From start to finish, the goal of this tour is to identify as many birds as possible. Monteverde is home to some 400 species of birds, which are scattered among the forests and mountains of the region.

These bird watching tours can take place at the Montverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, or the Curi-Cancha Reserve. Although each reserve offers travelers the chance to spot a number of bird species, Curi-Cancha is regarded as one of the best. The other two reserves are excellent places to hike and experience the forest.

Set at an elevation of 4,724 feet (1,440 m) above sea level, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve attracts a range of tropical avian species. It’s one of the best places in Costa Rica to see the resplendent quetzal, a bird that migrates to lower areas of the reserve during the mating season. Of the 400 other species found here, there are 30 species of hummingbirds, as well as the endangered three-wattled bellbird. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve extends across 25,730 acres (10,400 ha) and has several well-maintained trails.

The Santa Elena Cloud Forest is slightly higher than the reserve in Monteverde, and is also less visited. Trails wind through the dense, plant-rich cloud forest and give visitors the chance to spot a number of bird species, including the resplendent quetzal and collared trogon. The Santa Elena Cloud Forest covers some 765 acres (310 ha) of forest. It’s a good place to hike and get an unfiltered look at tropical forests.

The Curi-Cancha Reserve extends across 237 acres (96 ha) and protects both primary and secondary forests. It’s one of the area’s best birding sites, offering visitors the opportunity to see birds like the orange-bellied trogon, keel-billed toucan, blue-crowned motmot, resplendent quetzal, and blue-throated goldentail. Its trails are well maintained (although sometimes a bit muddy) and extend for several kilometers.

Monteverde Bird Watching Tourr:

During this tour, you’ll choose one reserve to explore and will spend the morning hiking its trails and searching for birds. You could have the luxury of a private guide—this allows you to ask as many questions as you would like and gear the tour towards your interests.

It’s recommended to start the tour at 7:30 A.M., although it can begin anytime from 7:30 and 9:00 A.M. Whether you’re going with your family, in a group or by yourself, you’ll have a trained naturalist guide leading the way.