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.

Dry / peak

Full migrant + resident overlap: 90–120 species possible in a two-day itinerary

Busiest month — guided departures fill 4–8 weeks ahead.

Month-by-month birding guide for La Fortuna and the Arenal area
Month	Season	Target species	Field note
January	Dry / peak	Keel-billed Toucan, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, warblers (Chestnut-sided, Tennessee), Broad-winged Hawk	Highest species counts of the year. Book pickups at 5:15 am — activity peaks before 8 am.
February	Dry / peak	Great Green Macaw (Boca Tapada nesting), Sunbittern, Bare-necked Umbrellabird (lucky days)	Macaw nesting starts — the single best month for a Boca Tapada day trip.
March	Dry / peak	Great Green Macaw, King Vulture, Black-crested Coquette, Rufous-tailed Jacamar	Clear mornings, strong thermals: best month for raptors and flight photography.
April	Shoulder	Northbound migrants staging, Yellow-throated Toucan, Golden-hooded Tanager	Migrants leave mid-month. Late April brings the first rains and much greener light.
May	Green	White-collared Manakin leks, Montezuma Oropendola colonies, hummingbird display	Breeding behaviour starts. Best month for behaviour photography, fewest visitors.
June	Green	Red-eyed tree frogs (night), Boat-billed Heron, Russet-naped Wood-Rail with chicks	Mornings are usually dry; rain arrives after 2 pm. Pair a morning walk with a night tour.
July	Green	Nesting toucans, Collared Aracari, Green Ibis on the Peñas Blancas river	"Veranillo" — a short dry window mid-July. Excellent value, reliable mornings.
August	Green	Sungrebe, Agami Heron (Caño Negro), Bat Falcon, mixed foothill flocks	Wetlands are full — Caño Negro boat trips peak for herons and rails.
September	Green	Swallow-tailed Kite passage, resident tanagers, Black-cheeked Woodpecker	Wettest weeks on the Arenal side, but the quietest trails of the year.
October	Shoulder	First southbound warblers, raptor kettles (Turkey Vulture, Broad-winged, Swainson's Hawk)	Mid-October raptor migration can move tens of thousands of birds in one morning.
November	Dry / peak	Migrant warblers settled in, Emerald Tanager, Crested Guan, Great Curassow	Dry season opens. Arenal Observatory feeders and forest edge are at their best.
December	Dry / peak	Full migrant + resident overlap: 90–120 species possible in a two-day itinerary	Busiest month — guided departures fill 4–8 weeks ahead.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black Guan

Directions

19Monteverde

Curi-Cancha Reserve

Quetzal in mixed habitat, Orange-bellied Trogon

Directions

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