Explore Costa Rica’s incredible bird life on this privately guided birding tour, designed for birders looking to maximize species counts and visit remote locations. Led by an expert birding guide, this tour visits biological stations and key birding hotspots across the country, covering a variety of life zones and habitats—from lowland rainforests and cloud forests to dry tropical forests and wetlands. By strategically exploring diverse ecosystems, you’ll have the opportunity to encounter a vast array of species, including regional endemics and elusive rarities. This tour offers an immersive and rewarding birding experience in one of the world's most biodiverse destinations.
What's Included in Costa Rica Biological Stations Birding Tour Tour?
Independent Tour with Local Guides
$$$
Standard Package
An Independent Birding Tour offers a flexible and budget-friendly way to explore Costa Rica’s incredible birdlife at your own pace. Designed for travelers who enjoy a mix of guided excursions and independent exploration, this option provides a well-structured birding experience without the added cost of a private, full-time guide.
Features and Inclusions
‘Meet & Greet’: Your private driver meets you at your arrival airport.
Airport pick up: Included
Guide Services: For scheduled sessions, local birding or naturalist guide
Birding Flexibility: Combination of scheduled sessions and “on your own”
Transportation: Air-conditioned van, private driver
Meals: Breakfast only, unless the lodge includes meals
Species Observation: At scheduled locations & lodge
Official Checklist: Not Included
Daily Species Recap: Not Included
In-country Assistance: Included, 24/7
Ideal for
Budget-conscious travelers
Those who prefer more downtime on their own
Guests traveling with non-birding companions who may want to mix in general activities.
Privately Guided Tour
$$$$
All-inclusive Package
A Privately Guided Birding Tour offers a comprehensive and immersive birdwatching experience. Your expert guide accompanies you from arrival to departure, providing continuous birding opportunities at hotels, parks, reserves, and hidden local spots known only to experienced guides. You can expect to see at least 50% more species than on an independent tour. The flexibility to make impromptu stops, and pivot based on weather and bird activity ensures you maximize sightings.
Features and Inclusions
‘Meet & Greet’: Your private guide meets you at your arrival airport.
Airport pick up: Included
Guide Services: Full-time expert birding guide
Birding Flexibility: Unlimited, including impromptu stops
Transportation: Private vehicle
Meals: All meals included, more flexibility for top local dining
Species Observation: Up to 50% more species observed
Official Checklist: Included
Daily Species Recap: Included
In-country Assistance: Included
Ideal for
Serious birders aiming to maximize species sightings
Target list birders in need of specific species
Those seeking a comprehensive, all-inclusive experience
Photographers needing flexibility and local expertise for optimal shooting conditions
First-time visitors wanting constant expert guidance throughout their trip
Birders interested in visiting off-the-beaten-path locations
Travelers who prefer local experiences with expert guidance
Day 1: Arrival and Guanacaste Lowlands
Welcome to Costa Rica! Your birding adventure begins as you arrive at Liberia International Airport (LIR), where your private guide will greet you. After a short transfer to Bagaces, you’ll check into the scenic Hacienda La Pacifica, nestled in the tropical dry forest of Guanacaste. Spend your first afternoon exploring the hotel grounds with your private guide, and be introduced to the bird life of the tropics in the property’s lush gardens and forest edges.
Begin your day with an exciting private boat tour on the Rio Bebedero, where you’ll glide through mangroves and waterways teeming with birdlife. Watch for Roseate Spoonbills, Herons, Kingfishers and more. In the afternoon, visit the spectacular Palo Verde National Park, a wetland sanctuary where you might spot the elusive Jabiru among thousands of waterbirds that often congregate in this important ecosystem.
After breakfast, travel with your guide to Sarapiqui in the Caribbean lowlands. En route, stop at the famous Cinchona Feeders, a perfect spot to observe hummingbirds and the striking Emerald Toucanet up close. By afternoon, you’ll arrive at the renowned La Selva Biological Station, a premier tropical research center. Explore the grounds with your guide, looking for the top species of this lush region.
Dedicate a full day to exploring La Selva’s extensive trail system with your private guide. This protected rainforest harbors over 400+ bird species, including the Great Green Macaw and the striking Snowy Cotinga. Wander through primary forest, secondary growth, and along river edges, each habitat offering unique bird-watching opportunities in one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse regions.
Journey from the lowland rainforest to the misty highlands of the Talamanca Mountains. En route, visit Cope’s Gardens, a private garden with excellent birding and wildlife viewing. Next you’ll leave the Caribbean behind and ascend to the highlands to explore the unique páramo ecosystem. Look for the Volcano Junco and Timberline Wren. In the afternoon, arrive at the breathtaking Savegre Lodge, nestled in a cloud forest valley. Spend the afternoon exploring the lodge’s gardens with your guide, watching for hummingbirds, tanagers, and highland endemics.
Start your day with a visit to Batsu Gardens, a birder’s paradise designed to attract cloud forest specialties. The main highlight of today is searching for the resplendent Quetzal, considered one of the world’s most beautiful birds, in the Savegre Lodge Private Reserve. Your expert guide will help locate this magnificent species among the misty oak forests, along with other cloud forest specialties like the Long Tailed Silky Flycatcher, Fiery Throated Hummingbird and more.
Travel south with your guide to San Vito, an area known for its unique bird species near the Panama border. Check into the Las Cruces Biological Station, a research facility surrounded by tropical gardens and forest patches. Spend the afternoon exploring the station grounds with your guide, looking for border specialties. This area is excellent for colorful tanagers and more.
Spend a full day exploring Las Cruces and the adjacent Wilson’s Botanical Gardens, one of the most diverse tropical gardens in the world. The mix of manicured gardens and forest patches attracts an incredible variety of birds, including the Charming Hummingbird and the Speckled Tanager. Your guide will help you spot species that are difficult to find elsewhere in Costa Rica.
Transfer with your guide to Rivas, a beautiful area in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains. Check into the charming Hotel de Montaña El Pelicano, surrounded by coffee plantations and forest patches. Spend the afternoon birding the hotel grounds and nearby areas, looking for the top species of this mid-elevation habitat.
Travel with your guide to the Central Pacific region, stopping at Villa Tica for excellent birding opportunities along the way. By afternoon, you’ll arrive at Nativa Reserve near Tarcoles, a private reserve protecting important Pacific lowland forest. Explore the grounds with your guide, watching for the Scarlet Macaw, Fiery-billed Aracari, and numerous other species that thrive in this tropical dry forest ecosystem.
On your final full day of birding, visit the spectacular Carara National Park, where the dry forest of the north meets the wet forest of the south, creating a unique biodiversity hotspot. Later, enjoy a boat tour on the Tarcoles River estuary, where you’ll observe water birds, crocodiles, and the magnificent Scarlet Macaws flying overhead against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and Carara National Park.
Your incredible Costa Rica birding adventure comes to an end today. Depending on your flight time, you might have an opportunity for one last morning of birding before your guide transfers you to the airport for your departure flight.
"Amazing, could not have been better!"
When we booked this we knew nothing about the company and we were a little nervous about what we would be getting. We put some preliminary questions, like “will meals be a fixed menu, or free choice a la carte”. We also worried about whether the guide would be personable, knowledgeable, and with good language ability, etc.
It turned out that not only were these worries unfounded, but we had lucked into a far more generous, efficient, knowledgeable, and exciting company than we could have possibly imagined.
Every last part of this tour was super, and we don’t say that lightly. To begin, of course, the locations were mind blowing, and the birding was great. But then there was the personality, knowledge, and language ability of our guide and of the driver – both great people, and we fell in love with them immediately. And they and the company behind them had really thought of everything. There was never the slightest glitch or problem. To boot, the accommodations were to us first rate, and the food wonderful, and basically unlimited. The van we moved about in was brand new. The information we were provided with about the country, about where we were going, what we were doing, and later, about what birds we had seen, was all detailed, clear, and complete.
Now, as we are going through our photos, we are impressed over again with every single last bit of this experience. It’s a cliché to say we could not recommend Costa Rica Focus highly enough, but that is exactly the case.
A special parting word about our guide, Alex C. Costa Rica Focus has many guides, but of course we only know about Alex. If in life you can meet a kung fu master or a violin master, or someone who has mastered any field, then it is inspiring. Alex is one of these. He could look in a forest and identify birds we could not even see, often even when he indicated them with his laser pointer. In addition he had a great knowledge of Costa Rican history, geography, culture, and politics, that he shared with great clarity. If Alex is any indication, then the guide you get with Costa Rica Focus is going to be good.
"I would recommend this company to all"
This company designed a fabulous Costa Rica bird trip. There were a variety of habitats to maximize the types of birds we saw. The accommodations were first rate. The hired drivers and bird guides were dependable and first rate. We enjoyed the food everywhere we went. The company stayed in touch and were able to make minor adjustments if necessary. We were very pleased with the trip.
"An amazing birding experience in Costa Rica"
Costa Rica Focus went above & beyond in every way. From the very beginning when I had a few questions before I made my decision to book this trip to the end in traveling home. I felt very safe because we had the ability to be in constant contact with the team if we needed them.
The trip itself was just amazing! I added over 200 new life birds to my list! The scenery was spectacular! Our guide was so helpful, knowledgeable & personable. Each lodge was unique in it’s own way; from larger to quite small. The staff at each place were super. Food was plentiful & tasty. Different birds and experiences at each location. I don’t think a single thing could be improved upon. Thanks again for a most memorable experience!
"Amazing Experience"
My wife and I joined a small group, we were 5 in total. Everything was perfectly well organized. Our guide, Minor, was fantastic. He was always ready to help and accomodate us. He also has a fantastic knowledge of wildlife and where to find it. We went to the mountains, Tortuguero in the rain forest and to the slopes of the Arenal volcano. Exotic places, fantastic views and hundreds of species of birds. I would recommend Costa Rica focus without hesitation.
"Knowledgeable and great local connections"
Joan and company were excellent by being so responsive, attentive, cooperative with making adjustments and extremely helpful at navigating our way around the country of Costa Rica. They had great connections with the locals and we got to know the people as well as the wildlife and the countryside. Our nature guides were top notch as well as our drivers. Very knowledgeable and patient (traffic and roads can be crazy at times). We always felt remembered each day as they checked in with us and them with us. The app is fantastic for knowing what was up each day. Highly recommend!
"A Quest for the Agami Heron"
I went on the A Quest for the Agami Heron in June of 2023 and have meant to write a review since then. I am going with better late than never. My cousin talked me into going with her and insisted I take her camera. I could not get a picture for three days that I could even see but on the third day magic happened and my life changed. From the moment I walked out of the airport to the moment they dropped me back off everything was taken care of. Our guide, Minor, and our driver, Victor, took care of us and were an amazing team to get us to very unique hotels, wonderful restaurants and to birds I never knew existed. Resplendent Quetzels, Sunbitterns, and Agami Herons were some of my favorites. We saw baby turtles released into the sea and all cried together when they made it. We built friendships through our experiences that were real and lead to another one this summer and a reserved one for next year. I highly recommend Costa Rica Focus. 5+ out of 5 stars.
"A fantastic trip to Ecuador"
I’ve just returned from a fantastic 11 days’ birding in Ecuador organised by Costa Rica Focus and I couldn’t be happier. Having used them last year, I knew what to expect and they didn’t let me down. Their attention to detail is incredible and everything went exactly to plan from the moment I was greeted at Quito airport.
But what makes them special is their careful choice of guides. Both Daniel and Ivan were outstanding and helped me to see and photograph more than 300 birds, most of them lifers. Their incredible knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm made all the difference. Toucans, hawks, cock of the rock, umbrella bird, oilbird and loads of hummingbirds – they got me up close and personal to them all.
I have no hesitation in recommending Costa Rica Focus and I look forward to my next adventure with this great company.
"“Off the beaten track” excellent trip that lived up to its name."
3rd trip with this company. Alex was an excellent guide/driver and the itinerary well organized and unique. Some locations family owned with breathtaking views, wonderful accommodation and home cooked meals. Saw 214 species of birds with 90 % “lifers”. Was a fusion of photography and forest birding. Have to admit that as a prairie person my body ached after hiking up and down slippery paths and staircases. CR is beautiful with waterfalls, lush vegetation and mountains!
We crossed the country from SanJose to the Pacific Ocean, over the highest peaks and to the southern tropical areas with stops at local restaurants and locations where we saw species rarely seen. The meals were healthy and typically CR. Given that this is nesting season without the migrant birds, Alex and the experienced birders in our small group found many unique species. It was a good learning experience for myself as I’m more of a photographer. Would highly recommend this tour and I will certainly continue to travel with Costa Rica focus.
