Best of Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s extraordinary diversity is shaped by elevation, rainfall, and geography. Our journey begins in the high Talamanca Mountains at Cerro de la Muerte, where cool temperate forests and páramo edges host many of the country’s most celebrated endemics. Here, hummingbirds glitter at garden feeders, mixed flocks move through moss-draped trees, and the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal remains one of the great prizes of Neotropical birding.

Descending toward the Pacific slope, we explore Carara National Park, a fascinating transition zone between dry and moist forest. This protected remnant of tall lowland rainforest shelters Scarlet Macaw, Baird’s Trogon, Riverside Wren, and a remarkable blend of northern and southern avifauna. A relaxed boat excursion along the Tarcoles River adds herons, kingfishers, shorebirds, and raptors to our growing list.

We then return to the cooler elevations of Bosque de Paz, where cloud forest specialties abound. Prong-billed Barbet, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Black-faced Solitaire, and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher typify these lush montane forests. Flowering shrubs attract hummingbirds in dazzling variety, and feeding flocks offer some of the most colorful encounters in Central America.

Our exploration concludes in the rich Caribbean lowlands of Sarapiquí and La Selva. Tall rainforest, riverine habitats, and forest edge create ideal conditions for trogons, toucans, manakins, antbirds, honeycreepers, and caciques. A boat trip along the Sarapiquí River reveals waterbirds, kingfishers, and possibly the extraordinary Sunbittern. With more than 900 species recorded in Costa Rica, this compact yet comprehensive tour offers an unforgettable cross-section of the country’s birds, mammals, and habitats.

Humid Caribbean lowland rainforest, Pacific slope moist forest, high-elevation cloud forest, volcanic cordilleras, and limited páramo. Elevational gradients and rainfall contrasts create distinct bird communities within short driving distances.