Cope’s Gardens
Donde Cope – A Premier Birding & Photography Experience in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Lowlands Tucked away in La Unión de Guápiles, on Costa Rica’s lush Caribbean slope, Donde Cope is a must-visit destination for birders and wildlife photographers. This privately owned property is managed by local naturalist and artist José "Cope" Pérez, who has transformed his land into one…
Quick Facts on Cope’s Gardens
Hotspot Type
Private Sanctuary
Habitat
Bird Species
White-tipped Sicklebill, White-necked Jacobin, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Long-billed Hermit, Blue-gray Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Clay-colored Thrush, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Montezuma Oropendola, Great Kiskadee, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Stripe-throated Hermit, Green Honeycreeper, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Collared Aracari, Crimson-collared Tanager, Spectacled Owl, Yellow-throated Toucan, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Green-breasted Mango, Black Vulture, Green Kingfisher, Crested Owl, Turkey Vulture, Olive-backed Euphonia, American Pygmy Kingfisher, White-collared Manakin, Shining Honeycreeper, Bay Wren, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Buff-throated Saltator, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Keel-billed Toucan, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Green Heron, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Golden-hooded Tanager, Great Potoo, Bananaquit, Variable Seedeater, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Blue-chested Hummingbird
Donde Cope – A Premier Birding & Photography Experience in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Lowlands
Tucked away in La Unión de Guápiles, on Costa Rica’s lush Caribbean slope, Donde Cope is a must-visit destination for birders and wildlife photographers. This privately owned property is managed by local naturalist and artist José “Cope” Pérez, who has transformed his land into one of the country’s most beloved small-scale wildlife refuges.
With its well-maintained gardens, accessible forest trails, and active feeding stations, Donde Cope offers rare opportunities for close-up encounters with a wide range of birds and other wildlife. Guided by Cope himself or one of his trusted local experts, you’ll explore secondary forest and wetland habitat rich in color, movement, and sound.
This is one of the best places in Costa Rica to observe and photograph elusive species at close range. Whether you’re in search of owls in the shadows, hummingbirds in flight, or sloths in the canopy, Cope’s deep local knowledge ensures a highly personalized and productive experience.
Other Wildlife Highlights: In addition to the incredible birdlife, Donde Cope is a great place to observe a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Highlights often include:
- White-tent making bats
- Helmet-headed lizards
- Two- and three-toed sloths
- Colorful frogs and butterflies
Cope’s Gardens
Get a Free Quote