Private La Fortuna tours · Birding, photography, macro, night
We are your local operator in La Fortuna. Birding, photography, macro, night walks, private groups, transport and logistics — all coordinated, no worries. Approved by hundreds of 5-star client reviews.
Pickup at SJO or LIR, private transfer to La Fortuna, hotel, daily tours and transfer to your next destination (Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Guanacaste). One team, one contact.
Local operator in La Fortuna
100% private — only your group
One team, one contact, one plan
Approved by our clients
5.0★ · 71+ verified reviews on Google & Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Full Itinerary · Mistico · Safari · Night Tour · Waterfall
"The absolute best choice for our first trip to Costa Rica! I was scared to book our entire itinerary with just one company, but Vivo Expeditions exceeded every expectation. Elias's communication was top-notch from beginning to end and he followed up after every single tour. Safari River Boat with Nahil, Mistico Hanging Bridges & Arenal 1968 with Jose, Night Tour at Papa's Place, La Fortuna Waterfalls with Fabian — every guide went above and beyond. If you are nervous about booking your trip, you are in the best hands."
"Fantastic experience with Vivo Expeditions, right from booking through responsive communication to the tour itself. We did the private night tour in La Fortuna with José as our guide and saw SO many frog species (including the very rare Sylvia's tree frog), 2 snakes (including the scary fer-de-lance!), a kinkajou and various insects. Very memorable evening immersed in nature, surrounded by the glorious noise of the frogs."
"I had two private night tours with Jose. He was very professional and helpful, tried hard to find my targeted animals and the perfect photography angles. I learned a lot about the creatures here. I told him I wanted to see more snakes, and he made it happen. Elias is also very helpful and understanding with all my needs. Can't wait to come back!"
"Incredible experience with Miller at Mistico Hanging Bridges. He found us so much wildlife we hadn't seen before, and he was really focused on finding us a yellow-throated toucan, which he finally found! I'd highly recommend Vivo Expeditions and Miller as a guide."
"Elias arranged two half-days of private birding around La Fortuna for us, taking into account our goals and some physical limitations. We were very happy with his recommendations. Different guide each day, Ignacio and Luis — both terrific, super knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and very pleasant to spend time with. Communication was easy and the whole experience was great."
"We booked a night tour and had a great time with Jose Luis. He was friendly and knowledgeable, guiding us through the night and finding beautiful frogs, basilisk, caiman, birds, crazy insects, and we even saw a Kinkajou scurrying in the treetops! He is an awesome photographer and we have beautiful pictures he took for us through his spotting scope."
"From booking to tour, the entire experience was excellent. I was interested in photos of reptiles and frogs so they tailored our tour accordingly. Payment system was easy and they came on time to pick us up from our hotel. Our guide Jose was very helpful with photos and finding animals — patient with my angle changes and shared his tricks."
"Amazing experience from beginning to end. I contacted Elias before our first trip to Costa Rica to book nature tours for La Fortuna. He took our whole wish list — 2 night walks (Ecocentro Danaus and Papa's Place), canyoning, white water rafting with Arenal Rafting, sloth walk at Bogarin, chocolate and coffee tour at North Fields, zip lining at Sky Adventures and the 1968 trail to Arenal volcano. Luis was our nature guide (Gabriel for the sloth walk), both brilliant. Elias went over and above by messaging us each night with reminders and asking how our day had been. Would recommend wholeheartedly."
"This was just the most incredible experience! We all had the most magical time and have core memories that will last a lifetime. Our guide Luis was wonderful and so free with knowledge. We saw so many wonderful birds and agoutis, and even got to see a poison dart frog and a caiman! Cannot recommend this tour enough. Easy to organise and great value for the service you get. The fresh fruit and coffee was a huge bonus. Absolutely enchanting day had by all!"
"Loved our tour of Mistico Hanging Bridges! Luis was a fantastic guide! We have an almost three year old and Luis was very patient and engaging with him. Luis was very knowledgeable about the birds, animals and Costa Rica as a whole. Highly recommend!"
What are the best tours in La Fortuna in July and August?+
Private birding at Bogarín Trail and Boca Tapada, wildlife photography with a naturalist guide, macro sessions for red-eyed tree frogs and glass frogs, night walks at Papa's Place, Mistico Hanging Bridges and the Arenal Volcano combo with hot springs. All private, coordinated door-to-door.
Is July a good month for birdwatching and wildlife photography in Costa Rica?+
Yes. July brings the "Veranillo de San Juan" — a mini dry spell mid-month with sunny mornings ideal for birding and photography. Resident birds are in full breeding plumage, hummingbirds are extremely active, and frog macro season peaks.
Do you handle private transport from SJO, LIR or my hotel?+
Yes — we coordinate door-to-door private transfers from San José (SJO), Liberia (LIR), Monteverde, Manuel Antonio and any hotel in the Arenal / La Fortuna area. One team, one contact, zero stress.
Are your tours truly private for our group?+
Yes. Every tour is 100% private — only your group, your guide, and your vehicle. No mixing with strangers. Perfect for families, couples, photographers and small groups (2–8 pax typical).
Why choose VIVO Expeditions over booking through my hotel?+
Direct operator — no middleman markup. Certified naturalist guides included (not upsold), pro scopes and binoculars, guaranteed best rate in the zone, and hundreds of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and Google. You keep the savings and get better guiding.
How far in advance should I book for July–August?+
July and August coincide with European and US summer holidays — book 3–6 weeks ahead to secure preferred dates. Last-minute is possible but private guides and Boca Tapada photo blinds fill first.
