Best Birds to See in La Fortuna & Arenal, Costa Rica (2026 Guide)

I've been guiding birding tours in La Fortuna since 2015. In that time, I've recorded over 420 species within a 90-minute radius of town — and I'm still adding new ones. La Fortuna sits at the intersection of Caribbean lowland forest, mid-elevation cloud forest, and open wetland: three distinct ecosystems that together make it one of the richest birding zones in Central America.

This guide covers the birds I'm most asked about, the hotspots I actually take clients to, and the practical information that tour aggregators never publish. If you're planning a birding trip to Costa Rica, bookmark this page.

500+

Species recorded within 90 min of La Fortuna

Distinct habitats within day-trip distance

Year-round

Great birding — no bad season here

6 Must-See Birds in La Fortuna

Species I reliably show clients — with the exact spots and times that work.

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

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.

Mistico Hanging Bridges, Bogarin Trail, Arenal ObservatoryYear-round — most active 6–9 AMEasy

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Hummingbird in flight — La Fortuna Arenal Costa Rica

Violet Sabrewing

Campylopterus hemileucurus

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.

Arenal Observatory Lodge trail, Ecocentro Danaus gardensYear-round — feeders at dawnEasy

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Honeycreeper — Arenal La Fortuna Costa Rica birdwatching

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Cyanerpes cyaneus

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.

Bogarin Trail, Ecocentro Danaus canopyYear-round — peaks in fruiting season (Aug–Oct)Easy

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King Vulture

Sarcoramphus papa

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.

Boca Tapada, Caño Negro, Arenal Observatory ridgeDry season thermal soaring (Dec–Apr)Moderate

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Resplendent Quetzal

Pharomachrus mocinno

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.

Valle de los Quetzales (day trip from La Fortuna)Nesting season Feb–MayAdvanced

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Silver-throated Tanager

Tangara icterocephala

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.

Mistico, Bogarin, Esquipulas RainforestYear-round — mixed flocks 6–10 AMEasy

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Hummingbird macro photography — La Fortuna Costa Rica wildlife photography tour

For photographers

We run dedicated multi-flash hummingbird photography sessions at dawn — the same technique used by BBC Wildlife photographers. You leave with frame-ready shots, not travel snapshots. Learn about our photography birding tour →

6 Best Birding Hotspots Near La Fortuna

In order of overall species richness and accessibility. I take clients to all six depending on their goals and fitness level.

Arenal Observatory Lodge birding trail — Costa Rica

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

500+ speciesHummingbirds

The single richest birding site near La Fortuna. Private trails at multiple elevations with a natural thermal updraft that brings raptors — including King Vulture — overhead. The lodge garden feeders attract 15+ hummingbird species at peak times.

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Bogarin Trail

100+ speciesKingfishers

La Fortuna's most underrated spot. A small private reserve bordering a river — the combination of riparian habitat and secondary forest creates exceptional bird diversity in a compact area. Easiest walk for families and photography beginners.

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Ecocentro Danaus

150+ speciesSunbittern

A 5-hectare private reserve with wetlands, secondary forest, and gardens. Exceptional for waterbirds and edge species. The only place near La Fortuna where Sunbittern is reliably seen — a spectacular species that's on every serious birder's wish list.

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Boca Tapada birding expedition — Costa Rica photography

Boca Tapada Expedition

300+ speciesGreat Green Macaw

Our most advanced birding destination — a 2.5-hour drive north of La Fortuna into true lowland Caribbean rainforest. This is the stronghold of the Critically Endangered Great Green Macaw. Not for beginners, but an unmatchable experience for serious listers.

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Caño Negro wildlife and photography tour — Costa Rica

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

350+ speciesRoseate Spoonbill

Costa Rica's top wetland birding site. A 90-minute drive from La Fortuna, this Ramsar wetland is unmatched for wading birds and waterbirds. The Jabiru Stork — tallest flying bird in the Americas — is reliably seen during wet season.

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Mistico Hanging Bridges

200+ speciesToucans

Walking the canopy on hanging bridges gives you a bird's-eye view — literally. You're at eye level with the mid-canopy where toucans and trogons perch. The Broad-billed Motmot is a near-certainty here, as is the Blue-crowned Motmot.

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King Vulture perched — Boca Tapada Costa Rica birding expedition

Field note — Boca Tapada

"We were three hours into the trail when the first King Vulture appeared overhead — then four more joined it on the thermal. Two of my clients had been chasing this species for years. The silence when they saw it through the scope was something I won't forget."

— Elias Peña, Naturalist Guide

Best Time to Go Birding in La Fortuna

Peak season

Dry Season — Nov through Apr

North American migrants arrive: warblers, tanagers, flycatchers, vireos. Resident species are easier to spot with less foliage. Raptors soar on dry-season thermals.

Best for listers aiming for maximum species count.

Breeding season

Green Season — May through Oct

Breeding behavior, nesting activity, colorful mating plumage. Hummingbirds and tanagers at peak activity. Red-eyed tree frogs and glass frogs add spectacle for photographers.

Seca / alta

Traslape total de migratorias y residentes: 90–120 especies posibles en dos días

El mes con más demanda — las salidas guiadas se llenan 4–8 semanas antes.

Guía mes por mes de avistamiento de aves en La Fortuna y la zona de Arenal
Mes	Temporada	Especies objetivo	Nota de campo
Enero	Seca / alta	Tucán Pico Iris, Tucán de Swainson, reinitas (Chestnut-sided, Tennessee), Gavilán Aludo	El mes con más especies del año. Pickup 5:15 am — la actividad baja después de las 8 am.
Febrero	Seca / alta	Lapa Verde (anidación en Boca Tapada), Avesol, Pájaro Sombrilla (con suerte)	Inicia la anidación de la Lapa Verde — el mejor mes para el viaje a Boca Tapada.
Marzo	Seca / alta	Lapa Verde, Zopilote Rey, Coqueta Crestinegra, Jacamar Colirrufo	Mañanas despejadas y termales fuertes: el mejor mes para rapaces y fotos en vuelo.
Abril	Transición	Migratorias en tránsito al norte, Tucán Pechiamarillo, Tangara Capuchidorada	Las migratorias se van a mitad de mes. Fin de abril trae las primeras lluvias y luz más verde.
Mayo	Verde	Leks de Saltarín Cuelliblanco, colonias de Oropéndola de Montezuma, despliegue de colibríes	Empieza el comportamiento reproductivo. Mejor mes para fotografía de conducta, menos visitantes.
Junio	Verde	Ranas de ojos rojos (noche), Garza Cucharón, Rascón Cuellirrufo con polluelos	Mañanas normalmente secas; la lluvia llega después de las 2 pm. Combina caminata AM + tour nocturno.
Julio	Verde	Tucanes anidando, Tucancillo Collarejo, Ibis Verde en el río Peñas Blancas	El "veranillo" de mediados de julio. Buena relación precio/clima, mañanas confiables.
Agosto	Verde	Avesol, Garza Agamí (Caño Negro), Halcón Murcielaguero, bandadas de pie de monte	Humedales llenos — los recorridos en bote de Caño Negro son excelentes para garzas y rascones.
Septiembre	Verde	Paso del Elanio Tijereta, tangaras residentes, Carpintero Carinegro	Las semanas más lluviosas del lado de Arenal, pero los senderos más tranquilos del año.
Octubre	Transición	Primeras reinitas migratorias, ríos de rapaces (Zopilote, Aludo, Gavilán de Swainson)	A mediados de octubre la migración de rapaces mueve decenas de miles de aves en una mañana.
Noviembre	Seca / alta	Reinitas migratorias ya establecidas, Tangara Esmeralda, Pava Crestada, Pavón Grande	Empieza la estación seca. Los comederos y el borde de bosque del Arenal Observatory están en su mejor momento.
Diciembre	Seca / alta	Traslape total de migratorias y residentes: 90–120 especies posibles en dos días	El mes con más demanda — las salidas guiadas se llenan 4–8 semanas antes.

Reserva Bosque Nuboso Monteverde

Quetzal, Pájaro Campana Tricarunculado, Pava Negra

Direcciones

19Monteverde

Reserva Curi-Cancha

Quetzal en hábitat mixto, Trogón Vientre Anaranjado

Direcciones

Photographed on Our Own La Fortuna Departures

No stock photography and no AI images — every frame below was taken by our guides on a tour we operate. Media and blogs may reuse these with credit: see the birding media kit.

Keel-billed Toucan photographed on a La Fortuna birding tour, Costa Rica

Hummingbird in flight, Arenal foothills, La Fortuna Costa Rica

Red-legged Honeycreeper near La Fortuna, Costa Rica

King Vulture portrait photographed in Boca Tapada, Costa Rica

Bogarin Trail birding walk in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Ecocentro Danaus wetland birdwatching near La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Glass frog on leaf — Costa Rica night wildlife tour La Fortuna

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year for birdwatching in La Fortuna?

November through April is peak season for birding in La Fortuna. Migratory species from North America arrive (warblers, tanagers, flycatchers), joining the 500+ resident species. That said, the rainy "green season" (May–October) has its own advantages: bird activity is intense, nesting is at peak, and trails are uncrowded. We guide excellent birding tours year-round.

What time should I start a birding tour in La Fortuna?

Sunrise. Birds are most active in the first 3 hours of daylight — typically 5:30–9:00 AM in La Fortuna. We'll pick you up at your hotel before first light so we arrive at the reserve as the forest wakes up. This is non-negotiable for serious listers.

How many bird species can I expect to see on a single tour?

On a standard 4-hour morning birding tour at Bogarin Trail or Ecocentro Danaus, expect 30–50 species. At the Arenal Observatory, a skilled guide commonly reaches 60–80 species in a morning. Boca Tapada full-day expeditions regularly break 100 species for experienced birders.

Do I need binoculars or will the guide provide equipment?

We bring a professional high-end spotting scope and include its use on every birding tour — most clients get their best-ever looks at birds through the scope. We recommend you bring your own binoculars (8x42 or 10x42 ideal) but if you don't have them, let us know in advance and we'll sort something out.

Is La Fortuna good for bird photography?

Exceptional. The combination of accessible trails, cooperative wildlife habituated to responsible guides, and diverse habitats — canopy, wetland, riparian edge, Caribbean lowland — makes La Fortuna one of the best photography destinations in Central America. We run dedicated photo-focused birding tours with slower pacing and setup time built in.

Can beginners join birding tours?

Absolutely. Most of our clients are wildlife enthusiasts, not hard-core listers. A morning at Bogarin Trail or Ecocentro Danaus will dazzle anyone who's never been birding before — you'll see toucans, sloths, kingfishers, and hummingbirds without needing any prior experience.

Can you see Resplendent Quetzals in La Fortuna or Arenal?

Not in La Fortuna itself. Resplendent Quetzals need cloud forest above roughly 1,500 m, and La Fortuna sits at about 250 m. The closest reliable quetzal habitat is the Valle de los Quetzales (Cerro de la Muerte / San Gerardo de Dota area), around 3 hours by road from La Fortuna, where we run a full-day tour to known feeding and nesting trees. Anyone promising quetzals inside Arenal is misleading you.

What is the best month to see a Resplendent Quetzal in Costa Rica?

February to May is the nesting season and by far the best window: pairs stay close to their nest cavities and males display, which makes sightings far more predictable. March and April are the strongest single months. Quetzals are resident year-round, but between June and January they move more widely and sightings take longer.

What time of day are quetzals most active?

The first two hours of daylight, roughly 5:45–8:00 AM, when they feed on wild avocado (aguacatillo) fruit. That is why our Valle de los Quetzales tour leaves La Fortuna very early — around 3:00 AM — to be standing at the fruiting trees at dawn. A second, weaker activity peak happens in the late afternoon.

How likely am I to actually see a quetzal on a day trip from La Fortuna?

During nesting season (Feb–May) our guides see quetzals on the large majority of departures, because we work with local landowners who monitor active nests daily. We never guarantee a sighting — no honest guide can — but we do guarantee that you are at the right elevation, at the right trees, at the right hour, with a spotting scope.

Explore all birding tours

Every tour below includes me or Yehudi as your guide — not a subcontracted stranger — plus a high-end spotting scope.

Arenal Observatory Birding Bogarin Sloth & Birds Walk Ecocentro Danaus Birdwatching Boca Tapada Full-Day Expedition Caño Negro Wildlife Tour Wildlife Photography Birding — Arenal

Also worth reading

Things to Do in La Fortuna Birding Tours Overview Wildlife Photography Tours Green Season Guide Caño Negro Photography Expedition

Best Birds to See in La Fortuna & Arenal

6 Must-See Birds in La Fortuna

Keel-billed Toucan

Violet Sabrewing

Red-legged Honeycreeper

King Vulture

Resplendent Quetzal

Silver-throated Tanager

6 Best Birding Hotspots Near La Fortuna

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Bogarin Trail

Ecocentro Danaus

Boca Tapada Expedition

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Mistico Hanging Bridges

Best Time to Go Birding in La Fortuna

Dry Season — Nov through Apr

Green Season — May through Oct

Month-by-Month Birding Guide (Arenal / La Fortuna)

Enero

Febrero

Marzo

Abril

Mayo

Junio

Julio

Agosto

Septiembre

Octubre

Noviembre

Diciembre

Birding Hotspot Map by Zone

Arenal Observatory Lodge

Puentes Colgantes Mistico

Ecocentro Danaus

Papa's Place Tour Nocturno

Sendero Bogarín

Sendero Mariola

Reserva El Silencio

Senderos Arenal 1968

Catarata La Fortuna

Río Peñas Blancas

Maquenque Eco-Lodge

Laguna del Lagarto Lodge

Refugio Caño Negro

Humedal Medio Queso

Hotel & Reserva Savegre

Paraíso Quetzal Lodge

Cerro de la Muerte (Páramo)

Reserva Bosque Nuboso Monteverde

Reserva Curi-Cancha

Photographed on Our Own La Fortuna Departures

Frequently Asked Questions

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Best Birds to See in
La Fortuna & Arenal