Planning on birding in Costa Rica? Good choice! It’s an easy way to experience literally hundreds of species of beautiful and exotic tropical birds, and an experience I wish for every birder. Having lived and birded in Costa Rica for several years, I might be biased in making that statement but in all honesty, it truly is easy to do birding trips to Costa Rica, these are some reasons why:
- Logistics– As in ease of getting around and access. Costa Rica’s small size facilitates visiting several different areas in a short amount of time, and, on good roads. All habitats are also accessible.
- Protected areas– Speaking of habitats, beautiful rainforest, cloud forest, and other natural places are protected and easily accessible in the national park system and private reserves.
- Stability– Having abolished the armed forces 70 years ago, Costa Rica has long been known as one of the more stable and peaceful countries in the western hemisphere.
- Tourism infrastructure– Once word got out about Costa Rica’s deserved reputation for natural beauty, stability, and friendly, easy going attitude, the country became a hotspot for tourism and has invested in tourism infrastructure.
- Experience with birding tourism– Since birding has played an important role in tourism in Costa Rica right from the start, many hotels and people are aware of our needs and can accommodate birders.
Prong-billed Barbet- one of many species easy to see in Costa Rica.
These factors not only make it easy to go on organized tours to Costa Rica, they also make it easy to arrange your own, successful trip. Nevertheless, the trip will be that much better if you stay at hotels that feature good birding on their grounds, and/or are situated close to top birding sites. These are a few of the reasons why I work with the hotels listed below. I also work with them because they are the ones I recommend to birders and would choose for myself if I were visiting Costa Rica for birding. As a bonus, they also happen to be good sites for bird photography.
I, Pat O’Donnell, would be happy to arrange your visits to the following choices for accommodation, just send me an email at [email protected] with:
-Your choices for lodging
-Your preferred dates
-Your choice of room (single, double, or more)
Central Valley, Near the Airport
Villas San Ignacio
Extensive grounds with large trees and some trails through remnant woodlands, the former Hotel Orquideas is near the airport and perfect for a first and last night in Costa Rica. Since the extensive green space makes it one of the best hotels for birding in the Central Valley, Villas San Ignacio can also act as a fine base for birding forays to Poas, Carara, and other sites. Its charm, good restaurant, pool, and beautiful grounds also make this oasis a good choice for travel with non-birders.
Various edge and garden birds occur including such species as:
- Lesson’s Motmot
- Steely-vented Hummingbird
- Rufous-breasted Wren
- Rufous-and-white Wren
- Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow (country endemic)
- Olive Sparrow
- Red-crowned Ant-Tanager
See more about Villa San Ignacio in this post.
Hotel Robledal
Also situated rather close to the airport, this comfortable choice for lodging provides good service and access to grounds and other nearby sites that host a number of dry forest species. One of the owners may also provide access to a farm with good birding opportunities. The Robledal can act as a base for visiting Carara, Poas, and other sites but works best as lodging for the first and last night of a birding tour to Costa Rica.
Some of the species at and near the hotel include:
- Double-striped Thick-Knee
- Cinnamon Hummingbird
- White-fronted Parrot
- Spot-breasted Oriole
Birding Carara and Dry Forest
Cerro Lodge
Reforested gardens and nearby habitats that host literally hundreds of bird species PLUS good service and easy access make Cerro Lodge an excellent choice for birding the Carara area. Tour groups have noticed; the lodge can be booked solid during the high season. Since it only takes a bit more than an hour to drive to Cerro from the airport, this lodge for birders also works as accommodation for the day of arrival.
As far as birding goes, a lot can be seen right from the outdoor restaurant (including flyby parrots, macaws, and raptors), on the hotel grounds, on the road in front of the lodge, at Carara National Park, and in the Tarcoles River area.
There are too many species to mention but these are some specialties that can be seen right at the lodge:
- Crane Hawk
- Scarlet Macaw
- White-necked Puffbird
- Turquoise-browed Motmot
- Blue-throated Goldentail
Birding Caribbean Lowland Rainforest
Laguna del Lagarto
In the northern lowlands, off the beaten track, Laguna del Lagarto is a classic ecotourism site that offers access to lowland rainforest, lagoons, and chances at a variety of rare species. Hotel staff often know about roosting owls and locations for other special birds, canoes can be taken on the lagoons to look for Agami Heron, trails access mature forest, birding in the garden is good, and there are fantastic photo opportunities right from the balcony of the restaurant. A four hour drive from the airport, some of the route to the lodge requires four wheel drive.
A large number of species are possible, including these specialties:
- Agami Heron
- Great Green and Scarlet Macaws
- Various raptors
- Central American Pygmy-Owl
- Vermiculated Screech-Owl
- White-fronted Nunbird
- Antbirds
- White-vented Euphonia
Dave and Dave’s
Not a hotel but too good to not mention! One of the best photography sites in the country, the father-son owners help visitors see dozens of birds, many at close range, and spend the rest of their time with reforestation projects.
Some of the species often see at Dave and Dave’s:
- Scarlet Macaw
- Rufous Motmot
- White-necked Jacobin
- Green Honeycreeper
- Olive-backed Euphonia
Quinta del Sarapiqui
One of the classic birding areas of Costa Rica, the Sarapiqui region offers access to a fine selection of rainforest species, is accessible on good roads, and is a two and a half hour drive from the airport. The Quinta de Sarapiqui is one of the better hotels in the area for birders and also works very well as a base for visiting the La Selva Biological Station, Tirimbina, and other sites. Several common birds occur in the hotel gardens and in a forested riparian zone.
Some of the species commonly seen at and near the hotel:
- Green Ibis
- Great Green Macaw
- Bat Falcon
- Spectacled Owl
- Plain-colored Tanager
Birding the Arenal area
Arenal Observatory Lodge
A popular choice for lodging for many visitors to Arenal, this hotel is one of the best birding sites in the country. Good trails access quality middle and foothill elevation forest with mixed flocks, antbirds, and more, and the road to the lodge is typically busy with dozens of species. Flowering hedges attract hummingbirds, and fruiting trees in the gardens can host rarities like Lovely Cotinga and Bare-necked Umbrellabird.
A large number of species are possible, including these specialties:
- White Hawk
- Black-and-white Owl
- Thicket Antpitta
- Emerald Tanager
- Song Wren
Finca Luna Nueva
Situated between Arenal and San Ramon, this lodge also acts as a working organic farm that abounds with lowland rainforest species. Although the orchards and canopy tower will keep the binoculars busy, trails also access primary rainforest that host other species. Add an excellent gourmet restaurant that uses many on site ingredients and birding at Finca Luna Nueva is a dream.
A large number of species are possible, including these specialties:
- Keel-billed Motmot
- Collared Aracari
- Bright-rumped Attila
- Crimson-collared Tanager
Lands in Love
Located about halfway between San Ramon and La Fortuna, this interesting vegetarian lodge often has good birding just outside the rooms. Trails access quality forest with a variety of quality species, a loop road has overlooks to look for raptors and canopy species, and several birds can also be seen at their cafe on the main road above the hotel. A pool and other fun activities make Lands in Love a good choice for a family vacation.
A large number of lowland species are possible, including several rare birds:
- Semiplumbeous Hawk
- Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo
- Keel-billed Motmot
- Antbirds
- Tawny-chested Flycatcher
- Song Wren
BIRDING HOTELS FOR THESE REGIONS COMING SOON!…
Southern Caribbean Sites
Guanacaste Dry Forest
Monteverde
High Elevations
Osa Peninsula and nearby
San Vito