Costa Rica Birding & Wildlife Tour

Costa Rica is a place where the forest feels alive at every moment—where the air hums with insects, howler monkeys call from the canopy, and birds move through every layer of the landscape in dazzling variety. From lowland rainforest to misty cloud forest, this small country holds an extraordinary concentration of life.

This tour is designed to move slowly and intentionally through that diversity. Rather than rushing from site to site, we spend meaningful time in each region—learning the rhythms of the forest, observing behavior, and experiencing the deeper ecological story that connects it all.

Whether you are an experienced birder or simply someone drawn to wild places, this journey offers something far beyond a checklist.

A Complete Ecological Journey

Rather than focusing on a single region, this tour traces a path through Costa Rica’s most important habitats, offering a fuller understanding of the country’s biodiversity.

Small-Group, Personalized Experience

With a small group, we move more efficiently, spend more time on meaningful sightings, and create a more relaxed, connected atmosphere.

Lodges That Enhance the Experience

We stay in places where wildlife is not something you leave to find—it surrounds you. Many of the best moments happen right on the grounds.

Birding and Photography that Feels Natural, Not Rushed

We prioritize quality over quantity. The goal is not just to see birds, but to truly experience them.

Birding highlights may include Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Prong-billed Barbet, Scarlet & Great Green Macaws, Red-capped Manakin, Great Curassow, Yellow-throated & Keel-billed Toucans, Lesson’s Motmot, Baird’s Trogon, Ocellated & Bi-colored Antbirds, Snowcap, Coppery-headed Emerald, Mangrove Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, among many others.

Depending on timing and conditions, the journey may include other animals like Mantled Howler Monkey, Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey, Capuchin Monkey, Lesser Tamandua (anteater), Brown-throated Sloth, Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth, Central American Agouti, Red-eyed Tree Frog, Strawberry Dart Frog, Basalisk Lizard, and American Crocodile, among others.

All wildlife encounters emphasize behavior, habitat use, and quality viewing rather than brief sightings.

International travel inevitably carries an environmental footprint, and we believe it’s important to acknowledge and address that reality. For every tour we operate, Birding Man Wildlife Tours contributes 5% of trip proceeds to the Rick Steves’ Europe Climate Smart Fund, an innovative program that invests roughly $1 million annually in nonprofit initiatives focused on climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and community resilience in developing nations. Rather than relying on traditional carbon credit markets, this approach supports practical, on-the-ground solutions that help farmers, empower women, and strengthen climate resilience while advancing effective climate policy.

During the journey itself, guests also have the opportunity to interact with and support local Ticos who are directly supporting habitat restoration in the regions we visit. Beyond individual trips, our company donates 5% of annual profits to wildlife habitat conservation initiatives, helping protect the ecosystems and species that make these journeys possible. Our goal is simple: to ensure that travel not only inspires a deeper connection with nature, but also contributes meaningfully to its protection.

This is just one of many five-star experiences.
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Real experiences from recent Birding Man tours in Ecuador

Our February 2025 trip through many ecosystems of Costa Rica was replete with amazing wildlife and memorable interactions with locals. The 10-day trip totaled 298 species of birds, with 22 species of hummingbirds, Resplendent Quetzal and 4 additional trogon species, 4 species of toucans, and both Scarlet and Great Green Macaws! Check out the Final Trip Report.