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San José, Costa Rica Birdwatching

Our most recommended San José, Costa Rica Birdwatching

San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

1. San Jose: Walking Nature Tour with Sloths, Birds, and Trees

Departing from the nearby meeting point, visit the University of Costa Rica campus, home to some of the largest patches of forest in San Jose. Guided by young biologists, discover the nature hiding in the middle of Costa Rica's largest city. Experience wildlife you wouldn't have imagined existed minutes away from downtown.   On the first stop, you’ll look for resident and migratory birds, lots of incredible insects and amazing flowers. Then, see the largest indigenous stone sphere in San Jose, thought to derive from the extinct Diquis culture. Lastly, visit the main campus to seek out the friendly sloths climbing freely. The goal of this tour is to change the way tourism is done in Costa Rica, while supporting young scientists, researchers, and local entrepreneurs.

From San Jose: La Paz Waterfall Garden & Rainforest Tour

2. From San Jose: La Paz Waterfall Garden & Rainforest Tour

Travel from San Jose to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and enjoy a walking tour on rainforest trails. See flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, bird, butterflies, and other species and enjoy educational animal exhibits for all ages. Be picked up from your hotel or accommodation in San Jose, and depart for the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Enjoy wandering walking trails in the local rainforest and admire the natural beauty of the area. Watch as white rivers flow and see spectacular waterfalls. Spot local wildlife while wandering through the rainforest, like birds, butterflies, monkeys, and hummingbirds, and see them in their natural habitats. Stop at different exhibits for local wildlife like the Aviary, Butterfly Observatory, Hummingbird Garden, Serpoentarium, Jungle Cats Exhibit, and Frog Exhibit. Enjoy a buffet lunch after the tour, rated 4 Forks by the Costa Rican Tourism Council, that includes multiple selections of Traditional Costa Rican dishes and much more. Finish the tour after lunch and be returned to your accommodations in San Jose.

From San José: Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip & Lunch

3. From San José: Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip & Lunch

Admire the unique flora and fauna of the Manuel Antonio National Park on this guided day trip. Stop purchase a local lunch and take in ocean views on the ride in a spacious and climate-controlled bus from San José. Take a guided walk to a breathtaking beach and have free time to swim or explore.  Enjoy the convenience of pickup in the morning from select hotels. Relax aboard a comfortable bus on the drive through the mountains that surround the central valley. Pass along the main road that connects the capital with the coastal area. Stop at a restaurant where you can purchase a delicious typical Costa Rican breakfast in the Pacific area. Take the Costanera Sur highway into the park, enjoying beautiful views of the ocean, African palm plantations, and picturesque towns. Reach the Port of Quepos and from there continue to the National Park. Go for a walk in the rainforest along a nature trail of the national park until you reach the beach. Have free time to swim or go on a hike on one of the trails where you can spy monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, birds, and sloths. Spend some free hiking to Punta Catedral to capture pictures of the spectacular view. After having enjoyed the national park, walk back to the restaurant where a delectable lunch awaits your before taking bus back to the city.

San Jose: San Luis Rainforest and Zipline Tour with Lunch

4. San Jose: San Luis Rainforest and Zipline Tour with Lunch

Travel from the bustling streets of San Jose to the rugged countryside of San Luis on this full-day rainforest and zipline tour. Feel the adrenaline rush as you cruise above the treetops, hike narrow trails, learn about a variety of rainforest ecosystems, and hear scientific facts from your guide. Begin your tour with transportation to San Luise in an air-conditioned van, watching as the city skyline of San Jose transforms into a dense jungle. Upon arrival, listen as your guide details zipline safety instructions and the day's itinerary. Then it's time to harness up and fly through the trees. Follow your guide through the cable system, watching closely for wildlife like toucans, parrots, ocelots, hawks, iguanas, and howler monkeys. During lunch, learn about the rainforest canopy, its role in the protection of forest biodiversity, and current conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

Bird Watching Tour at Rainforest Adventures Braulio Carrillo

5. Bird Watching Tour at Rainforest Adventures Braulio Carrillo

Spend a day scanning the jungles and canopies of Costa Rica for a wide range of exotic birds on this ornithology-lovers excursion. Enjoy help and commentary from an experienced guide as you explore, take an aerial tram to lofty vantage points, and enjoy a tasty lunch along the way. Get an early start or opt for pickup from your San Jose hotel before heading to a wildlife park filled with hundreds of species of birds. Chat with your guide about your bird-watching experience when you arrive, lacing up your hiking boots before setting off into this ecologically rich wilderness. With over 72 species commonly seen and migration patterns that bring over 365 different species to the park annually, the Rainforest Adventures park is the ideal place to look for spectacular and uncommon birds. After your winged-watchers adventure, enjoy breakfast near a scenic lookout and then head back to town. If you've opted for hotel pickup from San Jose, grab lunch before your dropped off, chatting with fellow bird lovers as your day winds to a close.

From San Jose: Braulio Carillo National Park Rainforest Tram

6. From San Jose: Braulio Carillo National Park Rainforest Tram

Experience the beauty of the Costa Rican rainforest in a new way on an award-winning cable car trip through the forest. Start on the forest floor and explore all the levels of the forest up to the canopy of the trees. Enjoy the cable car ride and a guided nature walk on forest trails. Explore every level of the Costa Rican rainforest from the ground to the top of the trees. Take the cable car up through the trees and admire the forest's trees and wildlife on the journey up. Learn the secrets of the forest while enjoying the magnificent view of the forest from the gondola. Be immersed in nature during the flight over the forest, and enjoy one of the longest gondola rid3es in the country, over an hour admiring the forest from above. Take advantage of access to a guided nature walk on paved trails through the forest and visit the Butterfly, Orchid, and Hummingbird Gardens during your visit.

Frequently asked questions about San José, Costa Rica Birdwatching

What are other things to do than Birdwatching that are worth visiting in San José, Costa Rica?

The other unmissable things to do in San José, Costa Rica are:

Other Sightseeing Options in San José, Costa Rica

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What people are saying about San José, Costa Rica

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 40 reviews

Cello, our amazing guide From Oropopo Experience Tour Co. promptly picked us up at the hotel in a very comfy van. There were only three people on the tour which was great because it made us feel like we were on a private tour. Previously, we had tours from a different company where they jammed 16-18 people on a small bus. Cello was very patient, knowledgeable, and passionate about his job. During our tour of the Carara National Park, Cello pinpointed monkeys, toucans, and various species of insects. Next, he took us to Tarcoles River for a boat tour. In this relaxing cruise on the river, we encountered multiple crocodiles, a wide variety of bird species including hundreds of pelicans on tree tops. After the boat ride, Cello took us to a small family-owned restaurant by the beach for an excellent lunch. After lunch, he drove us to a secluded beach taking a short trail to the beach enjoying beautiful scenery, huge rock formations, and surrounding mountain greenery. Amazing day!

Our guide was very knowledgeable about the animals and plants that we were seeing. He did a very good job of setting the telescope, and enabling us to take pictures with it. We enjoyed this immensely. Highly recommend this tour.

We loved this trip on our first day in Costa Rica. The Waterfall Gardens and animal sanctuary were lovely.

Very good combination of the activity in the day. Nice tour guide, small group, very convenient.

Rigo was an amazing tour guide! Learned so much from him and he takes the best pictures!