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Looking for a fantastic bird watching tour in La Fortuna?
Well, let me tell you, there are plenty available! La Fortuna is famed for its incredible landscape and it’s an absolute paradise for wildlife lovers. We actually lived here for a while and still spend a ton of time here, and we’ve done some absolutely incredible bird watching tours.
Trust me, if you’re at all interested in Costa Rica’s colorful birdlife, then you’re going to want to book a bird watching tour. It’s so much easier to spot birds with a guide to help you, and there’s a ton to see. So grab your binoculars and allow us to introduce you to our top 3 bird watching tours in La Fortuna!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this bird-watching tour at Mistico Park. We saw so many birds and other wildlife all thanks to a local guide, who has an eagle eye for birding!
Check out all the 5-star reviews from other travelers and book this tour here!
Tip: Reserve this tour early to guarantee your spot and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
- 1. Small group morning bird watching Tour at Mistico Park
- 2. Private or small group bird watching near the Arenal Volcano
- 3. Small group early morning bird watching tour in La Fortuna
- Other Things to do While You’re in La Fortuna
- Where to Stay in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
1. Small group morning bird watching Tour at Mistico Park
- Price: $61 USD
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Time: 6 am
- Highlights: spotting local and migratory birds, trekking along Mistico hanging bridges, beautiful views of Arenal Volcano
- Inclusions: Mistico Park entrance fee, private guide, bottled water
- Pickup from: self-drive
- Rating: 4.5 Stars (check 59 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
We absolutely loved this bird watching tour at Mistico Park! In fact, it’s our top choice of bird watching tours in La Fortuna, because we had such an amazing time. So really what we’re saying is: don’t miss out!
Visiting Misitco to enjoy its hanging bridges is a must while you’re in La Fortuna anyway. In fact, it’s our favorite thing to do here! So why not get the most out of your visit by going with an expert birder guide?
We are so glad that we visited Mistico with a guide because we would have missed a lot without Gabriel’s help. It’s an early morning tour, which is fantastic because this is the time of day when the birds are most active. We saw so many beautiful birds, including Collared Acari, jeweled-colored Jacamars, and more hummingbirds than we can count. Plus, Gabriel helped us to glimpse lots of sloths, monkeys, and snakes snoozing in the trees.
This tour is super accessible and we think it’s the best choice for families and those with mobility issues because Mistico Park is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Your guide can also help you rent an electric scooter on the day if you just don’t feel up to walking, so there’s no need to worry about whether or not you’re up to trekking around.
Oh, and I almost forgot one of my favorite aspects of this tour! The Mistico Hanging Bridges offer incredible views of the Arenal Volcano in the distance. The park really is breathtakingly beautiful and exploring it in the early morning when it’s quiet is too good of an opportunity to pass up, so our advice would be to book this tour before it sells out!
Reserve our favorite bird watching tour here and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
2. Private or small group bird watching near the Arenal Volcano
- Price: $92 USD – $133 USD
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 5:30 am or 3 pm
- Highlights: visit to Arenal Lake, spotting rare birds, expert guides
- Inclusions: hotel pickup and drop off, snacks, bottled water, expert guides, use of spotting scopes
- Pickup from: La Fortuna hotels
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 14 reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
This 3-hour tour is the perfect choice for keen bird watchers. If you’ve got specific birds that you’d like to see, then we suggest you book this tour ASAP – before someone else does!
There’s the choice between a small group or a private tour, but either way, if you tell your guides the birds that you would like to see, they’ll do their very best to make that happen. This tour covers a variety of terrains and secret birding spots, allowing participants to see rare highland, lowland, and aquatic species. Basically, we love it because it’s designed to help travelers tick off their bucket-list bird species.
Even the most experienced birders will really benefit from doing this tour because the guides know the local bird habitats and behaviors intimately, so your chances of seeing rare birds have never been higher! We saw some truly incredible species on this tour that we’ve never seen anywhere else in Costa Rica, including Cinnamon Woodpeckers and Amazonian Royal Flycatchers – and trust me, those guys have to be seen to be believed.
So if you love bird watching, then this tour will be one of the highlights of your time in La Fortuna. It’s absolutely incredible and worth every penny. Plus, they offer free cancellation so why not secure your spot now so that you don’t miss out?
Book this tour in advance here, before spots fill up!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Small group early morning bird watching tour in La Fortuna
- Price: $108 USD
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Time: 5:45 am
- Highlights: visit multiple birding hotspots, flexible itinerary to maximize chances of spotting rare birds, breakfast in front of bird feeders
- Inclusions: telescope, binoculars, breakfast, tea and coffee, hotel pickup and drop off, all transportation
- Pickup from: La Fortuna hotels
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 12 reviews)
- Free cancellation: yes
They say that the early bird gets the worm, but with this tour, it’s actually the early riser that gets to see the birds! Yup, I promise you that getting up at the crack of dawn will be 100% worth it as you hop between birding hotspots. In fact, you’ll have them all to yourselves, which is just a magical feeling. There’s really nothing like watching tropical birds in their natural habitat in the soft morning light, so don’t pass up this opportunity!
One thing that really impressed us about this early morning tour was our guide, Aron, who could identify birds like nobody’s business. He could hear the call of a rare bird from a mile away and taught us so much about the species we saw, which included Umbrellabirds and beautiful Scarlet-thighed Dacnis. Aron also adapted our itinerary according to the conditions of the day and the interests of our group, so although it was a shared tour it felt really personalized.
We also thought that this tour was great value for money because it finished off with a generous breakfast in front of some bird feeders, which meant that we were treated to a truly dazzling display as we ate. So if you’re looking for a tour that gives you a lot of bang for your buck, I would urge you to go ahead and book this tour.
Check availability and book this tour before you go here!
Other Things to do While You’re in La Fortuna
This is just one of the many fun activities to fill your itinerary with and there are so many other things to do in La Fortuna you won’t want to miss! These are just a few of our top picks:
- Hot springs – Be sure to get plenty of relaxation time during your stay in La Fortuna. The Free Natural Hot Spring River is a public river running through the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort. It’s only 15 minutes outside La Fortuna and feels amazing after a day of hiking! If you don’t mind paying for a soak, there are tons of other amazing hot springs in La Fortuna to choose from too.
- Go on a night walk – After a day of adventure, going on this night walk and dinner tour makes for a fun evening experience. Guides lead you on an easy hike through the rainforest, spotting all the critters that come out after dark. To finish it off, you’ll enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove.
- Visit a rope swing – El Salto, or “the rope swing,” is a hidden paradise with a swimming hole, waterfalls, and a local vibe. This is one of the best free things to do in La Fortuna! You can easily walk to El Salto and swing into the refreshing waters – or ask the locals where it’s safe to jump!
- Drink great coffee – It’s no secret some of the best coffee in the world comes from Costa Rica! You can grab a cup of coffee at one of the restaurants in La Fortuna or take it a step further with a coffee tour. We had the freshest cup of coffee and tasted amazing homemade chocolate on this Costa Rican coffee and chocolate experience that takes place on a small family-owned plantation.
- Arenal Volcano – Arenal Volcano is the centerpiece of La Fortuna! You can wander the trails at Arenal Volcano National Park on your own or as part of a hiking tour. For more unique volcano views, take to the sky aboard the Sky Tram, fly by on an ATV ride, or take a leisurely sunset cruise on Lake Arenal.
Where to Stay in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Because La Fortuna is such a big tourist town, there are a ton of amazing places to stay. We even wrote an entire blog about the best hotels in La Fortuna. However, to make it super easy, we’ve narrowed it down to our top places for each price point. So keep reading to find one that suits your needs (and budget!).
Luxury – $$$
Those with a luxury budget can wake up to views of Arenal Volcano! The Volcano Lodge is set at the foot of Arenal Volcano. It has hot springs and a lush, tropical garden on the property where you can see lots of the beautiful birds of Costa Rica, including hummingbirds! Rooms here typically start at $200 USD per night. For a luxurious stay in a natural setting, book The Volcano Lodge online here.
For arguably the most luxurious hotel in La Fortuna, check out The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal. While the rooms don’t come cheap ($600 USD+), it’s a bucket list place to stay that’s perfect for visiting Costa Rica on a honeymoon! There’s also a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a swim-up bar, hot tubs, and a spa and wellness center. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury, reserve your stay at The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal!
Mid-range – $$
Those with a medium budget should check out Casa Luna Hotel & Spa. I stayed here on my first visit to La Fortuna and loved it. The property is beautiful, with a large pool and four hot tubs surrounded by nature. They also include a delicious breakfast at the $170 USD room rate. Casa Luna is located a short drive from town and can be booked online here.
Budget – $
One of the go-to budget options is Selina La Fortuna. I’ve stayed in Selina hostels around the world, and this is a great one. It has a fun party atmosphere and a great co-working space where we spent a lot of time. You can also book on Booking.com or Hostelworld.com for the best rate.
La Fortuna Natural Green is another budget option suited to those who prefer to avoid hostels. They offer small chalets a short walk or drive from town. Rooms start at $75 USD and include free breakfast. To grab this great deal, check prices and availability on Booking.com.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
La Fortuna is one of the best places to go bird watching in all of Costa Rica! Not only will you see some beautiful birds, but plan on seeing lots of other unique wildlife too. I was shocked by how many animals our guide was able to find – it made taking a tour totally worthwhile!
Before you go, be sure to check out some of our other Costa Rica blogs. We love sharing our travel expertise and helping others plan their adventures. Costa Rica is simply too beautiful not to share! Check out a few related blogs below:
12 Famous Birds in Costa Rica and Where to See Them
The 3 Best Arenal Volcano National Park Tours from La Fortuna
10 Best Tamarindo Tours and Excursions You NEED to Check Out!