Bird Watching Tours
See The Bird Watching Gallery Below
In the central pacific of Costa Rica there are found some of the most attractive species of birds being some of them endemic to the pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and western Panama such as trogons, hummingbirds, tanagers, antbirds, wrens and flycatchers. Also the area has 2 species of toucans which catch always the attention of the tourists and then species like manakins, motmots or even owls can be spotted in the surroundings of the different places that we use to visit in the tours. The birdwatching tours that we offer to our customers are always private to guarantee the best experience and fill the expectations according to the kind of birds they are interested to watch and meet. We are patient and never rush in any of our tours. Birdwatching is one of our favorite hobbies so, We will enjoy this experience as much as you. Like in all our nature walks, the guides will use a spotting scope with high definition to make easier the observation of the types of birds and nature that we are going to seek out on the way. As well a Costa Rica´s Birds Field Guide will be taken for identification and better understanding. Finally, there are 4 specific hot spots where we do our tours between the areas of Tarcoles and Quepos where the species seen can vary from one place to another.
Carara National Park (Tarcoles area – 1.5 hours from Quepos)
First of all, this park is one of the most famous in Costa Rica when we talk about birds and it is a very important biological corridor located among the limit of the Dry Tropical Forest in the northwestern part of Costa Rica and the Humid Tropical Forest from the lowlands in the Central Pacific of the country. Here there is a great variety of species that come from small birds like Hummingbirds and Manakins to medium size like 4 species of Trogons and 2 of Motmots. Moreover, birds like the 2 species of Toucans found around this area can be easily seen and heard in all the park. Then, it is also very important to mention that in this area lives the second largest population of Scarlet Macaws reported in Costa Rica which are the main attraction for those who want to see these colorful birds in their wild. And, we have not mentioned the other birds’ species which are part of the very large list of more than 400 species reported in this part of the country. Also in the surroundings of Tarcoles town there are hidden some trees where some species of Owls usually sleep during the day, furthermore, all these things make to Carara National Park our first hot spot on list.- -$185 per person / minimum 2 people / max 6 people.
- -6 – 8 hours duration.
Esquipulas (Quepos´ hills – 40 minutes from Manuel Antonio)
This place is located between the lowlands of Quepos and the hills near to the mountains of Fila Chonta at 350 msnm (1100 ft above sea level). These characteristics make this area quite enjoyable alongside the Naranjo River and where its forested road make possible the sighting of different species of birds with a variation of habitat and height in comparison with the ones found near sea level. As a result, Toucans, Trogons, Parrots, are commonly seen here and others smaller like Manakins, Flycatchers, Tanagers and Wrens are usually spotted around. This place hides a very interesting species for birdlovers which is sometimes seen at the highest spot where we start the tour, this is the stunning Turquoise Cotinga. Also, Birds Of Prey such as Hawks and Kites can be seen in flight. However, remember the ones that I just mentioned here are some of the possible species to watch but in the field nature is unpredictable often blessing us with more than we expect. Keep positive!- -$100 per person / minimum 2 people / max 6 people.
- -4.5 hours duration.
Playa El Rey (Quepos – 30 minutes from Manuel Antonio)
Playa El Rey is the most southern limit of Manuel Antonio National Park and it is an open area surrounded by oil pam, rice plantations and marshes that during the rainy season get flooded becoming in a very important habitat for aquatic birds’ species like Herons, Egrets, Kingfishers and Ducks. Also the conditions provide habitat to small types of birds like Seedeaters, Grassquits, Flycatchers and other bigger such as Hawks, Caracaras and Kites are also found preying here. This is a flat road very easy to walk where in a couple hours we can increase the birds´ list and sometimes surprise us with species that could be rare migrants or hard to spot in other places. In addition, this hotspot could be done in combination with the mentioned before - Esquipulas - and finishing our trip here. NO CONCERNS!- -$90 per person / minimum 2 people / max 6 people.
- -3 – 4 hours duration.
Local Birding Trip (Manuel Antonio area)
- -$75 per person / minimum 2 people / max 6 people.
- -3.5 hours duration.
We will go birding in the surroundings of Manuel Antonio area in the early morning or late afternoon to seek for the more common but still beautiful species that are usually seen at the gardens of the hotels but, you do not know which species is or what its behavior is. This trip gives the customer a better idea of the common birds heard around and why they are just the clear sample of the great biodiversity that Manuel Antonio has. Toucans, Tanagers, Flycatchers, Wrens, Ant birds, Seedeaters, and even Macaws are just some of them. With luck we may see a Sloth just chilling in one of the trees while we look for birds, that wouldn’t be new for me. In this tour I would rather visit some areas outside the Manuel Antonio Park than to go inside of this.
*The prices of the tours are per person with a minimum of 2 people. In case if you are only 1 bird lover do not doubt to ask for a fair price because we understand sometimes not all people are interested in this high quality tours. Dont sorry for them, go Birdwatching with Mauro in Costa Rica
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- -Certified Guide (bilingual and highly knowledgeable)
- -HD Swarovski Telescope
- -Costa Rica´s Birds Field Guide
- -Water and Snacks
- -Typical costarican Lunch* (only Carara Park)
- -Cleaning Protocol
WHAT TO BRING?
- -Binoculars
- -Hiking boots or closed snickers
- -Light and comfortable clothes
- -Bug spray
- -Sunblock
- -Positive Vibes
SUGGESTION
- -REMEMBER THAT MOST BIRDS ARE MORE ACTIVE IN THE MORNING SO LETS WAKE UP EARLY!
