Costa Rica Birdwatching Tours

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Costa Rica holds ten percent of the world's avian species in its rainforests and protected areas, making this a birdwatching paradise. Try the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, where you can spot 400 species from the misty trails and elevated walkways—including the show-stopping Resplendent Quetzal. Or head to the remote Osa Peninsula: its lagoons and rivers are teeming with waterbirds, and 16 types of hummingbirds are on display. 

Whether you have a week, ten days or two weeks, with the right guide you're practically guaranteed to add some exciting check marks to your list. See more on birdwatching in Costa Rica here, and check out these itineraries to start planning your trip.

Costa Rica Travel Insights

A colorful toucan perches on a tree branch in a Costa Rican forest
Map of 7 Best Places for Birding in Costa Rica
7 Best Places for Birding in Costa Rica

More than a quarter of Costa Rica is protected jungle, home to a wide variety of native wildlife—including 850 colorful species of birds. Learn about the country's best areas to spot them, from the Osa Peninsula to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

arenal
Map of Costa Rica: Ultimate Birding Excursion - 16 Days
Costa Rica: Ultimate Birding Excursion - 16 Days

Boasting 10% of the world's avian species, Costa Rica is a paradise for bird lovers. On this ornithological trip, you'll visit the top birding destinations in the country. Accompanied by an expert multi-lingual guide, you'll go off the tourist trail, venture down remote jungle paths, and into national parks to ensure you have the best vantage points in which to view these birds in all their glory. 

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Map of Costa Rica Exotic Birds and Natural Highlights - 7 Days
Costa Rica Exotic Birds and Natural Highlights - 7 Days

Costa Rica is home to a wildly diverse amount of wildlife, including over 850 species of birds. In a mere week, you'll take to the jungles, rivers, mountains, and coast of this tropical paradise in search of the best vantage points in which to view the most exotic specimens. It's an adventure that not only includes the highlights of Costa Rica's avian population but the highlights of the country itself. 

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Map of Guided Birding Tour of Costa Rica - 8 Days
Guided Birding Tour of Costa Rica - 8 Days

In just over a week you can experience the birding highlights of Costa Rica, a country known for its biodiversity. Over 850 different species call this nation home, and on this eight-day itinerary, you'll see many of them. The journey will take you from rainforest jungles to wetlands as you hike through unspoiled tropical landscapes, view exotic wildlife, and snap photos of birds unlike any other on the planet.

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Map of Costa Rica Wildlife, Birds, and Jungles - 10 Days
Costa Rica Wildlife, Birds, and Jungles - 10 Days

Costa Rica is one of the smallest countries in Latin America, yet it is also one of the most biodiverse. Consider birds, of which there over 850 species just in this one country. You'll be able to see many of them on a 10-day birding tour as you search for the rarest and most exotic avian varieties in Costa Rica's national parks, rainforests, and mountains.

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Map of Birding Highlights of Costa Rica - 9 Days
Birding Highlights of Costa Rica - 9 Days

Any serious birding enthusiast must at some point make the pilgrimage to Costa Rica. There are over 850 avian species in this tiny Central American nation, so there's no shortage of great birding opportunities. On this unforgettable nine-day itinerary you'll take to the mountains, jungles, and coastline, venturing into national parks and dense rainforests to view the most elusive, exotic, and beautiful birds in Costa Rica.

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Map of Guided Birding Safari in Costa Rica - 12 Days
Guided Birding Safari in Costa Rica - 12 Days

Costa Rica has a couple of things in abundance: exotic locales and exotic birds. On this 12-day ornithological trip, you'll witness various avian species amongst misty cloud forests, lowland rainforest canopies, and even soaring overhead on the Pacific coast. Throw in a bit of hiking, wildlife spotting, and sightseeing in the nation's capital, and you have the ideal active vacation.

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Map of Costa Rica: Birding in Paradise - 11 Days
Costa Rica: Birding in Paradise - 11 Days

Costa Rica is one of the few truly great birding destinations in the world. This is due to the nation's diverse and abundant amount of birds (over 850 species have been spotted here). Over 11 days you'll travel from the mountains to the coastal rainforests on an immersive birding safari to view some of the most exotic specimens, such as motmots, tanagers, and the reclusive resplendent quetzal.

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Map of Birds of Paradise: Costa Rica Birding Adventure - 14 Days
Birds of Paradise: Costa Rica Birding Adventure - 14 Days

Grab your binoculars and sketchbook, because you're off to Costa Rica for a grand birding adventure. This small tropical country is a haven for exotic avian varieties, and there are many regions ripe for ornithological exploration. Aided by an English-speaking guide, you'll travel the length and breadth of Costa Rica, from the mountains to the coast, viewing the most colorful bird species over two incredible weeks. 

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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Costa Rica
Travel specialist Olman Romero
active 41 mins ago

Olman Romero

I was born in Turrialba, a region rich in history and natural beauty, home to the Guayabo National Monument, the most important pre-Hispanic archaeological site in the country, as well as the...

read more...
Travel specialist Elena Mora
active 2 hours ago

Elena Mora

"I was born in Costa Rica and grew up on my family's sugar and coffee plantation farm in the mountains of Turrialba. From an early age, I learned from my family to deeply cherish and respect our...

read more...
Travel specialist Bryan Leon
active 4 hours ago

Bryan Leon

Growing up in a coffee plantation area near San Jose, Costa Rica's vibrant capital, I was fortunate to have parents who instilled in me a deep love and appreciation for nature. As a certified...

read more...
Travel specialist Yuliana Valverde
active 4 hours ago

Yuliana Valverde

For over a decade, my passion for creating unforgettable trips in Costa Rica shines a deep understanding of the country's diverse attractions and activities, as well as a genuine commitment to...

read more...

Trip Reviews for Costa Rica

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Good experience
Costa Rica | May 2 - May 9, 2026

Ann
Ann G.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on May 14, 2026
We had a great experience with Olman. He provided prompt responses and good advice. Read more

We had a great experience with Olman. He provided prompt responses and good advice.

Activity Reviews
Nocturnal Rainforest Walk
Nocturnal Rainforest Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

We saw a lot of frogs and butterfly’s. Joe shared his great pics with us on What’s App. He was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sweetest driver ever!
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Costa Rica

Our guide was great. I wish I could remember his name! He made sure we saw all the good animals including two snakes and several sloths. He helped us get great pictures of them too!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake
Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake
Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Val was great! She was so knowledgeable! Sadly, we didn’t get to see much of the volcano because we got caught in a huge rain storm. But that’s life in Costa Rica!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Peñas Blancas River Floating Safari Adventure by Raft
Peñas Blancas River Floating Safari Adventure by Raft
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a great tour. We saw lots of animals and it was fun to be on the water. Our guide Lawrence, was great!

Quality of Experience
K
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Olman Romero
Olman
Olman Romero
Local specialist in San Jose, Costa Rica | Replied on May 14, 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊

It was truly a pleasure helping you plan your Costa Rica adventure, and I’m very happy to hear you had a great experience.

Thank you again for trusting me with your vacation, and I hope Costa Rica left you with amazing memories. Pura Vida!

Kimkim put a wonderful family trip together!
Costa Rica | Apr 22 - Apr 30, 2026

H
Helen V.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 07, 2026
Kimkim put a wonderful family trip together for us. Costa Rica was amazing and we enjoyed every place we visited, activities in the areas, and our resort stays. This is our second time using kimkim and we plan to use it in the future! Read more

Kimkim put a wonderful family trip together for us. Costa Rica was amazing and we enjoyed every place we visited, activities in the areas, and our resort stays. This is our second time using kimkim and we plan to use it in the future!

Hotel Reviews
Shana by the Beach Resort
Manuel Antonio
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sibū Boutique Hotel
Puntarenas
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arenal Country Inn
La Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Location
lol
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Crowne Plaza San Jose La Sabana by IHG
San José
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Catamaran Adventure with Snorkeling
Catamaran Adventure with Snorkeling
Manuel Antonio
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining
Selvatura Park Self-Guided Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining
Monteverde
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde
Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde
Monteverde
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal
EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sloth Trail Watching Tour
Sloth Trail Watching Tour
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall
Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Yuliana Valverde
Yuliana
Yuliana Valverde
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on May 07, 2026

Hello Helen,
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was truly a pleasure helping you and your family plan your Costa Rica adventure. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the destinations, activities, and resort stays, and that Costa Rica created such wonderful memories for your family.

It means a lot to know this was your second trip with Kimkim, and we are incredibly grateful for your trust and support. I would be delighted to assist you again in the future and help you discover even more of the beauty and hidden gems that Costa Rica has to offer.

Pura Vida!
Yuliana

Our First Visit to Costa Rica is Nothing but PURA VIDA
Costa Rica | Apr 21 - Apr 30, 2026

Jonathan
Jonathan S.
Harrison, NJ | Reviewed on May 01, 2026
This was our first trip to Costa Rica and KimKim created an amazing package that gave us a true, great taste of the country. My family and I (group of 6) visited Arenal, Monteverde and Manual Antonio. Each of these places gave a unique vibe and we enjoyed all of them. We experienced the torrential rains in Monteverde, which gave us a true experience of life in the cloud forest. We even experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in Manuel Antonio, which reminded us that Costa Rica is part of the... Read more

This was our first trip to Costa Rica and KimKim created an amazing package that gave us a true, great taste of the country. My family and I (group of 6) visited Arenal, Monteverde and Manual Antonio. Each of these places gave a unique vibe and we enjoyed all of them. We experienced the torrential rains in Monteverde, which gave us a true experience of life in the cloud forest. We even experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in Manuel Antonio, which reminded us that Costa Rica is part of the ring of fire.

The food was great all and all! The excursions were memorable, in particular the zip line over the cloud forest. We ended up seeing about 20 sloths and the elusive Quetzal (a male and a female), all thanks to the trained eyes of our guides.

This is our second time engaging KimKim and we are truly satisfied with the package and services. Special acknowledgments and thanks to Kat, Kate and Adam. They made our first visit to Costa Rica a great experience. Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel La Mariposa
Manuel Antonio

Amazing views. Best pool. Great restaurant. La Mariposa is a great hotel to end our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cloud Forest Lodge
Monteverde

The location of the Cloud Forest Lodge atop the cloud forest is simply spectacular. The view is breathtaking and staff were extremely personable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Dennis, Jose, Fernando, and Benjamin were so personable and each made our stay very memorable.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lomas del Volcán
Fortuna

Lomas provided the closest to a tree bungalow feel. Location at the base of Arenal Volcano is excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Nocturnal Rainforest Walk
Nocturnal Rainforest Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

The nocturnal walk is a must to see some of the Costa Rica animals in their natural habitat. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and had a great eye in spotting the animals. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Adam Gomez
Adam
Adam Gomez
Local specialist in kimkim HQ | Replied on May 01, 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m happy to hear your trip to Costa Rica was such a memorable experience for you and your family. 🙌

It sounds like you truly got a taste of everything—from the unique vibes of Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio to the adventure of zip lining and spotting wildlife, I know you wanted to see sloths and glad you got to see 20!!!! 🦥

I really appreciate your continued trust in kimkim, and I’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Kate as well.

Pura vida, and we’d love to help you plan your next adventure whenever you’re ready! 🤙

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