Costa Rica gives you access to a paradise if you are a bird watcher. You get to see over 850 species of migrant and resident birds all throughout the country. With such abundance of birds, it is obvious that there are many interesting bird watching sites you can visit. There are so many lodges that give you access to wonderful bird watching like:
- Savegre Lodge – located in Cerro de la Muerte – this is where you are almost guaranteed to see quetzal
- La Paloma Lodge – Drake Bay – you can see various different avian birds passing by as you sit on the cabin’s porch.
- Arenal Observatory Lodge – Arenal Volcano flanks
- La Selva Biological Station – located in the Powerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Aviarios del Caribe – Cahuita
- Selva Bananito Lodge – Cahuita
- Bosque Del Cabo – Osa Peninsula
- Lapa Rios – Osa Peninsula
- Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge – Golfo Dulce
- Laguna Del Lagarto Lodge – close to the border with Nicaragua
- Tiskita Lodge – close to the border with Panama
If you are a serious bird watcher and you want to have the perfect adventure, you will want to consider the preserves and parks that are perfect for the experienced professionals. These locations in Costa Rica include:
- Monteverd-Cloud Forest Biological Reserve – hummingbirds and Resplendent Quetzals
- Corcovado National Park – perfect for viewing scarlet macaws
- Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge – where youc an see jabiru storks and wading birds
- Wilson Botanical Gardens
- Las Cruces Biological Station – close to San Vito and a home for many flowering plants, being perfect for birds
- Pajaros Islands – Nicoya Gulf
- Guyabo Negritos – Nicoya Gulf
- Palo Verde National Park – perfect for viewing roseate spoonbills, storks, jacanas and ibises
- Tortugeuro National Park – green macaws
- Rincon De La Vieja National Park – curassows and parakeets
If you want to go for a more self-planned trip, you can easily consider a rafting trip down Bebedero and Corobici rivers close to Liberia. You also have some wonderful boat tours close to Tortuguero National Park. Alternatively, you can go for hikes in the cloud forests as various wonderful bird watching opportunities are available there.
If you are visiting San Jose, one of the best options you have is to go towards the University of Costa Rica. Alternatively, go for Parque del Este, which is located east of San Jose.
When you go on a Costa Rica bird watching trip, you can opt for the local tour agency with experience, Costa Rica Expeditions, or go for various international tour operators that are renowned from all around the world like Field Guides or Tropical Birding.
Resplendent Quetzal Viewing In Costa Rica
There are many bird watchers that will tell you that the resplendent quetzal is the most beautiful of all the birds that you can see around the world. Both Maya Indians and the Aztecs thought that the quetzal was protecting them when they were in battle. This majestic bird nests in cloud forests between the months of March and July. Then, they start looking for food in lower slopes.
Most of the quetzals can be seen at Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve but you can also see the birds in other places like the Chirripo National Park, Lost Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve and the Tapanti National Wildlife Refuge.
