Birding in Costa Rica is an extraordinary experience. With 878 species recorded to date, Costa Rica offers to birders great birdwatching opportunities within relatively short distances, involving very diverse habitats from sea level to high mountains above 12000 feet. Exciting guided tours and itineraries take you to wonderful locations where you are able to enjoy the best of birding in Costa Rica. We hope you find this site helpful when planning your birding vacation in Costa Rica, our staff will be happy to assit you with your technical questions about birds, locations, and other details to make of your trip the best birdwatching experience you could possibly have in this neotropical country.

Birdwatching

Costa Rica is a prime destination for birdwatching. This small country is as near as possible to the perfect birdwatching destination.

With approximately 850 recorded bird species, the country boasts one-tenth of the world's total. The nation offers hope for such rare jewels of the bird world as the quetzal and the scarlet macaw, both endangered species yet commonly seen in protected reserves.

The reasons that so many species occur in such a small space are the country's unique geographic position as a land bridge between North and South America , and its varied topography and climate which provide the diversity of habitats.

Depending on season, location, and luck, you can expect to see many dozens of species on any one day.

Birding Locales

Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal Volcano is Costa Rica 's most active volcano and indeed one of the world's most active volcanoes. Major eruptions occur infrequently, most recently in 1968.

Is an easy two and a half hour drive north from San Jose on well paved roads. The park itself is located on Lake Arenal , the largest freshwater lake in Costa Rica .

The best birding area is around Tabacon Hot Springs on the north side of the volcano. The much sought after White-fronted Nunbird is sometimes seen in this area. Trails within the park can also be fruitful, especially the trail leading up the mountain behind Arenal Observatory Lodge on the southern flank of the mountain.

Some of the birds you can see in Arenal Volcano National Park are:

Braulio Carrillo National Park

A huge national park north of San Jose . Highway 32 going north from San Jose toward the Caribbean coast and Puerto Limon goes through the steep-walled canyons of the park, passing the Quebrada Ranger Station about an hour from San Jose .

Many birders report Braulio Carrillo to be one of the finest and most productive birding locales in Costa Rica . The Sendero Las Palmas behind the Quebrada Ranger Station offers wonderful opportunities. Mixed-species bird flocks and a variety of antbirds and antpittas make birding there a joy. The Ridge Trail some 4 miles back towards San Jose is reportedly the best place to see Bare-necked Umbrellabirds.

A variety of reported thefts in more remote sections of Braulio Carrillo have dissuaded many birders from visiting the park.

Some of the birds you can see in Braulio Carrillo National Park are:

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge is one of the biologically richest areas in Costa Rica . Located in far northern Costa Rica near the Nicaragua border. It's about one and a half hours north by paved road from Arenal Volcano National Park .

Boat trips on the Rio Frio and into the flood-plain offers great opportunities for seeing Jabirus, Snail Kites, and many other water birds. The area is also home to Black Howler Monkeys, Red Spider Monkeys, crocodiles, caimans, iguanas, sloths, turtles, and other wildlife.

Some of the birds you can see in Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge are:

Carara National Park

Carara National Park is considered by many to be one of the best birding locations in Costa Rica . Located about two hours southwest of San Jose not far from the Pacific Ocean and just south of the Tarcoles River . The road to Carara is paved and well-maintained, unlike many secondary roads in Costa Rica .

Carara is in a transition zone between the dry forests of the northwest and the rain forests of the southern zone. It thus contains a dry and rain forest. The result is a unique zone of overlap where both northern and southern species in the same place.

This is one of two areas in the country where it is common to see scarlet macaws. Crocodiles live in the Tarcoles River , which borders the park, and there are also many monkeys, iguanas, sloths, armadillos and other animals roaming the woods of Carara.

Some of the birds you can see in Carara National Park are:

Cerro de la Muerte

Cerro de la Muerte (literally, "Mountain of Death") gains its name from brave settlers a hundred years ago who lost their lives to the extreme cold while crossing the area on the remote trail leading down into El Valle de El General to the south. It is located high in the Talamanca Mountains about 15 km. south of the turnoff to San Gerardo de Dota. It's about a three hours drive from San Jose up the winding Highway 2, which eventually leads south toward Palmar Sur and San Vito in southern Costa Rica .

Most of the birdwatching is done at the forest edges along the Inter-American Highway south from San Jose . The area is home to a number of high elevation specialty birds as well as such sought after birds as Resplendent Quetzal lower on the mountain's forested slopes.

The view from "Death Hill" at mile marker 89 is spectacular, with the Pacific coast visible on clear days and the Caribbean visible on very clear days.The descent from the highest point of the road at 10,938 feet to San Isidro de El General at 2,303 is one of the most spectacular drives in Costa Rica. You pass from paramo vegetation to oak forest with red bromeliads shining in the sun and then to tree ferns, vines, and sombrilla del pobre walls of greenery on both sides of the road.

Some of the birds you can see in Cerro de la Muerte are:

Osa Península & Corcovado

A visit to Osa Peninsula is a truly memorable experience.

Osa Peninsula is located in extreme southern Costa Rica , situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Golfo Dulce bay. It is most frequently reached by a half-hour flight between San Jose and the village of Drake Bay on the northern coast of the peninsula.

The interior of the peninsula is extremely remote and can be reached only by long hikes into the interior via frequently muddy trails. Only charter flights go into the short airstrip at Sirena, while boats trying to land at Sirena must navigate very tricky tidal currents that can be quite dangerous if attempted at the wrong time of day. The southern part of the park is accessible by flights into Carate or by a long rough road that circles around the southern coastline from Puerto Jimenez.

Osa Peninsula receives a great deal of rain during rainy season and supports the greatest expanse of lowland rainforest remaining in Costa Rica.It's the only place where all 4 species of Costa Rica primates can be seen. Many specialty birds of southern Costa Rica are seen along the trails of the Rio Claro National Wildlife Refuge and in Corcovado National Park itself.

Some of the birds you can see in Osa Península & Corcovado are:

E.A.R.T.H. University

E.A.R.T.H. University ("Escuela de Agricultura de la Region Tropical Humeda") is an agricultural college specializing in researching sustainable agriculture in the tropics.Located near Guacimo east of Guapiles on Highway 32 to Puerto Limon from San Jose . It's about half an hour from La Selva Biological Station and One hour and half hours from San Jose .

The campus includes a 400 hectare lowland forest preserve that affords excellent birding opportunities. Birding along the numerous forest trails and on the campus grounds produce a number of lower elevation Caribbean specialties not seen at higher elevations where most other prime birding sites we visit on the Caribbean slope are located.

Some of the birds you can see in E.A.R.T.H. University area:

El Tapir Nature Reserve

El Tapir Nature Reserve is a privately owned forest reserve adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park , about a mile further east from Quebrada Ranger Station in Braulio Carrillo National Park .

Its main attraction is the hummingbird feeders, where the much sought-after and not readily seen Snowcap hummingbird is regularly seen. The reserve also features a number of forested trails where birds characteristic of the area can be seen.

Golfito & Piedras Blancas

Piedras Blancas National Park is located in the Golfito area of southern Costa Rica . It can be reached by flights into Palmar Sur and then hired taxi via the Pan American

Golfito was established by the United Fruit Company as the main port for its banana growing operation in the 1930's. Following a prolonged strike in the mid-1980's, those operations were shut down. Since then, Golfito has become a resort town catering heavily to sport fishermen seeking fabulous deep-sea fishing in the gulf and out in the Pacific Ocean .

The Golfito area including Piedras Blancas National Park offers exceptional birding opportunities featuring a variety of southern Costa Rica specialties and endemics. The hill above the town where the radio towers are located is a prime place for seeking near endemics such as Beryl-crowned Hummingbird and Black-bellied Wren.

Some of the birds you can see in Golfito & Piedras Blancas are:

La Selva Biological Station

La Selva Biological Station covers an expanse of lowland primary and secondary rainforest on the Caribbean slope of northwestern Costa Rica . It's owned and operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies. It is located in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park . It's about one and a half hours north of San Jose near the town of Puerto Viejo .

La Selva is a fabulous birding destination with over 400 species recorded in the area. It's perhaps the best place in Costa Rica to see Tinamous and the highly endangered Great Green Macaw . Also La Selva is a great place to see many species of hummingbirds and tanagers, including the beautiful Passerini's Tanager.

Some of the birds you can see in La Selva Biological Station are:

Selva Verde Reserve

Selva Verde is a private bird sanctuary across the Rio Sarapiqui from the Selva Verde Lodge. The lodge is located about 5 miles west of Puerto Viejo along Highway 4 on the Caribbean slope of northern Costa Rica . It's about 1¾ hours north of San Jose and just 10 minutes from La Selva Biological Station.

The reserve offers some excellent lowland rainforest birding, but the same birds can also be seen at nearby La Selva Biological Station as well.

Is the easiest place to see the elusive Sunbittern, a strange bird that is the only species in its family. A pair of Sunbitterns occupies a territory along the Rio Sarapique adjacent to the lodge and are regularly seen from the riverbank below the dining room as well as from the suspension bridge across the river.

Some of the birds you can see in Selva Verde Reserve are:

Wilson Botanical Gardens

Wilson Botanical Gardens and Las Cruces Biological Station are the former private estate of Robert and Catherine Wilson. The biological station on the grounds is operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies, which also operates La Selva and Palo Verde Biological Stations further north. It is Located about five miles from San Vito in extreme southern Costa Rica , not far from the Panamanian border.

Wilson Botanical Gardens is one of the few places in Costa Rica where one can see Crested Oropendolas, which recently invaded from neighboring Panama . It's also a fairly reliable place for seeing Turquoise Cotinga, though these birds move around a lot and are sometimes not present.

In addition to the gardens themselves, nearby San Joaquin Wetlands afford some productive birding as well. The most sought-after species is the endemic Chiriqui Yellowthroat, but the marsh is also home to a variety of other interesting birds such as Masked Duck and White-throated Crake.

Some of the birds you ca see in Wilson Botanical Gardens are:

Monteverde

Tilaran Cloud Forest

It is a peaceful community made up of dairy farmers and naturalists who have joined together. Founded in 1954 by a group of Quakers searching for a peaceful place to live.

Monteverde and neighboring Santa Elena are located on the Pacific slope of the Tilaran Cordillera (Mountain Range) in northern Costa Rica . The area is best reached by a very bumpy gravel access road from the Pan American Highway . It takes about three and a half hours to drive to Santa Elena from San Jose .

The Monteverde Reserve protects an area of approximately 25,000 acres, comprising six different life zones. So many habitats in such a small area along with extensive trail improvements allow visitors to enjoy a rich diversity of flora and fauna with relatively little and easy walking. There are over 2,500 plant species (among them 420 different kinds of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects.

It also contains an extremely diversity with over 450 birds being recorded there, including the most popular tourist attraction, the Resplendent Quetzal. The Hummingbird Gallery just outside the entrance area is a wonderful place for observing as many as 10 species of hummingbirds up close and personal including: Green-crowned Brilliant, Violet Sabrewing, Coppery-headed Emerald, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Green Violet-ear and many more.

Also you can do besides birdwatching, other activities in Monteverde: art galleries and studios and shops can keep a person busy for days. The Quaker cheese factory is famous throughout the world for its wonderful Monteverde Gouda cheese. The Monteverde Nature Center and Butterfly Gardens , Orchid Gardens , and Snake Exhibit allow people interested in natural history an opportunity to see many tropical plants and animals that they may miss otherwise.

Some of the birds you can see in Monteverde are:

Nosara & Playa Ostional

The village of Nosara is located near the Nosara River on the Nicoya Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica , close to the Pacific coastline. The best way to reach Nosara is by flying into the small airport by twin-engine prop plane from San Jose . It's about a 30-minute flight.

The major attraction at Nosara is Playa Ostional, the ocean beaches where Olive-Ridley Sea Turtles come ashore to nest.

Aside from sea turtles, the Nicoya Peninsula features some specialty birds not seen in most of Costa Rica.The forests and mangroves in Nosara Wildlife Refuge offer excellent birding opportunities where you can find local specialties such as Nutting's Flycatcher and Scrub Euphonia. Black Howler Monkeys also live in the forest and are regularly seen and heard in the area.

Some of the birds you can see in Nosara & Playa Ostional are:

Poas Volcano National Park

Poas Volcano National Park is about 45 minutes from San Jose and about two hours on a winding road from Puerto Viejo.

It offers wonderful views of the Tileran Cordillera in northern Costa Rica . so we recommend the park's best to arrive early in the morning. It's one of the few volcanos where a person can drive all the way to the top. The road ends 300 m.

It offers a splendid opportunity for seeing specialty birds whose ranges are restricted to high elevations.

Some of the birds you can see in Poas Volcano National Park are:

San Gerardo de Dota

San Gerardo de Dota is a true "Shangri-La" deep in the Talamanca Mountains of southern Costa Rica . The small village is a center for apple and peach farms along the Savegre River .

Among birders, the area is treasured as the best place in Costa Rica to see arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the extraordinary Resplendent Quetzal. Quetzals nest in the cloud forests covering the valley walls and are easily seen during breeding season. The cloud forests also harbor a fine mix of high elevation and southern Costa Rica specialty birds reminiscent of western Panama .

Some of the birds you can see in San Gerardo de Dota area:

Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero is a private bird sanctuary located about two and a half hours west of the Costa Rica International Airport about 5 miles south of the Western Highway in the Cayo District of Costa Rica. There are no roads that connect Tortuguero with the rest of the world access is via boat or small airplane only.

It has one of the heaviest rainfalls in the country (between 5000 to 6000 mm a year). Today, 11 habitats have been identified in the park alone.

Here, in the heart of the jungle, visitors indeed discover abundant wildlife: caimans, crocodiles, sweet water turtles, poison-arrow frogs, Basilisk lizards, oropendolas, toucans, Anhingas, Amazon kingfishers, bats, howler monkeys and manatees are just a few examples of Tortuguero's abundant fauna. More than 30 species of freshwater fish and more than 300 species of birds have been identified in Tortuguero.

Also Tortuguero (derived from the Spanish word tortuga = turtle) is an important nesting place for the Green Turtle.It is the most important nesting area for the green turtles (Chelonia mydas) which come every year to lay their eggs along this coast.

Some of the birds you can see in Tortuguero National Park are:

Some hotels where you can enjoy birdwatching in Costa Rica are: