Costa Rica: A Birding Journey Across the Country
Updated: 7 days ago
September 27 - October 4, 2026
We have long known Costa Rica as a place of remarkable biodiversity, but our previous visit only offered a glimpse of what the country holds. Costa Rica wasn’t new to us, yet much of the route we explored on this trip was. This time, we came back with a different purpose: to experience firsthand the regions and birding sites that will shape our upcoming Costa Rica Grand Circuit tour.
Over eight days, we traveled from the Caribbean foothills and lowland rainforests of Sarapiquí to Arenal and Monteverde, continued to the Central Pacific, and eventually climbed into Costa Rica's highlands before returning to San José.
Along the way, the scenery—and the birds—seemed to change almost constantly.
DAY 1 — From San José to Sarapiquí
Our Costa Rica journey began after arriving in San José and heading toward Sarapiquí and the lush Caribbean side of the country. Rather than driving directly to our lodge, we followed the mountain route toward Cinchona.
Our first stop was La Paz Waterfall, an impressive roadside waterfall surrounded by dense tropical vegetation. It was an easy place to stop along the way and a beautiful introduction to the green, mountainous landscapes that would accompany us through much of the week.
Violet Sabrewing and San Fernando Waterfall ©Oscar Carmona
From there, we continued to Soda y Mirador Cinchona, a small roadside restaurant overlooking a forested canyon. What makes Cinchona particularly interesting for birders is the opportunity to watch birds from the restaurant's covered viewing deck, where feeders and flowering vegetation attract a variety of hummingbirds and other species.
It didn't take long for the birds to begin appearing. Among the highlights were White-bellied Mountain-gem, Violet Sabrewing, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, and Crimson-collared Tanager. We also encountered several North American migrants, including Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler, and Wilson's Warbler. It was a wonderful way to begin birding in Costa Rica; you can settle in with a cup of coffee or something to eat while watching birds move between the feeders and surrounding forest, with the steep, green canyon with a view of the San Fernando waterfall providing a spectacular backdrop.
We then continued toward the Caribbean lowlands and Selva Verde Lodge, our base for the night. Even from the road, there was plenty to see. Red-billed Pigeon, Collared Aracari, Yellow-throated Toucan, Montezuma Oropendola, Boat-billed Flycatcher, and Blue-black Grassquit were among the many birds we encountered as we made our way toward Sarapiquí.
Set within the tropical rainforest of the Sarapiquí region, Selva Verde provided our first real immersion into the lush lowland environment of Costa Rica's Caribbean slope. The property is surrounded by forest, with the Sarapiquí River running alongside it, giving the lodge a distinctly different feel from the higher-elevation landscapes we had traveled through earlier in the day.
DAY 2 — Exploring the Sarapiquí Lowlands
We began our first full day in Costa Rica exploring the tropical lowlands of Sarapiquí, an area known for its lush Caribbean rainforest and exceptional bird diversity.
After an early start, we spent some time around Selva Verde Lodge birding outside our room and at the hotel feeders before breakfast. Green Kingfisher, Long-billed Hermit, Purple-crowned Fairy, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Orange-billed Sparrow, White-vented Euphonia, and Shining, Red-legged, and Green Honeycreepers, were among the many species we encountered. It was an easy and productive start to what would become a very full day of birding.
La Selva Biological Station
As we made our way toward La Selva Biological Station, we began seeing another side of Costa Rica's fall migration. Looking overhead, we watched Mississippi Kites and Broad-winged Hawks riding the thermals, part of the seasonal movement of raptors making their way south through Central America. Meanwhile, the entrance road to the station produced plenty of activity of its own. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Fasciated Antshrike, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Bay Wren, and Gray-rumped Swift were among the resident species we encountered, while migrants included Red-eyed Vireo, Canada Warbler, Northern Yellow Warbler, Cliff Swallow, Northern Waterthrush, and Eastern Wood-Pewee.
We spent the remainder of the morning and early part of the afternoon at La Selva Biological Station. La Selva protects an extensive area of lowland tropical rainforest and is an important center for tropical research as well as an outstanding place for birding. A network of trails provides access to different parts of the forest, while more open areas around the station offer opportunities to watch birds moving along the forest edge and through the canopy.
One of the most memorable moments came when we heard Great Green Macaws nearby. Although we didn't see them, simply hearing this iconic species calling from the surrounding forest was a reminder that we were now birding in one of Costa Rica's important Caribbean lowland habitats. The birding continued with White-necked Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird, White-crowned Parrot, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Olive-backed Euphonia, White-browed Gnatcatcher, and Golden-hooded Tanager, among many others.
The Nest Nature Center
White-collared Manakin and Keel-billed Toucan ©Oscar Carmona
After leaving La Selva and having lunch, we continued to The Nest Nature Center. The Nest offered a very different experience from the extensive rainforest we had explored that morning. The property was once used for cattle and coffee production but is being transformed into habitat for birds and other wildlife. The center combines habitat restoration with ecotourism, birding and photography, lodging, and scientific research, using visitors like us as part of a model intended to support both conservation and the surrounding community.
Seeing that work firsthand added another dimension to our visit. This wasn't simply a place where birds happened to be found; it was an example of how land that had been altered for agriculture can be given another purpose, with habitat being restored while nature-based tourism helps provide an economic reason to protect it. Notable sightings here included White-collared Manakin, Barred Antshrike, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Gray Hawk, Keel-billed Toucan, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, and Orange-chinned Parakeet, along with several other species. The White-collared Manakin was particularly representative of the lowland forests we were exploring, while the combination of toucans, parrots, antshrikes, and smaller forest birds gave us another good cross-section of Caribbean lowland birdlife.
We arrived at Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs in the late afternoon. Set within spacious tropical grounds near Arenal Volcano, the resort would serve as our base for exploring the Arenal region the following day.
DAY 3 — Birding the Arenal Region
Our third day began early at Arenal Observatory Lodge, where forest, gardens, feeders, and views toward Arenal Volcano make for a spectacular setting for birding. Even before reaching the lodge, the morning was already producing birds. On our way to the Observatory, we encountered White-throated Magpie-Jay, Crested Guan, Crested Caracara, Brown Jay, and Gray-headed Chachalaca—a good indication that this was going to be another productive day. As we continued toward the lodge, Arenal Volcano and the surrounding forest provided an impressive backdrop for a very different day of birding from the Caribbean lowlands we had explored around Sarapiquí.
Arenal Observatory Lodge
Set within extensive forest at the base of Arenal Volcano, Arenal Observatory Lodge gave us access to a mixture of mature forest, forest edge, gardens, and more open areas. The combination of habitats made it possible to encounter an impressive variety of birds without traveling far, and we quickly began adding new species to the trip. Some of the highlights included Great Curassow, Short-billed Pigeon, Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, Green Hermit, Crowned Woodnymph, Streak-crowned Antvireo, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Spotted Antbird, Dull-mantled Antbird, Tawny-capped Euphonia, White-throated Shrike-Tanager, and Laughing Falcon.
Migration was still very evident here as well. Among the birds moving through the area were Swainson's Thrush, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, and Summer Tanager, adding another group of familiar North American migrants to the resident tropical species we were encountering. With so much activity around the lodge and surrounding forest, Arenal Observatory proved to be one of the more productive birding stops of the trip.
Purplish-backed Quail-Dove and Laughing Falcon ©Oscar Carmona
Arenal Peninsula
We then continued to the Arenal Peninsula, where the birding shifted again as we explored the forest along the peninsula and Lake Arenal. One of the most intriguing moments came not from a bird we saw, but from one we heard. Somewhere in the distance, an Ornate Hawk-Eagle called from the surrounding forest. We never managed to see it, but hearing one nearby added a little extra excitement to the day. The forest here also produced plenty of other birds. Pale-billed Woodpecker, Bare-crowned Antbird, Great Antshrike, Broad-billed Motmot, Russet Antshrike, Nightingale Wren, Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner, Thicket Antpitta, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, and Gartered Violaceous Trogon were among the highlights, along with many other notable species.
DAY 4 — From Arenal to Monteverde and the Pacific
Before leaving the Arenal region, we spent the early morning birding the grounds of Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs. The resort's spacious property turned out to be a productive place to bird in its own right. Tropical gardens, scattered trees, open areas, ponds, and surrounding vegetation created a variety of habitats that could be explored simply by walking around the property—one of the things we appreciated about staying here.
Our morning produced Muscovy Duck, Hoffmann's Woodpecker, Red-lored Amazon, Bright-rumped Attila, Lesser Greenlet, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Great Curassow, Yellow-headed Caracara, Collared Aracari, Black-cowled Oriole, Keel-billed Toucan, Bat Falcon and Cinnamon-bellied, Buff-throated, and Black-headed Saltators, among others. The previous evening, we had also encountered a Russet-naped Wood-Rail on the grounds.
On the Road to Monteverde
We left Arenal behind and began the drive toward Monteverde. As had already become a pattern during the trip, the drive itself offered plenty of opportunities to keep birding – adding some new species to our list: White Hawk, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, and Anhinga. The journey also took us through another noticeable transition in landscape. As we made our way toward Monteverde, the warmer forests around Arenal gradually gave way to the cooler, higher-elevation environment of Costa Rica's mountains.
White Hawk and Fasciated Tiger-Heron ©Oscar Carmona
Curi-Cancha Reserve
We reached Curi-Cancha Reserve around midday and set out to explore the trails. Curi-Cancha protects a mixture of mature and secondary forest along with more open areas, creating habitat for many of the birds associated with the Monteverde highlands. Here, we heard Long-tailed Manakin and encountered Lesser Violetear, Cabanis's Wren, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Mistletoe Tyrannulet, Yellowish Flycatcher, Slate-throated Redstart, Lesser Greenlet, and White-naped Brushfinch, among others.
Leaving Monteverde, we began the long descent toward Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast, moving from the cool, misty highlands toward the warmer tropical landscapes around Tárcoles. We arrived at Tárcoles Birding Hotel in the evening and settled in for the night before an early start the following morning.
DAY 5 — Mangroves, Rainforest & Into the Highlands
We started early, birding the grounds around Tárcoles Birding Hotel before heading out for the morning. Even before leaving the property, the day was off to a colorful start. Scarlet Macaws were among the highlights, along with Turquoise-browed Motmot, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Streak-backed Oriole, Stripe-headed Sparrow, and Rufous-backed Wren. Scarlet Macaws would become a familiar sight during our time around Tárcoles, their unmistakable calls often announcing their presence before we spotted them flying overhead.
Birding the Tárcoles River
From the hotel, we headed out for a morning boat tour on the Tárcoles River and surrounding mangroves. Birding from the water offered a completely different perspective from anything we had experienced earlier in the trip. As we moved between the river and mangrove habitat, we encountered birds associated with wetlands, mudflats, mangroves, and the nearby Pacific coast.
Among the many species we saw were Costa Rican Swift, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Mangrove Hummingbird, Panama Flycatcher, Double-striped Thick-knee, Southern Lapwing, Northern Jacana, Wood Stork, Scrub Greenlet, Collared Plover, Magnificent Frigatebird, Boat-billed Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Mangrove Vireo, and Yellow-naped Amazon. The Mangrove Hummingbird was an especially appropriate bird to find here. Closely associated with Costa Rica's Pacific mangroves, it was one of those species that connected directly with the habitat we had come to explore.
Scarlet Macaws and Panama Flycatcher ©Oscar Carmona
Carara National Park
After leaving the river, we continued to Carara National Park for a very different morning of birding. Carara sits in an interesting transition zone between the drier forests of Costa Rica's northwest and the wetter tropical forests farther south along the Pacific coast. That meeting of different forest types helps create an exceptionally diverse environment for birds, and stepping onto the trails felt very different from the open river and mangrove habitats we had just left behind. Here, birding became much more about slowing down and working the forest—listening for calls, watching the understory, and looking carefully for movement among the dense vegetation.
Our efforts produced some excellent birds. We encountered Common Squirrel Cuckoo, Blue-vented Hummingbird, Dot-winged Antwren, Riverside Wren, Stripe-throated Hermit, Double-toothed Kite, White-whiskered Puffbird, Streak-chested Antpitta, Orange-collared Manakin, Black-hooded Antshrike, Velvety Manakin, Rufous Piha, Red-capped Manakin, and Blue-throated Goldentail, among many others.
White-whiskered Puffbird and Double-toothed Kite ©Oscar Carmona
After our time at Carara, we returned to the Tárcoles area and began the journey toward Savegre. As we made our way out of the area, we added Black-headed Trogon and Red-crowned Woodpecker. From there, the road began climbing into the mountains, and the warm landscapes of the Central Pacific gradually gave way to cooler highland scenery. It was another dramatic transition—and by the end of the day, we would find ourselves in an environment that felt completely different from the mangroves and rainforest where our morning had begun.
DAY 6 — Quetzals & the High Mountains of Costa Rica
We began the morning in the Savegre Valley early, heading to Quetzal's Perch with one very special bird in mind: the Resplendent Quetzal. It didn't take long before we watched one of Costa Rica's most iconic birds. Seeing a Resplendent Quetzal in the cool mountain forests of the Talamanca highlands was a memorable way to begin the day. The Savegre area is particularly well known for quetzals, which are closely associated with the highland forest and the fruiting avocado trees found throughout the valley.
Birding Savegre & the Los Santos Forest
After our time with the quetzals, we returned to Savegre Hotel and the surrounding Reserva Forestal Los Santos, where we spent the rest of the morning exploring the high-elevation habitat. The landscape here felt distinctly different from anywhere else we had birded during the week. Cool mountain air, forested slopes, moss-covered trees, gardens, and dense highland vegetation surrounded us, and the change in elevation brought with it an almost entirely different community of birds.
The birding was excellent. Hummingbirds included Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, White-throated Mountain-gem, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Lesser Violetear, and Talamanca Hummingbird, while the surrounding forest produced Collared Trogon, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ochraceous Wren, Barred Becard, and Black-faced Solitaire. Color seemed to be everywhere. Elegant Euphonia, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Flame-throated Warbler, Collared Redstart, Silver-throated Tanager, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Flame-colored Tanager, and Yellow-thighed Brushfinch were among the many other species we encountered.
Before leaving the highlands, we made a special drive to La Cima in search of one particular bird—the Volcano Junco. As we climbed higher, the forest became lower and more open, reflecting the harsher conditions of Costa Rica's highest elevations. Despite the rainy and foggy conditions, we managed to see two Volcano Juncos. With that success, we continued our high‑elevation birding with one final stop before beginning the drive back to San José: Paraíso Quetzal Lodge.
Paraíso Quetzal Lodge
Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird ©Oscar Carmona
Situated at approximately 8,500 feet in the cloud forest of Cerro Buena Vista, the lodge protects an 80-hectare private reserve of high-elevation forest. Ancient oaks covered in mosses and epiphytes characterize the forest, while gardens around the lodge attract hummingbirds and other mountain species. It proved to be an excellent place to finish our day in the highlands.
Around the lodge and restaurant feeders we encountered two additional species of high elevation hummingbirds: Fiery-throated and Volcano. Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Large-footed Finch, and Slaty Flowerpiercer were among the other species we found before it was finally time to put the binoculars away and begin our drive toward San José. The setting made a fitting final stop. From the Resplendent Quetzal that started our morning to the hummingbirds around Paraíso Quetzal that ended it, Day 6 had been almost entirely about the birds of Costa Rica's highlands.
DAY 7 — El Copal & One More Day in the Field
Although we were nearing the end of our scouting trip, we still had one full day of birding ahead of us. Our main destination was El Copal, but—as had happened so often during the week—the journey there became part of the birding. One of our first stops was Parque de Paraíso, where we had one of those wonderfully unexpected sightings that can become a favorite memory of a trip. Tucked away in the park were two Tropical Screech-Owls—a pair. After a week filled with colorful hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans, manakins, and other tropical specialties, finding the two little owls together was something completely different—and absolutely worth the stop.
Our main destination for the day was El Copal, where we once again found ourselves surrounded by lush forest. The birding here had a different feel from many of the places we had visited earlier in the week. After the high-elevation forests of Savegre and Cerro de la Muerte the previous day, we were back in a greener, warmer environment where forest and foothill species dominated the morning.
One bird in particular was high on our list here—the Snowcap. This tiny hummingbird is one of Costa Rica's most distinctive species, and seeing it was one of the highlights of our visit – and it wasn't alone. Violet-headed Hummingbird, Brown Violetear, Green Thorntail, Zeledon's Antbird, White-ruffed Manakin, Black-and-yellow Tanager, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Gray-headed Kite, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Carmiol's Tanager, Emerald Tanager, and Buff-throated Saltator were among the many other species we encountered. The combination of hummingbirds, antbirds, manakins, tanagers, and forest birds made El Copal an especially productive final destination.
Eventually, it was time to leave El Copal and begin making our way back toward San José—but the birding wasn't finished. We continued stopping and watching for birds along the way, adding Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Green Ibis, Garden Emerald, Short-tailed Hawk, Giant Cowbird, Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow, and White-tailed Kite.
Migrants were still moving through as well, bringing us back to a theme that had followed us since the beginning of the trip. From the warblers at Cinchona and raptors riding the thermals over Sarapiquí to the migrants encountered around Arenal and during our final drive, signs of fall migration had been woven throughout our week in Costa Rica.
DAY 8 — One Last Morning of Birding
After spending our final two nights at Hotel Bougainvillea, it was time to head home—but there was still time for one last morning in the field. We woke up early and were outside at first light, taking advantage of the quiet morning hours to bird the hotel grounds before breakfast and our flight home.
Birding the Gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea
The grounds of Hotel Bougainvillea were beautiful and turned out to be much more than simply a convenient place to stay near San José. Extensive tropical gardens surround the hotel, with mature trees, flowering plants, open lawns, and dense pockets of vegetation creating plenty of places for birds to feed and shelter. After a week spent visiting reserves, national parks, mountain forests, mangroves, and rainforest, it was nice to finish the trip simply wandering through the gardens with our binoculars.
One of the best surprises was a Mottled Owl, an especially nice bird to add on our final day. We also found Cinnamon Hummingbird, Blue-throated Goldentail, Chestnut-capped Warbler, Lesson's Motmot, Lineated Woodpecker, and White-eared Ground-Sparrow, along with several other species moving through the gardens. It was a relaxed final morning, but also a fitting reminder that in Costa Rica, good birding can be found almost anywhere—even on the grounds of a hotel in the middle of the Central Valley.
Chestnut-capped Warbler and White-eared Ground-Sparrow ©Oscar Carmona
Eventually, it was time to put away the binoculars, finish packing, and make our way to the airport. Over eight days, we experienced Resplendent Quetzals in the highlands, Scarlet Macaws along the Pacific coast, hummingbirds at nearly every elevation, migrating passerines and raptors moving south, and countless forest birds in between. Just as importantly, we experienced the roads, lodges, reserves, birding locations, and transitions between these regions firsthand. Some places confirmed what we expected. Others surprised us. A few plans changed once we were on the ground—and some of those changes led to memorable discoveries of their own.
What We Learned From Scouting Costa Rica
As often happens once you are on the ground, our itinerary evolved throughout the trip. Weather, road conditions, timing, and what we learned along the way occasionally shifted our plans—and sometimes led us to places we hadn’t originally expected to go. That’s part of the value of exploration: experiencing a destination firsthand and understanding what works best in practice.
Our eight‑day journey also moved at a much quicker pace than the scheduled 11‑day Costa Rica Grand Birding Circuit Tour. The scheduled tour will allow more time to enjoy the birding, landscapes, and destinations along the route. Most importantly, this scouting trip gave us a clearer sense of how we want the journey to flow—and how to balance ambitious birding with enough time to appreciate the remarkable places we are traveling through.
The experience also reinforced something that has always been important to us: the best birding trips are shaped not just by the species we find, but by the people, places, and moments that surround them. Time spent with our local guides offered insight into Costa Rica’s history, traditions, food, landscapes, conservation efforts, and everyday life. Those conversations added depth and context to the places we visited and are an essential part of the kind of experience we want our tours to provide.
In the end, the trip accomplished exactly what we hoped it would: it gave us a deeper understanding of the route, the regions, and the rhythm of travel in Costa Rica. More importantly, it reminded us that great birding journeys are shaped not only by the species we find, but by the people, landscapes, and stories that bring each place to life.
PHOTO GALLERY
Black-headed Trogon Collared Redstart Black-faced Solitaire Sulphur-winged Parakeets Yellow-thighed Brushfinch White-throated Mountain-gem Talamanca Hummingbird White-fronted Nunbird Lesson's Motmot Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher White-ruffed Manakin Streak-crowned Antvireo Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher Crimson-collared Tanager Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
All Photos ©Oscar Carmona
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From colorful hummingbirds and Resplendent Quetzals to toucans, tanagers, and countless surprises along the way, Costa Rica is a destination that keeps you looking for what might appear next.
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