The 5 Best Places for Bird Watching in Costa Rica

A Green-crowned Brilliant - a species of hummingbird found in Costa Rica's cloud forests

Costa Rica is home to over 900 species of birds - close to 10% of the global avian population, which currently sits at around 11,000 recorded species. 

From Costa Rica’s largest bird, the Jabiru, to the smallest, the Scintillant Hummingbird, the diversity of avian life here is astonishing. 

A generic Google search will give you destinations such as Monteverde, Carara, and La Fortuna. 

Whilst these locations absolutely deserve their reputation, and we would encourage you to visit, many of Costa Rica's most rewarding birding experiences can be found off-the-beaten-track. 

This article aims to explore some of these lesser-known regions, and some of our favourite places, that offer some of the best birding opportunities in Costa Rica. 

The Best Birdwatching Sites Depends on You

Before we jump straight in, it's worth noting that Costa Rica isn’t a “one size fits all” when it comes to birdwatching. 

There are so many ecosystems and microclimates throughout the country. 

Even within the same geographic area, there is an incredible diversity of species. 

Take the province of Puntarenas, for example. 

This province stretches from the rocky Pacific coastline to high altitude cloud forests, lowland rainforest, and mangrove swamps. As you can imagine, the diversity of birds is astounding. 

Birdwatching in Costa Rica is also heavily influenced by the birds you want to see. 

Are you looking for endemism (species that are found nowhere else on Earth)? 

Are you looking to spot the elusive Resplendent Quetzal? 

Or is your aim to simply tick off as many species as possible?

Your birding goal will determine which location is key. For us, it's a little bit of everything, and we've tried to capture that on this list. 

1. Boca Tapada, Alajuela ​

The Purple Gallinule is a wetland bird found in marshes and swamps across Costa Rica

Tucked away in northern Costa Rica near the Nicaraguan border, Boca Tapada remains one of the country's best-kept birdwatching secrets. 

This remote region combines lowland rainforest, wetlands, rivers, and agricultural land, creating an incredible diversity of habitats that supports over 400 bird species. 

One of the highlights of the area, attracting birdwatchers from all around the world, is the Great Green Macaw. 

Despite being critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 mature adults, Boca Tapada remains a stronghold for these macaws. Not just in Costa Rica, but in all of Central America. 

Seeing a pair of these enormous red, green, and blue birds fly overhead is often a highlight of any birding trip to Costa Rica. 

Boca Tapada is also a prime location to see the magical King Vulture. 

Unlike other vultures (yes, yes, I know they're an incredibly important part of the ecosystem, they're just not very pretty), the King Vulture is strikingly beautiful. With its colourful head and white breast, it certainly stands out. 

However, Boca Tapada is more than just a birding destination.

Home to rare mammals, river rafting opportunities, and traditional cuisine workshops, there is something for everyone here. In fact, Boca Tapada remains the only location I have soon an ocelot in the wild. One of the best hikes in Costa Rica, and one I certainly won’t forget. 

2. San Gerardo de Dota, San Jose

A Resplendent Quetzal perched in a tree

Monteverde isn’t the only cloud forest in Costa Rica.

Situated at elevations between 2,000 and 3,000 metres, San Gerardo de Dota is a cloud forest valley that supports an entirely different bird community from Costa Rica's lowlands. 

The cool temperatures and abundance of wild avocado trees create ideal conditions for highland specialists - including the dazzlingly beautiful Resplendent Quetzal. 

With its stunningly iridescent plumage and long tail feathers, the Resplendent Quetzal should be on anyone's wildlife checklist, not just birders!

Males are the only sex to have these long tail feathers, in which he uses to impress a female. You know how it goes, the longer the better. 

To increase your likelihood of spotting a Quetzal, early morning walks close to the Savegre River offer prime opportunities. Look out for wild avocado trees - a favourite food source of the Quetzal. 

San Gerardo is also home to a wealth of other species, including the Fiery-throated Hummingbird - a brilliantly coloured, high-altitude specialist that sparkles with vibrant reds, greens, and blues.

3. Cerro de la Muerte, San Jose

The high-altitude Parama is unlike any other habitat in Costa Rica

Just a stone's throw away from San Gerardo, you’ll find Cerro de la Muerte.

Affectionately translated to “Mountain of death”, Cerro de la Muerte is a high-altitude parama - a unique, high-altitude tropical alpine tundra ecosystem. 

Like San Gerardo, the Resplendent Quetzal can be found here. 

However, at just shy of 3,500m, this region is home to some special bird endemics found nowhere else in Costa Rica.

Look for the Volcano Junco - a finch-like bird with a vibrant yellow eye. Another favourite is the Sooty Thrush - a passerine bird resembling the blackbird in the UK. 

I think, at least for me, the species and environment here remind me of home. Despite the cold, gray, windy, and often wet conditions, there’s a feeling of familiarity in Cerro de la Muerte. 

And a word of caution - it can get pretty chilly here. Like, U.K in the winter (and summer, sometimes) chilly. You’ll need to pack accordingly. 

4. Gandoca-Manzanillo Reserve, Limon

Boat-billed Herons are nocturnal and spend daylight hours roosting quietly

​We’re heading to the southern Caribbean for our next destination. 

The Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica have some exceptional bird watching opportunities. 

Year-round, the region receives high rainfall. This, coupled with the tropical climate and lack of coastal development, allows lowland rainforests to thrive. 

Whilst Cahuita is an easily-accessible National Park, we’ve opted to include the less frequently visited reserve of Gandoca.

Near the border of Panama, this reserve protects both marine and terrestrial habitats, including mangroves - one of the only places on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast that mangroves can be found. 

Over 350 bird species have been recorded in Gandoca. Highlights for us include various heron species, including the stunning Agami Heron and the odd Boat-billed Heron. 

There are also sightings of Black-striped Woodcreepers and Tawny-crested Tanager - both of which are pretty hard to spot elsewhere. 

The Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, including Gandoca, is an internationally famous migration corridor for raptors passing between North and South America.

Between the months of September - November, countless numbers of raptors pass through. This includes the Broad-winged Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, and Mississippi Kite. 

So if you need another excuse to leave the UK during the colder autumn months, this could be it.

5. Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas 

Toucans, like this Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, are a common site throughout the Osa

We had to include the Osa Peninsula as a prime birding destination. In fact, it’s a prime wildlife destination full stop, hosting up to 3% of our plants' entire biodiversity. 

Whilst estimates vary, between 400 - 550 bird species have been recorded here. This accounts for nearly half of Costa Rica's total bird population. In a geographical area similar in size to London!

Two million years ago, the Osa Peninsula was an island and the species that were found here evolved in isolation from their mainland neighbours.

Today, now part of mainland Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula is almost completely covered in lush primary rainforest.

The Osa is home to many different species of manakins, tanagers, antbirds, toucans, parrots, raptors, and much much more. 

One of my personal favourites is the red-capped manakin. Not only is it a striking bird, with their vibrant red-capped head and black body, but they also have some serious dance moves. 

To court a female, which has an olive-green plumage, males perform a dance that involves “moonwalking” across branches, and a series of fast wing beats. 

One of Costa Rica’s largest birds, the Great Curassow, can also be found in the Osa Peninsula. Once hunted for their meat, they are now a protected species. They’re still considered vulnerable to extinction, but their numbers in the Osa have stabilised. 

Final Thoughts

​Did this list surprise you? 

Too many birding articles include destinations such as La Fortuna and Monteverde. 

And yes, whilst they are incredible locations for bird watching, we wanted to take you off the beaten track a bit and showcase some of Costa Rica’s hidden birding gems. 

From the wetlands of Boca Tapada to the high-elevation parama of Cerro de la Muerte, each of these locations has their speciality. 

Will you glimpse a pair of Great Green Macaws? Will you get lucky and spot an agami heron? We’d love to know your birding highlights in our comments below. 

Costa Rica Birding FAQs

How many bird species are found in Costa Rica? ​

​Costa Rica is home to over 900 species of birds - that’s close to 10% of the global bird species. A staggering statistic in a country no larger than Denmark. 

Are there harpy eagles in Costa Rica?

There have been sightings of Harpy Eagles in Costa Rica, but they are incredibly rare. The last well-documented sighting was in July 2022 in Boca Tapada.

It is unknown whether there are breeding pairs of Harpy Eagles in Costa Rica. However, Panama and Nicaragua both have populations of these large eagles, which means they could spill over to Costa Rica in National Parks such as Corcovado. 

Where are the best places to see macaws in Costa Rica?

Scarlet Macaws can often be seen feeding in almond trees

​Macaws can be seen on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Some of the best locations to spot these large parrots include Playa Hermosa, Punta Islita, Manuel Antonio, Carara, and Puerto Jiménez. 

​Do you need a guide to go birdwatching in Costa Rica?

Guides often have specialised equipment that help spotting and identifying birds

​You don’t need a guide to see birds in Costa Rica. However, to increase your chances of spotting elusive species, a guide is recommended.

Guides recognise species calls and behaviours, and will be able to share fascinating insights about their life histories. It’s a more immersive experience having a guide in Costa Rica, but we also encourage any solo hikes where possible. 

When is the best time to see Resplendent Quetzals in Costa Rica?

​The best time to see resplendent quetzals in Costa Rica is between February - May. This is the quetzal nesting season, which coincides with wild avocado and fig fruiting - their main food source. 

Which Costa Rica national park is best for birdwatching? ​

A trail in Carara National Park

​Corcovado National Park has perhaps the greatest diversity of bird species in the country.

Whilst not a National Park, Maquenque Reserve in Boca Tapada, is also home to a significant percentage of Costa Rica’s bird species. 

Carara National Park is a great place to spot scarlet macaws.

How many days do I need for a birdwatching trip to Costa Rica? ​

There are many different birding habitats across Costa Rica - from coastal mangroves to high-altitude cloud forests. We suggest a minimum of 10 days to see a few bird watching hotspots. 

You can check out our bird watching itinerary to discover key birding routes over a period of 16 days.