Best Birds to See in
La Fortuna & Arenal

Costa Rica's most iconic bird. Their candy-colored bills are unmistakable and they tend to perch openly at forest edges, making them a reliable first sighting for any birder visiting La Fortuna.

The largest hummingbird in Central America and one of the most dramatic. Males are deep violet-blue with white tail spots. They dominate feeders at the Arenal Observatory and reward photographers with spectacular flight shots.

A jewel-toned tanager relative that moves fast through the mid-canopy. Despite its electric-blue plumage in males (with the diagnostic bright red legs that give it its English name), it travels in mixed flocks at fruiting trees — a cluster of 5–6 tanager species at one tree is not uncommon in La Fortuna.

One of Costa Rica's most sought-after birds by serious listers. The ornate orange-and-white head is unlike any other bird. We regularly see them soaring on thermals above Boca Tapada and the Observatory ridge. A full-day expedition to Boca Tapada gives the best odds.

The holy grail of neotropical birding. Males have iridescent green tail feathers up to 65 cm long. Not present in La Fortuna itself — they need cloud forest above 1,500 m — but our Valle de los Quetzales full-day tour puts you at a reliable nesting site within 3 hours.

A standout even in a country full of colorful tanagers. The yellow-green plumage and silver throat catch the early morning light beautifully. Usually travels in mixed flocks with other tanagers — finding one often means finding ten species at once.