Our Top Bird Watching Tour Packages
Costa Rica Focus designs Costa Rica birding tours and bird photography tours to all the top birding destinations in Costa Rica as well as throughout Central and South America. We offer custom tours as well as guided group tours (see the differences).
We work with the best bird watching lodges and hotels in the country, provide all your transportation to the different locations, and arrange fully guided or unguided birding tours. If you are interested in joining a scheduled group birding trip, click here to see our group options.
Our expert knowledge and local experience will help create the perfect Costa Rica bird watching tour for you. Explore our sample birding & bird photography tours below or contact us if you would like assistance in customizing your upcoming birding or bird photography tour.
Grand Costa Rica Tour
Package #1
Focus: Advanced Birding
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 14
Bird Photography Tour
Package #2
Focus: Photography
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 12
Secluded Costa Rica Tour
Package #4
Focus: Advanced
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 9
Bird Watching in Costa Rica at It’s Best
Package #5
Focus: Advanced
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 10
Intro to Costa Rica Tour
Package #7
Focus: Intro to Bird Watching
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 8
Bird Watching on a Budget
Package #8
Focus: Intermediate
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 13
Customize Your Bird Watching Tour
Package #9
Inquire here to provide us with your preferences, and we will customize a package for you.
Our Top Scheduled Group Packages
Costa Rica Group Birding Trip: Quest for the Agami Heron
Package #1
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 10 nights | 11 Days
Focus: Birding, Nature, History
Group Trip: Costa Rica Target List Trek
Package #2
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 9 Nights | 10 Days
Focus: Bird & Nature Photography
Group Trip: Costa Rica King Vulture Venture
Package #4
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 13 Nights | 14 Days
Focus: Bird & Nature Photography
Panama Group Birding Trip: Hunt for the Harpy
Package #5
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 8 Nights | 9 Days
Focus: Birding and History
Our Top Bird Watching Tour Packages
We work with the best bird watching lodges and hotels in the country, provide all your transportation to the different locations, and arrange fully guided or unguided birding tours. If you are interested in joining a scheduled group birding trip, click here to see our group options.
Our expert knowledge and local experience will help create the perfect Costa Rica bird watching tour for you. If your focus is more about romance, family adventure, or general interest we can help you with that too.
Grand Costa Rica Tour
Package #1
Focus: Advanced Birding
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 14
Bird Photography Tour
Package #2
Focus: Photography
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 12
Secluded Costa Rica Tour
Package #4
Focus: Advanced
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 9
Bird Watching in Costa Rica at It’s Best
Package #5
Focus: Advanced
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 10
Intro to Costa Rica Tour
Package #7
Focus: Intro to Bird Watching
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 8
Bird Watching on a Budget
Package #8
Focus: Intermediate
Type: Privately Guided or Independent Tour
Days: 13
Customize Your Bird Watching Tour
Package #9
Inquire here to provide us with your preferences, and we will customize a package for you.
Our Top Scheduled Group Packages
Costa Rica Group Birding Trip: Quest for the Agami Heron
Package #1
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 10 nights | 11 Days
Focus: Birding, Nature, History
Group Trip: Costa Rica Target List Trek
Package #2
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 9 Nights | 10 Days
Focus: Bird & Nature Photography
Group Trip: Costa Rica King Vulture Venture
Package #4
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 13 Nights | 14 Days
Focus: Bird & Nature Photography
Panama Group Birding Trip: Hunt for the Harpy
Package #5
Dates: Multiple. Please inquire.
Days: 8 Nights | 9 Days
Focus: Birding and History
Costa Rica Birdwatching Tour Company
Choosing your bird watching trip to Costa Rica can be as tough as counting species in a mixed flock. Lots of companies, lots of choices. We want you to travel the way you want to. It’s your adventure and we’re your personal Costa Rica bird guides, helping you maneuver through all the information and choices that will come your way as you begin researching your bird watching or bird photography vacation to Costa Rica.
It is easy for us to relate to your travel needs because we’ve traveled just like you have. We have carried binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras. We have stayed in simple birding lodges, with no electricity, and lumpy pillows and we’ve pampered ourselves in deluxe ecolodges, overlooking lush gardens. Regardless of the type of trip you’re looking for, we’ll make sure of one thing; the BIRDS. As we live here in Costa Rica, THE bird watchers and photographers paradise, and as we are avid bird watchers ourselves, we will make sure you visit the best photography and birding spots in Costa Rica.
Whether you are looking for an intense bird watching adventure, life list in hand, want an easy-paced exploration of the top species of Costa Rica, or want to photograph the birds of Costa Rica, we’ll help you plan by providing friendly, professional service. If you are interested in other destinations, let us know, we offer birding and photography vacations throughout Latin America.
Let’s talk about your next bird watching vacation!
What Clients Say About Our Tours
Bird Watching Tours: Privately Guided vs Scheduled Group vs Independent… Differences?
When booking your tour, it’s important to know the different options available to you. Based on the experience you are looking for, the intensity of birding, and budget, Costa Rica Focus will help you choose the best option for you.
Tour Guide and Driver
Private Guide
These are custom tours.
Private birding guide is with the guests from arrival to departure. He is available at all times; he birds at the pace of the guests and matches the intensity level of birding to the desire of the guests.
With smaller groups, he acts as a driver. With larger groups, we use a separate driver.
These tours have scheduled departure dates.
Private guide is with the group from arrival to departure. He is available at all times; he birds at the pace of the group and matches the intensity level of birding to the desire of the group.
Generally, we use a separate driver.
Independent Tour
These are custom tours.
Guests use private transfers or rental car to get from point A to point B. Costa Rica Focus can arrange birding excursions (private or shared) at each location.
Guests can bird on their own or hire freelance guides on site.
General Pricing
Private Guide
The cost of the birding guide is rolled into the tour cost. Guests cover guide fee, plus room and board.
Scheduled Group
The cost of the guide is rolled into the tour cost. Guests cover guide fee, plus room and board.
Generally, less impactful on total cost, because the cost is spread amongst more people.
Independent Tour
The cost of the guide is part of the day excursion purchased by the guest.
Overall tour cost is determined by the guest based on dates of travel, types of hotels, activities, and number of travelers.
Number of Species Seen
Private Guide
Birding is constant, including while traveling from Point A to Point B.
Privately guided birding tours produce double the species of birds than non-privately guided tours.
Scheduled Group
Birding is constant, including while traveling from Point A to Point B.
Privately guided tours produce double the species of birds than non-privately guided tours.
Independent Tour
With non-guided day birding tours, species counts are good but, in most cases, will not match the level of a privately guided tour.
Tour Dates
Private Guide
Open and flexible based on guides schedule.
Scheduled Group
Not flexible. Guests must join pre-set dates.
Independent Tour
Open and flexible based on guests’ schedule.
Other Activities
Private Guide
Open, can be added to the customized tour.
Scheduled Group
Activities are pre set, and can’t be removed, but optional activities can be added during down time.
Independent Tour
Open, can be added to the customized tour.
Check Out Our Blog
Five Costa Rica Bird Watching Trips You Must Take
Costa Rica’s bird watching trips are one of many reasons why foreigners choose this amazing green country to visit. While this country is a small place, it is home to over 5% of earth’s biodiversity. With the same size as Lake Michigan in North America United States, this country owns some outstanding Reserves and National Parks.
Costa Rica has an amazing count of species of birds every 10,000 sq km. No other country on the planet has achieved this potential. It is a heaven for adventurers and globetrotters. With 870 bird species in the country, bird watching has gained immense popularity. It is the best tourist destination for bird watchers.
Here are some great paradises for birders. You can explore several rare bird species in these locations. We also have a multi day tour you won’t soon forget!
1- Wilson Botanical Garden
This botanical garden occupies the 12-hectare land. The natural forest spread in 255 hectares encloses this area.
Wilson Botanical Garden is an excellent tourist attraction and birding destination. It was established in 1963. Tourists around the globe recognize this park for its world-class collection of exotic birds and wildlife species.
This forest has some incredible array of rare birds, therapeutic plants, and wondrous animals. Millions of tourists explore the opportunity to visit the area at least once in a lifetime.
2- Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge
Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge and forest reserve, located in the Caribbean lowlands, is the nesting and resting site for migratory bird species. Its swamplands and rainforests serve as an ideal place for birds to take refuge, and for tourists to enjoy this place rainforest ecology.
The Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, part of the country’s Caribbean lowlands, is one of the best spots for watching birds in Costa Rica. It is a must visit place for bird lovers and wildlife explorers.
Cano Negro Lake is spread over 2,000 acres and plays a critical role to save the environment. The primary water source of the lake is Rio Frio (or Cold River).
Some of the species you can see in Caño Negro forest reserve includes the colorful Keel-billed toucan, Glossy Ibis, Anhinga, Wood Stork, Ibis Blanco, Gavilan Caracolero, Jaribu, Whistling Ducks, among others.
3- Cerro de la Muerte Cloud Forest
Home of the Resplendent Quetzal, this cloud forest place is full of spectacular birds that one can see flying in the sky. Ancient Mayas and Aztecs admired the brilliantly bright feathers of these amazing flying creatures.
Cerro de la Muerte is a mountain in the cloud forest and is the highest point of the country’s Inter American highway. Cerro de la Muerte means “the mountain of death.” It is a perfect place for a Sunday trip in search of the famous Quetzal.
Cerro de la Muerte’s cloud forest offers a picturesque view along with bird watching (check out our tour that includes Cerro de la Muerte). It has some exclusive bird species including famous Resplendent Quetzal which can also be seen in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, unique hummingbird breeds such as Mountain-gem, volcano, and black – bellied.
Horseback riding and trout fishing are a couple of other things to do in the highlands area that tourists can look forward to.
Some of the birds you can find in the mountains of this cloud forest include Volcano Hummingbird, Black-and-Yellow Silky Flycatcher, Dusky Nightjar, Black-capped Flycatcher, Sooty Thrush, Resplendent Quetzal, Fiery-Throated Hummingbird and more.
Photo: Mountains at Cerro de la Muerte
4- Río Tempisque
River Tempisque is another tourist destination for adventurers. Whether a boat tour in the Bebedero River or hiking along the Palo Verde National Park forest (home of the Roseate Spoonbills), it is the perfect station for an enthralling birding experience.
It is a known place for watching forest birds in this beautiful country. The forest around the river offers a distinctive breeding ground for many birds. These include jacanas, limpkins, gallinules, kingfishers, the heron and many more.
5- Parque Nacional Carara (Carara National Park)
A favorite among the country’s bird watching destinations is the Carara National Park. It is one of the most famous National parks in Costa Rica. Its proximity to San Jose makes it an easily reachable national park for fun-filled odyssey.
This national park is the home for the colorful scarlet macaw. Scarlet Macaws are considered as one of the most fascinating birds of Costa Rica. The place also offers a glimpse of tropical miracles.
The wildlife in Carara National Park forest is unnerving. The huge crocodile lounge has monster reptiles just below the National Park.
Some of the birds you can see at Carara’s forest are: Scarlet Macaws, The Violaceous (Gartered) Trogon, the Turquoise-Browed Motmot, the Great Tinamou, the Slaty-Tailed Trogon, Bare-throated Tiger Heron among others.
With all the splendid bird destinations and locations, Costa Rica is an impressive tropical country for birdwatchers. It is a dream place for every Ornithologist.
The above locations are just a small sample of all the destinations this beautiful country offers to bird lovers, other locations include, the Monteverde Cloud Forest, La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiquí (home of the Rufous Motmot), Palo Verde National Park, La Fortuna / Arenal Volcano and much more.
Where to See Trogons in Costa Rica
In this article, we’ll examine the best places in Costa Rica to spot and photograph Trogons and mention some of the top species to target.
Best Places to See Tanagers in Costa Rica
In this article, we’ll examine the best places in Costa Rica to see and photograph Tanagers and mention some of the top species to target.
Best Places for Spotting Macaws in Costa Rica
In this article we will look at the best places in Costa Rica to observe beautiful and colorful Macaws. Check it out!
Best Places for Spotting Toucans in Costa Rica
In this article we will look at the best places in Costa Rica to observe beautiful and colorful Toucans. Check it out!
About Costa Rica Focus
Costa Rica Focus is a birding tour company that offers customized Costa Rica birdwatching tours for individuals or groups of people and guided by a knowledgeable birding expert who will help you spot and learn about the beauty of the birds of Costa Rica. Let’s talk about your Costa Rica birding vacation!
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