Birdwatching in Costa Rica

Enjoy a morning coffee tour.

If you are up early this morning you can get some bird spotting in straight away. The Finca is home to a vast array of birdlife from pygmy owls to golden-browed chlorophonias. After breakfast, you will be driven to La Selva Biological Station near Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. The accommodation here is simple but in one of the most bio-diverse regions of the country, with a forest right outside the window.

In the company of a knowledgeable bilingual naturalist guide, enjoy a private two-hour tour of La Selva Biological Station, one of the world's most important sites for tropical ecosystem research and home to over 448 species of birds.

This morning travel to your specialist birding lodge in the Turrialba region, nestled in the verdant hills of the Central Volcanic Range.

We have left your time here free for you to go and explore from the lodge. There are many options to go birdwatching independently or hire one of the specialist guides (payable locally) and much will depend on your precise interest, the time of year and the conditions. The forest trails here are renowned in the birding world, and countless lesser-spotted birds can also be viewed from the observatory terrace.

Today you will be driven to the remote and tranquil cloudforest of San Gerardo de Dota.

Enjoy an early morning walk with an expert birding guide in search of San Gerardo's most famous year-round resident, the resplendent quetzal.

Second day exploring the cloudforest trails of San Gerardo. In addition to longer hikes in search of over 200 species of highland birds, you could hike to the Savegre waterfall, explore on horseback or try your hand at trout fishing.

A scenic drive of about four hours will take you to Puerto Jimenez, the gateway to the Osa Peninsula. Here, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your lodge.

Enjoy activities in the Osa Peninsula (payable locally). We recommend spending as much time as possible on the forest trails with the specialist guides to maximize your chances of spotting wildlife and birds.

Free time on the Osa Peninsula. In addition to wildlife walks and birdwatching, the lodge can also arrange horse riding, surf lessons, sea kayaking, and waterfall rappelling.

Group transfer to Puerto Jimenez for your domestic flight back to San José, followed by your international flight home.