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.

Costa Rica’s extraordinary biodiversity is shaped by the convergence of multiple ecosystems within a remarkably compact landscape. This journey moves intentionally through those transitions—from lowland rainforest to foothill forest, volcanic landscapes, and into the cool, misty cloud forest—revealing how geography and climate create one of the most dynamic wildlife experiences in the world.

The itinerary is paced around the natural rhythms of the tropics, with early mornings focused on peak bird and wildlife activity, followed by relaxed mid-day breaks and flexible afternoon exploration. Time in each location allows us to respond to weather, wildlife movement, and group energy, ensuring the experience never feels rushed.

Guests can expect a mix of gentle walks and moderate exploration across forest trails, lodge grounds, and scenic routes. Small group sizes allow for personalized guiding, extended wildlife encounters, and deeper interpretation focused on identification, behavior, and ecology.

Throughout the journey, we stay in carefully selected lodges where the experience begins just outside your door—places where toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, and other wildlife are part of the daily rhythm.

Costa Rica stands as one of the world’s great conservation success stories, and this tour explores that legacy in a meaningful way. By supporting conservation-focused lodges, protected areas, and local communities, this journey helps contribute to the preservation of critical habitats.

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.

Traveling Responsibly: Climate & Conservation Impact

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.