Captivating Costa Rica Birdwatching Tour

About This Tour

A guided birdwatching circuit through three of Costa Rica's best regions for it — Arenal's lowland forest, the Monteverde cloud forest, and the Central Pacific's Carara National Park. This trip stays entirely within Costa Rica, moving from San José to the Arenal region, up into the Monteverde cloud forest, and down to the Central Pacific coast.

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Day-by-Day Itinerary

A private guide, driver, and vehicle for the entire trip, with hotels pre-arranged at every overnight stop — the pace and any optional stops can still be shaped around your group.

Arrival

Arrival pickup at Juan Santamaría International Airport, San José.

Day 1 — San José

Arrive and settle into your hotel in the capital, with its blend of modern city life and cultural heritage.

Day 2 — Into the Heart of Arenal

A private transfer to La Fortuna to explore the Arenal Volcano region, dormant since 2010.

Day 3 — A Birdwatcher's Paradise

A half-day guided birdwatching tour near Lake Arenal with a naturalist guide, looking for toucans, parrots, tanagers, and parakeets.

Day 4 — On to Monteverde

Transfer by minivan and a Lake Arenal boat crossing, followed by a mountainside hike up to Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Day 5 — The Birds of the Cloud Forest

A guided hike of up to six hours through the Curi-Cancha Reserve, home to some 400 bird species including resplendent quetzals and keel-billed toucans.

Day 6 — Journey to the Pacific

Transfer to the Tarcoles River area on the Central Pacific coast, exploring marshes home to waterfowl and wading birds.

Day 7 — Carara National Park

A full day exploring Carara National Park, home to over 400 recorded bird species, with multiple trail options.

Day 8 — Departure

A drive from Jaco back to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your onward flight.

Departure

The trip ends near Jaco with a transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) for your departure flight.

What's Included

A private vehicle and driver, just for your group

A professional, knowledgeable local guide

Hotels and transport arranged for every day of the trip

Pacing and optional stops shaped around your group

All tolls, parking, and fuel

What's Not Included

Attraction admission tickets, unless noted as included

Meals and snacks

Gratuities for your guide or driver

Personal expenses

Why Book a Private Tour With Voyzo?

Your group only — never combined with strangers

Crowded 50+ seat group buses

Fully custom stops, built around you

A fixed script with no flexibility

Door-to-door pickup, wherever you're staying

Meeting at a fixed public meeting point

Direct, transparent pricing — no marketplace markup

Third-party booking fees

Important Information

Know Before You Book

Group size can range from 1 to 25 guests — we match the vehicle to your party.
Pricing depends on group size, vehicle, and tour length, and is confirmed after your quote request.
Tour duration is flexible — the times shown are a typical starting point.

Know Before You Go

We'll confirm your exact pickup time and vehicle details after booking.
Bring a camera, comfortable shoes, and weather-appropriate layers.
Your arrival flight details are required to confirm the itinerary.

Special Requests

Mobility needs, dietary notes, or accessibility requirements? Let us know when requesting your quote and we'll arrange accordingly.
Traveling with young children or larger groups — just tell us, and we'll recommend the right vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — the trip is guided throughout by naturalist guides who work with birders of all experience levels, from beginners to serious listers.

The Monteverde cloud forest (Day 5) is one of the strongest regions for resplendent quetzal sightings on this route.

Some days include guided hikes of several hours (up to six on Day 5), so a reasonable fitness level helps, though pace is generally unhurried for spotting birds.

This is worth confirming at booking — bringing your own binoculars is recommended, as guides typically provide expertise and route knowledge rather than gear.

Once your quote is accepted, we'll confirm your exact pickup time, vehicle, and driver details by email ahead of your tour date.

Yes — reach out to our team any time before your tour and we'll do our best to accommodate itinerary or schedule changes.

Request a Quote

Tell us your group size and preferred date — we'll follow up with pricing.

DurationMulti-Day Tour

PickupArrival pickup at Juan Santamaría International Airport, San José.

Group size1 to 25 guests, any vehicle class

ItineraryFully customizable to your group

Direct pricing — no marketplace markup

Free itinerary changes until confirmed

Direct line to your guide and driver

Usually respond within a few hours

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