Experience Costa Rica’s remarkable birdlife on this independent birding tour, perfect for birders seeking a balance of expert guidance and personal exploration. We take care of all accommodations, transportation, and privately guided birding sessions, ensuring access to premier birding locations while allowing plenty of time for you to discover at your own pace. This thoughtfully designed itinerary spans five distinct life zones, maximizing your chances of encountering an incredible variety of species. Whether you're searching for Resplendent Quetzals, dazzling hummingbirds, vibrant tanagers, or iconic toucans, this adventure offers exceptional birding opportunities at every turn.
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: Welcome to Costa Rica
Arrive in San José, where your birding journey begins. Your private driver meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring the lush gardens, which provide a perfect introduction to Costa Rica’s birdlife. Look for vibrant tanagers, hummingbirds, and perhaps the striking Blue-crowned Motmot.
Depart for the Central Pacific, where mangroves, wetlands, and dry forest habitats converge. In the afternoon, embark on a private boat tour of the Tárcoles River, home to a stunning variety of birds, including the massive American Pygmy Kingfisher and the unmistakable Scarlet Macaw. Keep an eye out for crocodiles basking on the riverbanks. Your private birding guide will help you spot all the top species.
Explore Carara National Park, a transition zone between dry and wet forests, making it one of the most biodiverse birding hotspots in the country. Your private birding guide will help you spot trogons, antbirds, and other forest specialists. Spend the afternoon birding on the lodge grounds, where you may see parakeets, manakins, and toucans and of course the Scarlet Macaw.
Travel into the Tilarán Mountains, where cloud forests dominate the landscape. After checking into your hotel, enjoy an afternoon exploring the lodge’s gardens and trails. The cool mountain air and moss-draped trees create a mystical atmosphere, perfect for spotting hummingbirds and mixed flocks.
Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest & Curi-Cancha Reserve
Spend the day in Monteverde’s legendary cloud forests, where your local private birding guide will help you find some of the region’s most sought-after species. This is one of the best places to seek the Resplendent Quetzal, as well as a variety of tanagers, hummingbirds, and woodcreepers.
Enjoy a scenic journey from Monteverde to Arenal, crossing Lake Arenal by boat (shared transfer) for spectacular views of the volcano. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and explore the extensive trails at your own pace. Look for toucans, trogons, and possibly a Great Curassow along the way.
Day 7: Full-Day Birding at Arenal Observatory Lodge
A full day of private birding in the diverse habitats surrounding the lodge. Your guide will help you locate everything from motmots and manakins to hawks and tanagers. With luck, you may spot the elusive Black-and-white Owl in the evening. Your private guide is with you for the day, making the most of exploring the trails, gardens, and observation deck.
On the way to Sarapiquí, stop at the Cinchona hummingbird feeders, where dazzling species like the Violet Sabrewing and Coppery-headed Emerald can be seen up close. Your driver waits for you as you spend time at the feeders and trails. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon and explore the gardens, home to a wide variety of lowland birds.
Day 9: La Selva Biological Station & Cope’s Gardens
Today it’s a private birding tour of the La Selva Biological Station, a premier research site with incredible bird diversity. Your guide will help you find trogons, puffbirds, and perhaps the striking Snowy Cotinga. La Selva is excellent for mammals, reptiles, and amphibians too. Later, visit Cope’s Gardens for close encounters with owls, toucans, and other iconic species. This unique private garden is a treat for bird enthusiasts.
After breakfast, transfer with your private driver to San José 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.
