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Are you looking for the best bird-watching tours in Monteverde Cloud Forest?
We’ve got you covered! Monteverde is a bird-watcher’s paradise with over 400 species to see. The problem is that the cloud forest is huge and birds can be seriously difficult to spot without a guide. As bird-watching enthusiasts ourselves, we decided to take some of the tours offered here to see which were up to snuff, and below are the three best we found.
We include several types of tours for you to pick from, as well as all of the important details and some tips. So keep reading as we cover the best bird-watching tours in Monteverde!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this bird-watching experience that takes you through the Monteverde Cloud Forest to spot rare birds with one of the best naturalist guides in Costa Rica! You can check out all the 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Tip: Reserve this tour early to guarantee your spot and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go!
Best Bird-Watching Tours in Monteverde
1. Half-day Birdwatching Tour with highly experienced naturalist local guide
- Price: $85 USD
- Duration: 5 hours
- Highlights: Bird-watching in Monteverde Cloud Forest, spotting rare species, led by one of the best naturalist bird-watching guides in Costa Rica
- Inclusions: English-speaking guide, return transportation from central locations, spotting scope
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 48+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
When it comes to bird watching in Monteverde, it doesn’t get better than doing it on this specific tour with Jean Carlo. The level of experience and passion he brings to his bird-watching tours are nothing short of legendary. Bird-watching enthusiasts will not want to miss out on this experience and the chance to see tons of rare species!
There are start times of 6 am and 12:30 pm, but I recommend going earlier for a higher chance of spotting rare birds. Our day started early when Jean Carlo picked us up from Santa Elena and it was a quick 10-minute drive to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Once we arrived, we needed to buy our tickets which were only $26 USD a piece.
Over the 4.5 hours we were in the park, Jean Carlo took us around to different places to see over 50 species of birds. It was incredible how he knew exactly where to look and his knowledge of each was amazing. Some of the ones we saw were tanagers, resplendent quetzal, and the three-wattled bellbird, but there were so many others. Bring your best camera because you’ll be taking lots of pictures.
Overall, this was the best birdwatching tour we took in Monteverde and one not to be missed by enthusiasts or just those who are curious! This is a small group tour and not private, but it has a maximum of 10 people, so it’s still an intimate experience.
Book our FAVORITE bird-watching tour here and see how many species you’ll spot!
Related Read: Our guide to the Monteverde Cloud Forest has all the tips you should know before your visit!
2. Private, Customizable Bird-Watching Tour with local guide and professional photographs
- Price: $125 USD
- Duration: 6 hours
- Highlights: Bird-watching in Monteverde Cloud Forest, spotting rare species, complimentary photographs of birds spotted, naturalist guide
- Inclusions: English-speaking naturalist guide, round-trip transportation from your accommodation, spotting scope
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
There’s a lot to love about this private birdwatching tour. Since it’s private, you get that one-on-one attention and the opportunity to do and see more that you couldn’t with a group.
I’m also a big fan of the fact that it has flexible start times from 5:30 am to 1:30 pm and is 6 hours long, so you have tons of time to see the beautiful birds of Monteverde! If you’re a bird-watching enthusiast and want to see all Monteverde has to offer, this tour is for you.
Having round-trip transportation is a big deal when getting up early, so starting the day not having to meet at a public pickup point earns this experience major brownie points. The cost of entrance to the park isn’t included, so you’ll need to snag tickets for $26 USD when you arrive, but then it’s off to the races.
With a knowledgeable guide, you’ll have the bird-watching experience of a lifetime spotting rare species like the three-wattled bellbird, coppery-headed emerald, and more!
Something else I think is cool about this tour is that they take pictures of the birds you spot for you. So if you don’t have a high-powered camera or you just want to focus on looking at the birds, you still get great pictures.
If you want the ultimate Monteverde bird-watching experience without the hassle of a fixed itinerary, look no further than this tour and book your spot today!
Book this private bird-watching tour here!
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. Half-day, Semi-Private Bird-Watching Tour of Curi-Cancha Reserve
- Price: $50 USD
- Duration: 3 hours
- Highlights: Bird-watching in the lesser visited Curi-Cancha Reserve, spotting rare species, naturalist guide, option to rent electric cart for those with mobility issues
- Inclusions: English-speaking naturalist guide, spotting scope
- Rating: 5 Stars (Read the 80+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
While this bird-watching tour may be shorter than others on the list, it doesn’t mean that it won’t pack a punch. You still have tons of time to see rare species, but it’s easier to fit into the day and costs much less than other options.
I also think it’s super cool they include the opportunity to rent electric carts for people with mobility issues, so they can still enjoy the magic of bird-watching. So if you’re after a short, sweet, and affordable experience, this tour is perfect!
Hotel pickup isn’t included, but the entrance to Curi-Cancha Reserve is only about 7 minutes outside of town so it’s super easy to reach. It also isn’t technically part of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, but it’s just as pretty and offers all the same rare species of birds and a great spot to see other native animals! Another thing I like about this reserve is that entrance is only $20 USD versus Monteverde’s $26 USD.
This tour has a maximum of 7 people, so you still get all of the perks of a private tour without the cost. Roy is the sole guide of this experience and is as local as it gets, so you’re sure to have a blast with him as you explore the reserve and feel like Indian Jones. You even get to cross multiple rope bridges!
This experience doesn’t cut corners and only costs $50 USD. With a dynamite guide who shows you a lesser-visited reserve, if you like off-the-beaten-path tours don’t miss out and book it today.
Book this tour here to guarantee your spot and pay later!
Related Read: Take in one of our recommended coffee tours in Monteverde while you’re here to taste the freshest cup of coffee you’ve ever had!
Other Things to do While You’re in Monteverde
While going bird-watching is definitely a must-do, don’t forget to explore the rest of this area. There are so many fun activities in Monteverde, that you could spend your entire vacation here! These are just a few of our favorites:
- Night walk – There are some animals you can only see at night! Guided Night Walks in Monteverde are a great way to (safely!) explore the jungle after dark. This night tour is a small group of up to 8 and you’ll have a naturalist guide to help you spot all the nocturnal creatures. It’s also super affordable at only $33 USD including round-trip transport.
- Go ziplining – Ziplining is easily a top adventure activity in Monteverde. This ziplining tour has it all! It’s three hours of fun including the Superman zipline, which is the longest and highest zipline in Costa Rica and all of Latin America!
- Selvatura Park – Selvatura Park is a nature and adventure park located inside 850 acres of protected rainforest. This park has a network of hanging bridges above the tree canopy that give you incredible aerial views of the rainforest. Get the chance to explore all the bridges, go ziplining across 15 different lines, and try out the thrilling Tarzan swing on this Selvatura Park Combo Tour!
- Go bungy jumping – Bungy jumping is one of the fun Monteverde attractions you have to try … if you’re brave enough! The Extreme Bungee Jumping in Monteverde Tour has a daring jump from over 460 feet (140 meters). That’s the highest in Costa Rica and all of Central America!
- Horseback riding – This is a great way to give your feet a break and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest! This Monteverde Cloud Forest horseback riding tour lets you cover a lot of ground as you trek through farmland and the surrounding landscape in Monteverde. Keep an eye out for toucans, parrots, monkeys, and other critters as you experience the rural side of Costa Rica, far from any crowds or traffic.
Where to Stay in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Monteverde may be a small tourist town, but there are a surprisingly large amount of great hotels in all budget ranges. To help you pick a favorite, here are our top recommendations:
Chira Glamping Monteverde – $$$
If you’re a luxury traveler, I highly suggest choosing what we call a “destination hotel”. These hotels are an attraction in themselves because of the unique experience they offer. In Monteverde one of the best is Chira Glamping Monteverde which offers luxury camping with the option to have your own private hot tub surrounded by nature.
The view from the property is incredible! Rates begin at $439 USD/night. You can check availability and book online with Booking.com.
Camino Verde B&B Monteverde – $$
For those well past their backpacking days who can spend a little more, I love Camino Verde B&B Monteverde Costa Rica. This boutique hotel has beautiful rooms, a deck with magnificent views, and includes breakfast. It’s a comfortable hotel that comes at a great price.
Rates dip as low as under $100 USD/night. You can check availability and book a room online here.
Selina Monteverde – $
If you’re a budget traveler or backpacker, there are lots of nice hostels in Monteverde. If you like modern features and outstanding facilities, Selina Monteverde is the best option. The hostel is beautiful, has great reviews, and lots of activities including yoga.
Prices begin at $97 USD for a private room or $25 USD for a bunk in a dorm. You can book Selina on Booking.com or here on Hostelworld.
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!
I was blown away by all the birds we saw in Monteverde and I know I wouldn’t have spotted even a third of them without a guide! These bird-watching tours in Monteverde ensure you’re not wasting your time wandering around and not seeing anything. The guides are so good at spotting even the sneakiest of birds!
If you need more help planning your trip, look no further than our blog on Costa Rica. After living and traveling across the country, we’ve created guides for all the top destinations and even some that might not be on your radar – but should be!
4 BEST Hanging Bridges in Monteverde + How to Visit Them!
3 BEST Monteverde Horseback Riding Tours