Santa Elena Birdwatching & Jungle Hike, Santa Elena

Overview

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is a 766-acre protected area and is home to hundreds of exotic birds, including the resplendent quetzal, hummingbird, black guan, toucanet, and more. You can also see mammals like howler monkeys, agoutis, coatimundis, tapirs, and pumas.

Enjoy a birding and wildlife tour of the reserve, led by a naturalist guide who will point out the various animals you'll spot along the way. But that's not all; the fauna is impressive, too. Santa Elena is a veritable garden of exotic flowers, mosses, ferns, and epiphytes, all of them growing amid the misty cloud forest. This is truly one of the most fascinating ecotourism reserves in the entire country!

Itineraries with Santa Elena Birdwatching & Jungle Hike

Costa Rica Adventure & Wildlife Tour - 10 Days

Spend 10 days getting to know the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica's rainforests, with plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities, too. You'll zip-line through the rainforest, hike to waterfalls, and mountain bike on a volcano, with opportunities for kayaking and relaxing in hot springs.

Costa Rica's Cloud Forests - 6 Days

Head to the Monteverde region if you want to experience a distinct ecosystem, spot wildlife, and have plentiful options for hiking and zip-lining. Perfect for a quick getaway, the 6-day version of this itinerary will take you to both Monteverde and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserves, along with two nights in vibrant San José.