The best locations for birdwatching Costa Rica
Discover the birdlife of Costa Rica by visiting the Route of the Costa Rica’s Birding Hotspots and staying at the core sites: the best lodges and locations for birdwatching in the country’s 6 great ecozones, home to 10% of the birds of the world and 5% of the biodiversity of the world.
Visiting the whole hotspots and the core sites will take from 12 to 30 nights, exploring the 6 regions, the most important ecosystems, national parks and other protected areas for the top birds, however you are invited visit your favorite hotspots according to your target birds, available time, favorite lodges or ecosystems.
The hotspots are the richest areas in terms of birdlife of the country, where you will find a wide range of species by the best ecosystems in the different eco regions or bird provinces of the Country. The Core sites are the best accommodations to explore each one on the main hotspots and the local birding facilities (Click on the core sites to learn more).
| ECOZONES | HOTSPOTS | CORE SITES |
| CARIBBEAN LOWLANDS | CANO NEGRO | – |
| LA FORTUNA & ARENAL | ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA | |
| BOCA TAPADA | LA LAGUNA DEL LAGARTO LODGE | |
| SARAPIQUI LOWLANDS | SELVA VERDE LODGE | |
| TORTUGUERO | – | |
| BRAULIO CARRILLO FOOTHILLS | – | |
| SOUTH CARIBBEAN | SELVA BANANITO ECOLODGE | |
| CARIBBEAN FOOTHILLS | MIRAVALLES-TENORIO | – |
| BAJOS DEL TORO | – | |
| TURRIALBA | RANCHO NATURALISTA | |
| HIGHLANDS | MONTEVERDE | HOTEL BELMAR |
| POAS-BARVA | – | |
| CENTRAL VALLEY | – | |
| TAPANTI | HOTEL BOUTIQUE QUELITALES | |
| LOS QUETZALES | PARAISO QUETZAL LODGE | |
| CENTRAL & SOUTHERN PACIFIC LOWLANDS | CARARA & TURRUBARES HILLS | MACAW LODGE |
| MANUEL ANTONIO | – | |
| VALLE DE EL GENERAL | – | |
| BAHIA BALLENA | CRISTAL BALLENA BOUTIQUE HOTEL | |
| PIEDRAS BLANCAS | ESQUINAS RAINFOREST LODGE | |
| OSA PENINSULA | – | |
| LAS CRUCES | – | |
| NORTHERN PACIFIC LOWLANDS | RINCON DE LA VIEJA | – |
| PALO VERDE | RANCHO HUMO ESTANCIA | |
| NICOYA GULF | – | |
| NICOYA PENINSULA | TANGO MAR BOUTIQUE HOTEL | |
| COCOS ISLAND | COCOS ISLAND | – |
Interactive map of the location of the Core Sites in the Route of the Costa Rica’s Birding Hotspots:
Here you can download the current vertion of the map