When birders ask, “What are the best places to go birding in Costa Rica?” it’s difficult to answer. Why? Because Costa Rica abounds with birding hotspots! These hotspots are found in Costa Rica’s four major geographical regions or zones, each characterized by features such as elevation, vegetation, and rainfall, which provide unique habitats for birds.
The four major birding zones are:
A: East
B: High Mountains (Talamanca)
C: Central Pacific
D: South Pacific
Certain species are only found within these regions.
For example, if you want to see a Yellow-billed Cotinga, you have to go to the South Pacific. So here you have the geographical location, but what’s more, you need to go to a mangrove forest or riparian forest (forest belts along rivers, coastlines, marshlands, etc.). This is the habitat type.
Consider distance, terrain, and other tips about each birding zone before planning your visit.
EAST:
My number one region. Why? Simple: a high amount of elevation diversity, habitats, and bird species. Within this zone, we have Turrialba, Cartago, the Caribbean lowlands, and Sarapiquí. Some people include Arenal and Caño Negro in this list, but they actually belong to the northern part of Costa Rica. If we added those regions, the East zone would be unbeatable. A program based on Turrialba, Sarapiquí, Caño Negro, and Arenal could easily fill 12 days, making it a birding trip in itself.
Distance: From San José to Sarapiquí or Turrialba, driving takes around one and a half hours. From San José to the Caribbean coast takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on where you go.
The Caribbean coast is not a very popular region for birding, mostly because of the long distance and the fact that many species found there also occur in Sarapiquí. Except for some special target species, for example: Great Jacamar, Spot-crowned Ant-vireo, Greater Ani, Slaty-backed Forest Falcon, Speckled Mourner, among others.
Hitoy Cerere reserve
What about famous regions like Tortuguero and Cahuita?
If you’re looking for sloths, sea turtles, or beach time, it makes sense to go there. Tortuguero offers an environment similar to the Amazon, with rainforests surrounded by waterways. However, in terms of general birding, other sections of the East have more to offer.
- HIGH MOUNTAIN RANGE: TALAMANCA
Talamanca is the longest, oldest, and highest mountain range in Costa Rica. This range divides the west from the east, so many bird species are restricted from crossing to the other side of the country. However, some species find a way through, and recently, we have seen new records of birds extending their range across Talamanca.
Why is this region one of the top birdwatching zones?
The high number of near-endemic species! This means that many of the birds found in this range are restricted to Costa Rica and Panama only. If you’re looking for hummingbirds, quetzals, and high-elevation species, San Gerardo de Dota in Talamanca is your place. Beautiful landscapes, rivers, oak cloud forests, and very special target species can be found here. Some of these are the Volcano Junco, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Wrenthrush, Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge, Ochraceous Pewee, Black-capped Flycatcher, etc.
Distance: From San José to San Gerardo de Dota, driving takes around 3 hours. Remember, you’ll be staying at an elevation of around 2,200 meters (7,000 feet), but along the Pan-American Highway, there are higher grounds, ranging from 2,700 meters up to 3,200 meters (10,000 feet). Temperatures range from around 5°C to 25°C (40°F to 80°F).