Where To Go Bird-watching in Costa Rica

Bursting with vibrant orchids and home to more than 400 species of birds, Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of the top bird-watching locations in Costa Rica. Spot toucans and hummingbirds on a small-group walking tour, soar through the cloud forest canopy on a ziplining adventure, or explore on a day trip from nearby San Jose or La Fortuna. Don’t be fooled by the easy-to-reach location—plenty of rare birds are seen here, most famously the notoriously shy resplendent quetzal.

Insider tip: True birding enthusiasts should visit in April to witness the quetzal mating season.

One of our favorite bird-watching in Costa Rica tips is the little-visited hot spot of Braulio Carrillo National Park; despite being just an hour’s drive from San Jose, it is often overlooked by travelers. It’s one of the largest protected areas in the country, with forested mountains, volcanic peaks, and rivers and streams crisscrossing across steep canyons—all of which provide plenty of birding opportunities. Escape the crowds and hit the trails early for a chance to spot the bare-necked umbrellabird, snowcap hummingbird, or lattice-tailed trogon, then ride the aerial tram for treetop views.

Among the most popular bird-watching hot spots in Costa Rica, Carara National Park is home to the country’s largest population of scarlet macaws, alongside jacamars, trogons, and three-wattled bellbirds. Take your pick of several scenic walking trails, join one of the renowned crocodile tours, or set sail on a wildlife-watching cruise along the Tárcoles River.

Did you know?: Scarlet macaws are secret romantics—not only do they mate for life, but they spend hours preening each other every day.

Situated at the mouth of the Tempisque River, within easy reach of Liberia and the Nicoya Peninsula, Palo Verde National Park is a breeding ground for migratory birds and waterbirds, including the black-bellied whistling duck and blue-winged teal. A riverboat safari is the classic way to watch wildlife in Palo Verde, looking out for monkeys, crocodiles, and iguanas as you cruise around the mangrove swamps, lagoons, and flooded forests.

Insider tip: Dry season (December to April) is the best time for bird-watching, when migratory birds flock to the park’s wetlands.

Tortuguero National Park is a top destination for Costa Rica birding tours along the Caribbean Coast, best known for its namesake turtles that nest on the beaches from July through October. Birders also have plenty to get excited about, including endangered great green macaws, kingfishers, warblers, and the rare roseate spoonbill.

Paddle through the wetlands on a canoe excursion, take a night tour to see the turtles nesting, or hike to the summit of Cerro Tortuguero volcano for magnificent views over the rainforest.

The grand centerpiece of Arenal Volcano National Park is the conical-shaped Arenal Volcano, once the most active in the country. Half of Costa Rica’s bird species can also be found in the park, so look out for species including black-crested coquette, russet-naped wood rail, uniform crake, and white-whiskered puffbird.

Pair wildlife-watching with a visit to La Fortuna Waterfall and a relaxing soak in the Tabacon Hot Springs. You can also try rappelling or ziplining, take an ATV excursion, or kayak on Lake Arenal.

Rivaling the Amazon Rainforest in terms of biodiversity, Corcovado National Park is a highlight of the Osa Peninsula for outdoor adventurers. Hike through old-growth rainforest and low-altitude cloud forests, cruise along crocodile-filled rivers, or snorkel among the coral reefs of Caño Island. However you choose to explore, look out for colorful manakins, woodcreepers, macaws, turquoise cotinga, and chiriqui foliage gleaner along the way. If you're lucky, you might even spy an ornate hawk-eagle swooping overhead.

When it comes to wildlife watching, there’s one national park that trumps all others: Manuel Antonio National Park. Biodiversity is the name of the game here, from the epic natural landscapes—think pristine white-sand beaches fringed by forested mountains and rocky islands—to the unrivalled wildlife.

Take a tour with a naturalist guide to discover one of the best birding spots in Costa Rica and look for toucans, motmots, and mangrove hummingbirds, as well as iguanas, white-faced monkeys, and sloths. Or enjoy a different viewpoint on a treetop zipline tour or an island-hopping catamaran cruise.

If your goal is to check bird species off your list, add La Selva Biological Station to your itinerary. Arguably the most unique of Costa Rica’s birding lodges, La Selva is a scientific research center on the northern borders of Braulio Carrillo National Park and home to about 470 recorded bird species.

Spend a night or two in a rustic cabin, rise at dawn to enjoy bird-watching along the boardwalk trails, then go white-water rafting along the Sarapiqui River. Rare species that you might spot here include band-tailed barbthroat and bare-necked umbrellabird.