Top 15 Birdwatching Tours in Costa Rica

1.Birdwatching Tour at Mistico Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 79 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66Our pick

Start at 6:00 am for a guided birding walk across Mistico Park’s hanging bridges. Guides such as Donald, Christian, Gabriel, and Indira have helped guests spot toucans, motmots, parrots, monkeys, vipers, frogs, and unusual insects. Expect about 2 to 2.5 hours on forest trails with up to eight people per guide.

“We had an amazing tour!! We would not have seen most of the birds & wildlife without our guide Gabriel- he is extremely knowledgeable about all the species of birds as well as the other wildlife, plants & trees, mushrooms, snakes, bugs etc. We also had the whole park nearly to ourselves for almost the whole tour. A few highlights were motmots, coati, spider monkeys were in the trees right over our heads, eyelash viper, and many many species of birds. We walked with pauses to look at various birds etc for about 3 hours. The paths were mostly smooth & easy to walk on. We walked about 8000 steps…”

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2.Monteverde Birdwatching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $80Best reviewed

Start at 7:00 a.m. for a four-hour walk through Curi-Cancha Reserve with a bilingual naturalist guide. Jason, Beto, Jacob, and Jesus have led outings here, using a high-definition spotting scope to reveal quetzals, toucans, hummingbirds, and forest life. The 2 to 3 km trails suit most people who can walk comfortably.

“Our guide is very passionate and very experienced. We saw a lots of varieties of birds. Really recommend!”

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3.Jaco Birdwatching and Photography with Sergio

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $101

Join Sergio for an early private birdwatching and photography outing from Jaco to Carara National Park and nearby habitats. Over roughly three hours, you may visit forest, river, shoreline, or village areas while Sergio spots and identifies birds, explains local ecology, and helps you take photos through his spotting scope. Park entry, transport, and guiding are included.

“Sergio is a bird lover extraordinaire! WE had a great time and saw a lot of new birds. Thanks for a great morning Sergio. And thanks for help with the photos.”

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4.Night Walk Experience at Natura Eco Park, (frogs snakes mammals insects birds)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $56

At 6:00 pm, your guide leads an easy two-hour walk through Arenal Natura Ecological Park near La Fortuna. Look for more than 20 frog species, red-eyed tree frogs, sloths, armadillos, snakes, insects, and night birds. Guides such as Noelia and Juan have a sharp eye for small creatures. Bottled water is included, but transport is not.

“Noelia was a great guide for this fun walk through the jungle. They have a little zoo which is cool. We saw lots of frogs and got some great photos.”

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5.ATV Zipline Tour from Tamarindo or Flamingo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 55 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $145

Combine an ATV ride through Guanacaste backroads with seven jungle ziplines, suspension bridges, and an optional tree climb. Guides such as Jason, Fernando, Cesar, and Alan have been praised for patient instruction and good humor. Hotel pickup is included from Tamarindo and Flamingo area locations, with fresh fruit and water provided.

“The start was a little confusing. I am not experienced at all. I thought I was riding with someone. Staff didn’t tell us what we needed to do at first. There was a big group who had just finished. The instructions for ATV were gone over really quickly. I didn’t know much about ATVing, so was nervous. I would have liked to know more about the terrain. I spent the first 1/2 of the ride scared we were going to do more than my experience. The ride back was great when I relaxed and realized I could trust the ATV and the terrain wouldn’t get harder than we had ridden.…”

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6.3 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

You’ll drive a single or double ATV through Guanacaste’s forest, farmland, rivers, and dusty back roads to Playa Mina, Pirate Beach, and Puerto Viejo near Conchal. Guides such as Roberto, Jason, and Mike are praised for safety and friendly help. Expect swimming stops, wildlife, and plenty of mud, but not ATV riding on the sand.

“Such a great trip. So many beautiful beaches and great ATVs. Great guide as well. Would recommend to everyone.”

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7.Flamingo Beach Full-Day Package Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · 2 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $48

Settle into a private beach setup on Playa Flamingo, choosing the south side near Coco Loco Restaurant or the north side beside Margaritaville Resort. Your package includes shaded cabanas, zero-gravity chairs, tables, towels, coolers with ice, bottled water, beer, cornhole, and speakers. Food and extra drinks can be ordered from Coco Loco.

“If you want a relaxing 0 hassle day at the beach, this is yoir one-stop shop! The man in charge is extremely friendly and knowledgable. The amenities were perfect and staff provided EXACTLY what we asked for in the cooler(waters and various drinks). Definitely worth it!”

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8.Monteverde Wildlife Walk & Hummingbird Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $45Cheapest here

Join George, Vinny, or Roy for a 2 to 2.5-hour guided walk through Monteverde’s cloud forest. Use a telescope to spot birds, plants, and mammals, then visit the Hummingbird Sanctuary. A Costa Rican snack and insurance are included, but reserve admission and private transport cost extra.

“I had the most amazing time with George of the Cloudforest. I’m a really big fan of birds and so is George, so we went on a quest to see the quetzal. And we succeeded! George speaks really good English, has a lot of knowledge of the nature and animals of the Cloudforest. I really recommend going on a guided tour with George!”

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9.Private Sailing Tour from Playa Flamingo – Explore Costa Rica’s Gold Coast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $180

Spend about four hours aboard Pegasus, a restored 52-foot French sailing yacht, with a private crew led by Rodrigo and colleagues. Cruise from Playa Flamingo toward Las Catalinas, stop for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and fishing, and enjoy tacos, fruit, drinks, and a possible sunset sail. Hotel pickup and drop-off cost extra.

“It was a great time, very exclusive. The crew was incredible and accommodating the food was outstanding. I would recommend it to everyone? It was a great voyage”

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10.Private Snorkeling Tour by boat in Flamingo Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Meet Captain Frank and the Pura Vida team at 8:00 am in Playa Flamingo, then board the 28-foot Beluga for two private snorkeling stops. Look for tropical fish, rays, turtles, dolphins, and possibly whales. Gear, fruit, guacamole, drinks, and lunch are included before returning around 11:30 am.

“We had a wonderful time with Frank and Carlos! They were knowledgeable about the fish and wildlife in the area and were patient and kind with our children. We went on a snorkeling adventure where we went to two separate spots and had a nice spread of food and drinks in between. Don't hesitate to book these guys!”

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11.Birdwatching Tour: unlock the wonder, whether beginner or advanced

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · from $175

Meet your naturalist guide at CASEM in Santa Elena for a private, leisurely birdwatching walk in Monteverde Reserve, Curi Cancha Reserve, or on the SkyWalk bridges. Guides such as Marcos and Felix focus on birds, plants, ecology, and sustainability, with time for questions. Bring water, closed shoes, and money for the trail entrance fee.

“Fabulous. We had a great trip and saw the amazing hummingbirds and the highlight actually stood underneath a tree where we photographed a quetzal.”

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12.Resplendent Quetzal-Tucans- Tropical Birdwatching Tour Monteverde

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $100

Start early with guides such as Olman or Jorge, then walk Ficus Trails and nearby Monteverde birding spots. A spotting scope, sharp ears, and local know-how help you find quetzals, toucans, hummingbirds, and other cloud-forest birds. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but binoculars and breakfast are not.

“Our tour guide Olman was very experienced and so friendly. He found our small group of 5, a quetzal where no other groups who were in the area saw one. We saw tons of other birds we wouldn't have seen on our own. Spent 1 hour near Stella's before going into the reserve and saw more birds there than we did in the park!”

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13.Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $50

Start at the Tamarindo National Park station for a two-hour boat trip through Las Baulas National Marine Park. Guides such as Juan Carlos, Moises, or Luis point out crocodiles, monkeys, birds, bats, iguanas, and mangrove plants. Bottled water, snacks, and free parking are included. Wildlife sightings vary, and monkeys may require a short walk.

“Juan Carlos was an amazing guide. I loved his passion and knowledge about mangroves. He made it clear that it wasn’t a zoo so there were no guarantees but we saw 3 crocodiles, a raccoon, 3 howler monkeys, loads of iguana, land crabs, 2 species of heron. It was a great morning”

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14.Slothies and Birds Sightseeing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Walk a level 2 km trail through La Fortuna’s secondary rainforest with guides such as Melanie, Jason, or Helen. Look for sloths in the canopy, identify birds and plants, and use a guide’s telescope for clearer views. Morning and afternoon departures, hotel transfers, and groups of up to 15 keep this outing simple and family-friendly.

“This is a great way to see sloths, learn about their environment and be educated in other animals found in the rainforest while walking on a level trail. Melanie was a great guide, informative and patient.”

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15.All Inclusive Beach Parties & Events on Flamingo Beach/Penca Beach/Concha Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 2 to 8 hours (approx.)

You choose the beach party plan, and Alvaro and his team handle the setup, food, drinks, and event details. Expect a private beach gathering at Playa Flamingo, Penca Beach, or Concha Beach, with lunch for each person and limited or unlimited alcoholic beverages depending on your package. Transportation is not included.

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