Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
  • Portugal, the Azores, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
  • Latin America: 020 8758 4774

Your details have been saved

Feel free to continue to browse the site and add to your enquiry. Don't forget to send the enquiry before you leave!

My Suitcase

We understand that so much choice can be overwhelming which is why we have developed 'My Suitcase'. This facility allows you to save and compare your favourite holidays, and even allows you to return to your selection at a later stage.

Why not use 'My Suitcase' to compile a wish list of your future Sunvil holidays?

 

Sign in


New to Sunvil?

Create Account

 

Already have an account?

Password reset

Back

Close

Close