Birdwatching Tour: Explore Esquipulas Mountains

Escape the crowds and explore Esquipulas mountains’ pristine rainforest. Discover 300 bird species in a serene, tropical paradise. Book your birdwatching tour now.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Quepos - While we drive through Quepos on the way back we always check for Macaw nests to make a wonderful picture of them.
  • Esquipulas - Here we will take our time to find as many birds as we can. Your local bird expert will look for hotspots to find the beautiful orange collared Manakin, turquoise Cotinga, white Crested Coquette, scaly…
What's Included
  • Breakfast
Additional Information

Avoid the crowded touristic areas of Manuel Antonio Park, and join us to the rural and peaceful mountains of the Rainforest, just 30 minutes away from your hotel. Nothing but us and the birds. Completely pristine forest full of bird songs and tropical flowers. Discover the magic of Esquipulas mountains . Immerse in Costa Rica’s rich birdlife, home to about 300 species. Book your unforgettable birdwatching tour today!

Location
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(11 Ratings)
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1 star
46135pat
Apr 7, 2025
Birders from Indiana - Oh my gosh….my husband and I had a birding tour with Fabio this morning. Got an early start to be able to take advantage of more bird activities. Fabio knows the area and the birds SO well and shares his knowledge and expertise freely. He is so quick to hear a bird, spot them, get his spotting scope in position, and snap pics thru the scope, all while allowing us to see each and every bird. Truly a professional that I would easily and highly recommend to any birder. We found so many amazing birds, which was a prime reason for visiting CR. Give him a try…you won’t be disappointed!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mereif
Mar 16, 2025
A great show of birds - Fabio Araya is excellent at spotting and attracting the birds of Costa Rica. He is enthusiastic! Driving into the mountains was a visual treat and a relief to the coastal heat. We had so much fun and learned so much from him. We would definitely do it again!
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Amandasunflower99
Mar 16, 2025
Wonderful experience!! - This was definitely the highlight of our trip, no crowds, beautiful mountains, delicious costarrican breakfast and coffee and the most important and our favorite was all the species our guide found for us and super nice photos. Very professional tour we were very happy and will always recommend to all our friends! We really wanted to see a Caracara and the guide found it for us and also got awesome photos of it!! I would do it again for sure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kekolditours
Feb 10, 2025
I would do it again for sure - I visited Esquipulas in November for a solo birdwatching tour with Fabio Araya, and it was incredible. Fabio is a fantastic guide, spotting all kind of fauna! A bit of rain didn’t spoil the experience—the forest felt alive, and the bird activity was great. If you love nature and birds, this tour is a must-do!
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Rrfcr2025
Feb 9, 2025
Great bird watching experience in Esquipulas - I loved the bird watching tour to Manuel Antonio Esquipulas with Fabio Araya. He is a passionate and extremely competent guide, able to spot and identify a wide variety of species. Despite light rain, the activity of the birds remained excellent. I had the chance to observe toucans, trogons, motmots, tangaras and even a spectacled owl! The peaceful atmosphere of the forest made the experience even more special. If you are an ornithology lover or simply a nature lover, this outing is a must!
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Meredith
Feb 6, 2025
Cuatro Quetzales!!!! - I wanted to see the resplendent quetzal so Fabio suggested a day trip to San Gerado de Dota. He and a wonderful driver, Berny, took me and two friends up to the mountains from Quepos at 3am because it would give us the best chance to see the quetzals. Fabio had been communicating with the local guides prior to our trip to ensure the best spots. We saw two male quetzals in two different places. Fabio used his scope so we could see the vibrant colors and took photos with a professional camera. We went for a delicious breakfast which had lots of bird feeders in the back. Fabio grabbed his camera and started taking amazing photos of the hummingbirds and other birds. While we were driving to Parque Nacional Los Quetzales, we spotted another male quetzal in the trees and a female too. Cuatro quetzales! As we continued back to Quepos, we stopped at Restaurante Los Chespiritos 1, then Laguna La Bruja, and another stop for empanadas in Platanillo. Everything was included in the tour. Fabio shared all the amazing photos and videos. In all of my traveling, this was one of the best days and tours I've ever experienced. Fabio is a great person and even better tour guide! I highly recommend any of his tours. Pura Vida!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Harmonhub88
Feb 5, 2025
Fantastic Birdwatching Tour in Esquipulas – Great for Families! - Our family had an amazing experience on the Esquipulas Birdwatching Tour with Fabio Araya. My wife, kids, and I joined the tour, and it was truly a highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. Fabio is an outstanding guide, incredibly knowledgeable and patient, making the tour enjoyable for both experienced birders and beginners. He kept our kids engaged with fun facts and helped them spot birds through the scope, which made the experience even more special for them. We saw a fantastic variety of birds, most of them were lifers for us... It rained a little during the tour, but it didn’t affect the experience—in fact, it made the forest feel even more alive. The birds kept active, and we enjoyed the cool, fresh air. Fabio was well-prepared and ensured we stayed comfortable despite the weather. çWhether you’re an avid birder or just want to enjoy Costa Rica’s incredible wildlife, this tour is highly recommended—especially for families!
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Talamancaraptors
Feb 5, 2025
Great experience - My wife and I had an unforgettable experience on the Manuel Antonio Esquipulas Birdwatching Tour with Fabio Araya. This tour took us away from the busy tourist areas of Quepos and into the peaceful and bird-rich region of Esquipulas, where we encountered an impressive variety of species in a stunning natural setting. Fabio is an exceptional guide—his deep knowledge of birds, keen eye, and ability to spot even the most camouflaged species made the experience truly special. He provided fascinating insights into each bird’s behavior, calls, and habitat, making it not just a birdwatching tour but an educational journey into Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity. We were able to observe toucans, trogons, motmots, hummingbirds, tanagers, and even raptors, among many others. The highlight for us was spotting a Spectacled Owl, a moment we will never forget! Fabio also helped us get amazing photos, thanks to his expertise in digiscoping. The location in Esquipulas is perfect for birdwatching, offering a mix of forest, open areas, and streams that attract a wide range of species. The tranquility of the area made it feel like a hidden gem. We highly recommend this tour is truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to return for another tour! 5/5 – A fantastic experience for nature lovers!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidaraya2025
Feb 5, 2025
Wow birding... - Fabio’s birdwatching tour in the Esquipulas Mountains was nothing short of amazing! His knowledge of the local birdlife is unparalleled, and his enthusiasm is contagious. The highlight for me was the incredible photos he took during the tour—his skill with the camera captured the beauty of the birds in a way I’ll cherish forever. Fabio’s telescope was also top-notch, making it easy to observe even the most elusive species. I appreciated how patient and attentive he was, ensuring everyone in the group had a chance to see and learn about the birds. The list of birds we saw at the end was a fantastic keepsake. If you’re looking for a memorable and educational birdwatching experience, Fabio is the guide to book with!
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Kenneth
Jan 11, 2025
Fantastic Bird Tour by FABIO - Awesome, phenomenal Pura, Vida!!! Only way to describe this tour and the tour guide Fabio !!! Fabio has a gifts of finding rare birds as he did for us on this tour, he is so knowledgeable about each and every species and gave us a lot of information the we will not soon forget. We recommend this tour and especially Fabio he is the best!!! THANK YOU FABIO!!!!!
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From $135
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).