Costa Rica Birding Tours & Itineraries

Explore 20 birding trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to Costa Rica.

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. Check out these itineraries to start planning your trip.

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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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Map of Self-Drive Birding Excursion in Costa Rica - 10 Days
Self-Drive Birding Excursion in Costa Rica - 10 Days

Costa Rica is a prime destination for birders. It's home to 850 different species including rare specimens like green parrots, scarlet macaws, resplendent quetzals, and motmots. This 10-day birding itinerary includes stops at the best locales in which to view Costs Rica's abundance of birds, including national parks, remote mountain ranges, and rivers near the Pacific coast.

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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 The Ultimate Costa Rican Birding Roadtrip - 11 Days
The Ultimate Costa Rican Birding Roadtrip - 11 Days

Costa Rica is a Mecca for bird lovers. Here there are around 850 species of not only endemic birds but also migratory birds that arrive from throughout the hemisphere. Over 11 days you'll view many of these exotic species as you travel to remote rainforests, national parks, biological research centers, and even birding hotspots on Costa Rica's stunning Pacific coast.

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Map of Ultimate Birding Road Trip in Costa Rica - 7 Days
Ultimate Birding Road Trip in Costa Rica - 7 Days

In a mere week you can see some of the most exotic birds in the entire world. The destination is Costa Rica, home to over 850 different species. On an active journey through rainforests and over mountains, you'll see many of them, including macaws, toucans, motmots, aracaris, and more.

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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. 

Enjoy your natural surroundings at a luxury eco-lodge in Costa Rica
Map of Wildlife Luxury Adventure on the Osa Peninsula - 4 Days
Wildlife Luxury Adventure on the Osa Peninsula - 4 Days

Snorkel, hike, and bird-watch by day, then sleep in elegant eco-lodges at night on this luxury four-day wildlife tour around Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. A naturalist guide will point out rare avian species during an evening hike, and then you'll explore the wilderness of Corcovado National Park on day two. Plunge into the pristine waters of the Isla del Caño Biological Reserve for a snorkeling or diving adventure to finish off the itinerary.

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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 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.

Explore the Hanging Bridges of Monteverde
Map of Monteverde Cloud Forest Adventure - 4 Days
Monteverde Cloud Forest Adventure - 4 Days

Vibrant birdlife, aerial thrills, delicious coffee, and chocolate are just a few highlights that await you on this exciting four-day journey around the Monteverde Cloud Forest. In addition to guided nature hikes, this well-rounded itinerary features a bird-watching tour, an excursion on horseback, a tour of a coffee farm, a visit to a chocolate processing center, and an exhilarating zip line adventure through the rainforest.

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Map of Ultimate Costa Rica Birding Adventure - 15 Days
Ultimate Costa Rica Birding Adventure - 15 Days

There are few nations on earth home to a greater variety of birds than Costa Rica. On this expedition, you'll visit the major ornithological regions of the country, from the coast to the rainforests to the high mountains and even volcanoes. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, you'll go off the beaten path to the furthest reaches of national parks where you can enjoy optimum birding from the best vantage points. 

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Map of Costa Rica Self-Drive Birding Adventure - 15 Days
Costa Rica Self-Drive Birding Adventure - 15 Days

The Central American nation of Costa Rica may be small, but it boasts a diverse amount of wildlife. There are 850 bird species here alone, and you can witness the most exotic specimens on a cross-country road trip. Over 15 days, you'll visit some of the most remote mountain regions flourishing with the rarest species including motmots, herons, hummingbirds, and the iconic scarlet macaw.

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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 Self-Drive Birding Tour of Costa Rica - 8 Days
Self-Drive Birding Tour of Costa Rica - 8 Days

Costa Rica is home to around 850 different bird species, making this small tropical country one of the best sites for birding in the world. This eight-day itinerary trades sunbathing for binoculars as you venture into the rainforest in search of toucans, herons, macaws, and more. You'll even have an opportunity to spot the rare and beautiful resplendent quetzal.

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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 Birding Road Trip in Paradise - 12 Days
Birding Road Trip in Paradise - 12 Days

One of the best places in the Americas to spot the widest variety of exotic birds is Costa Rica. This relatively small nation is home to some 850 species, including colorful motmots, parrots, toucans, and even the rare resplendent quetzal. This 12-day self-drive birding excursion will take you from the Pacific coast to the remote mountains and rainforests for the best  vantage points to witness the most marvelous specimens.

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Map of Ultimate Costa Rica Birding Road Trip - 16 Days
Ultimate Costa Rica Birding Road Trip - 16 Days

This 16-day itinerary is perfect for birding enthusiasts who also love a bit of tropical adventure. On a self-drive tour of Costa Rica, you'll be able to view many of the nation's 850 species of birds as you drive from the northern plains to the southern and central coasts. It's a wild road trip that features exotic birds by day and tropical eco-lodge accommodations by night.

The resplendent quetzal
Costa Rica Birdwatching Experience: Arenal, Monteverde & Tarcoles - 6 Days

Home to over 900 rare and resplendent species, Costa Rica is a paradise for bird lovers. Visit three distinct ecosystems and experience unforgettable guided birdwatching excursions on this 6-day itinerary. Hike past parrots and toucans in the volcanic jungles of Arenal, search for the iconic quetzal in the lush Monteverde Cloud Forest, then head to the coast to spot flocks of scarlet macaws in the biodiverse eden of Carara National Park.

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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 Exotic Birding Road Trip in Costa Rica - 9 Days
Exotic Birding Road Trip in Costa Rica - 9 Days

If you're the kind of traveler who likes to combine tropical R&R with unforgettable wildlife excursions, then Costa Rica is for you. This nine-day adventure allows you to view many of the nation's some 850 species of exotic birds, which includes colorful toucans, macaws, and hummingbirds. So grab your binoculars because you're off to the rainforests, mountains, and valleys of one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

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Map of Costa Rica Birding Road Trip - 14 Days
Costa Rica Birding Road Trip - 14 Days

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse nations in the world. Particularly, it's a haven for birders who travel here to catch glimpses of the 850 species that call this country home. On a 14-day tour, you'll visit the best national parks, protected reserves, and even biological research stations where you can view these magnificent specimens in their natural habitats.

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Map of Birding Self-Drive Adventure in Costa Rica - 13 Days
Birding Self-Drive Adventure in Costa Rica - 13 Days

There are few nations in the world in which you can see more bird species than Costa Rica. On a 13-day self-driving tour of this tropical paradise, you'll visit rainforests, beaches, mountains, and even scientific research stations in pursuit of the rarest specimens. This not only includes such colorful species as hummingbirds, toucans, and macaws but even the exotic resplendent quetzal.

Look for vibrantly hued birds on a birdwatching tour
Map of Costa Rica Nature and Birding Adventure - 13 Days
Costa Rica Nature and Birding Adventure - 13 Days

Costa Rica is a paradise for bird lovers. Over 850 different species exist in this small Central American nation, which accounts for 10% of the birds in the world. The birding opportunities here are limitless, and on this 13-day adventure you'll go on ornithological excursions in some of the most exotic locales in Costa Rica. 

Spot the great green macaw in the Maquenque Wildlife Refuge on this 10-day luxury tour
Map of Luxury Costa Rica Birding Getaway - 10 Days
Luxury Costa Rica Birding Getaway - 10 Days

Spot Costa Rica's most exotic avians on this luxury, 10-day adventure. The trip is packed with private bird-watching tours, hikes, and boat trips where you'll join naturalists to glimpse everything from toucans to resplendent quetzals and hummingbirds. Stay at the country's best birding lodges, nestled among the rainforests of San Gerardo de Dota, Turrialba, Sarapiquí, and Boca Tapada, where colorful avian species flutter among the treetops.

See spectacular Costa Rican birds such as scarlet macaws
Map of Luxury Birding Adventure in Costa Rica - 14 Days
Luxury Birding Adventure in Costa Rica - 14 Days

Encounter a kaleidoscope of exotic bird species on this luxury, two-week Costa Rica tour. The self-drive adventure takes you from the Central Valley's rainforests to the Pacific coast, with stays in chic eco-lodges along the way. You'll enjoy private bird-watching tours, hikes, and boat trips, spotting everything from hummingbirds to toucans and endangered scarlet macaws. Other wildlife highlights include bat tours, a crocodile safari, and visiting a sloth sanctuary.