Tailor-made Costa Rica birding tour
Plan and book with vetted Costa Rica experts
Turn your next adventure into a Costa Rica birding tour that brings you deep into the country’s most vibrant habitats, from the lush forests of the Wild South to the rich ecosystems surrounding Corcovado.
Our Costa Rica trips are tailor-made with expert local birding guides who prioritize conservation, precise identification, and meaningful time in the field, while partnering with eco lodges that support nearby communities.
Choose the pace, target species, and regions that match your birding goals, from tracking scarlet macaws and resplendent quetzals to searching for elusive antbirds in dense rainforest understory. Begin with a personalized consultation and set out on an immersive birding journey that elevates the way you experience Costa Rica.
Costa Rica birding tour highlights
- Expert-guided forest walks: Explore biodiverse rainforests with a specialized birding guide, following quiet trails in search of endemic and migratory species.
- Targeted species encounters: Focus on key sightings such as scarlet macaws, trogons, antbirds, hummingbirds, and seasonal migrants, with outings timed for optimal activity.
- Diverse habitats in one journey: Birds across coastal mangroves, lowland rainforest, cloud forest edges, and river corridors to maximize your species list.
- Local knowledge and conservation insight: Learn from guides deeply connected to their regions, gaining insight into habitat protection and community-led conservation.
- Flexible birding strategy: Adjust daily schedules, locations, and intensity to match your birding goals, target species, and preferred pace in the field.
| Day | Location | Activity | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San José | • Arrival and transfer to the hotel • Afternoon garden birding at the hotel or a nearby urban reserve • Optional evening owling walk | San José |
| 2 | San Gerardo de Dota | • Early transfer to Savegre Valley • Afternoon guided birding on private reserve trails • Focus on highland species including Resplendent Quetzal | Savegre |
| 3 | Los Quetzales National Park | • Early morning birding along the Continental Divide • Highland hummingbirds and timberline species • Afternoon river trail birding in Savegre Valley | Savegre |
| 4 | Hatillo Mangroves and Uvita | • Scenic transfer to the South Pacific • Guided mangrove boat or kayak birding • Focus on Mangrove Hummingbird, herons, kingfishers, shorebirds | Uvita |
| 5 | Corcovado National Park | • Early departure for guided lowland rainforest birding • Focus on Scarlet Macaw, trogons, antbirds, tanagers • Coastal and forest edge habitats | Uvita |
| 6 | Osa Peninsula Lowlands | • Dawn birding near forest edges and river corridors • Optional seabird observation boat excursion • Afternoon at leisure or additional targeted birding session | Uvita |
| 7 | Departure | • Early morning optional birding session • Private transfer to San José Airport • Optional foothill stop en route for additional species | — |
Arrival in San José
Arrive in San José and begin your Costa Rica travel experience with a smooth transfer to your hotel, where your Costa Rica birding tour officially begins.
After check-in and time to settle, head out for a relaxed afternoon garden birding at your hotel grounds or a nearby urban reserve, an excellent introduction to the country’s rich avian diversity.
As dusk falls, you may opt for an evening owling walk in search of nocturnal species, adding an exciting first entry to your bird list before returning to rest and prepare for the days ahead.
Savegre Valley highland birding
Enjoy an early transfer to the Savegre Valley, ascending into the cool highlands of San Gerardo de Dota, a highlight of many Costa Rica trips. Upon arrival at Hotel Savegre, settle in before heading out for an afternoon guided birding session along the private reserve trails and surrounding cloud forest.
This region is renowned for its highland species and exceptional biodiversity, with a special focus on the Resplendent Quetzal. As you walk beneath moss-draped trees and listen to the layered birdsong of the forest, your guide will help identify endemic and migratory species that make this valley one of the country’s premier birding destinations.
Highland species and Continental Divide birding
Begin with early morning birding in Los Quetzales National Park along the Continental Divide, where high elevation forests host some of the most sought after species of your Costa Rica birding tour. In the crisp mountain air, focus on highland hummingbirds, timberline specialists, and other endemic species unique to this protected habitat.
In the afternoon, return to the Savegre Valley for river trail birding, exploring forest edges and riparian zones that attract a different range of species. This combination of park and valley habitats offers outstanding diversity and excellent opportunities to expand your bird list.
Hatillo mangroves and Uvita
Continue your journey with a scenic transfer to the South Pacific, an exciting shift in habitat that adds depth to your Costa Rica itinerary. Upon arrival near the Hatillo Mangroves, set out on a guided boat or kayak birding excursion through calm, winding waterways framed by dense mangrove forest.
As you glide quietly through this coastal ecosystem, look for the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird along with tiger herons, little blue herons, kingfishers, and a variety of shorebirds.
The mangroves also shelter monkeys, iguanas, and other wildlife, offering a rich contrast to the highland forests explored earlier. Later, continue to Uvita for your overnight stay.
Corcovado National Park hike
Depart early for Corcovado National Park, widely considered one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica for raw wilderness and exceptional biodiversity. This vast protected area spans primary lowland rainforest, coastal zones, and forest edge habitats, creating ideal conditions for intensive birding.
With your expert guide, focus on key lowland species such as Scarlet Macaw, trogons, antbirds, and colorful tanagers. As you move quietly along forest trails and near coastal clearings, take advantage of varied habitats that support an impressive concentration of birdlife, making this one of the most rewarding field days of your journey.
Tips from Adriana
Costa Rica
Travel Expert
Corcovado rewards the early start. Set out at dawn with a certified guide and carry more water than you think you need, because the heat and humidity build fast and the best wildlife activity happens in the cool first hours.
Osa Peninsula lowlands and seabirds
Begin at dawn with guided birding near forest edges and river corridors of the Osa Peninsula, when activity is at its peak and lowland species are most vocal. As part of your Costa Rica birding tour, focus on understory specialists, parrots in flight, and mixed feeding flocks moving through the canopy.
Later, take an optional boat excursion toward Caño Island Biological Reserve, where the open Pacific adds a new dimension to your tropical Costa Rica trip. While the island is known for its coral reefs, this outing emphasizes seabird observation, with opportunities to spot frigatebirds, boobies, pelicans, and other coastal species.
The afternoon remains flexible for leisure time or an additional targeted birding session to round out your species list.
Departure
If time allows, begin with an early morning optional birding session near your hotel, taking advantage of the final hours in the field to look for any remaining target species. This last outing adds a rewarding close to your Costa Rica trip.
Later, enjoy a private transfer to San José Airport, with the schedule adjusted to match your flight time. En route, you may include an optional foothill stop to search for additional species in transition habitats, making the most of your final day before international departure.
Costa Rica
