Costa Rica Overview

Costa Rica is a premier birding destination with over 900 recorded species packed into a country the size of West Virginia. The sheer diversity of microclimates—from the humid Caribbean lowlands to the mist-shrouded highland cloud forests and the dry Pacific northwest—creates an incredible mosaic of habitats.

Key Habitats & Highlights

• Highland Cloud Forests (Monteverde & Savegre): Home to the legendary Resplendent Quetzal and the echoing calls of the Three-wattled Bellbird.
• Caribbean Lowlands (La Selva): A hotspot for Great Green Macaws, Keel-billed Toucans, and spectacular mixed flocks of brightly colored tanagers.
• Pacific Dry Forest (Guanacaste): Ideal for spotting Turquoise-browed Motmots, White-throated Magpie-Jays, and diverse raptor species.
• South Pacific (Osa Peninsula): Scarlet Macaws are abundant here, and the dense rainforest holds countless endemic treasures.

Seasonal Guidance

Costa Rica offers excellent birding year-round.

• Dry Season (December to April): Provides easier travel conditions and coincides with the arrival of North American migrants.
• Green Season (May to November): Brings afternoon rains but also peak breeding activity for many resident species, making them more vocal, territorial, and easier to spot.