Bird photography in Costa Rica is quite exciting. There are literally hundreds of exotic, tropical bird species, dozens of glowing hummingbirds, beautiful tanagers, trogons, and more, always more.
What a beautiful Quetzal too!
While it is true that mature forests hold the highest total number of species, they are not the best places for bird photography. Yes, rainforest trails can have rare and little-photographed bird species but you’ll need the right equipment, time, and stamina.
I’m all for experiencing those forest denizens, I actually prefer that birding method. However, to get pictures of birds to my heart’s content, I go to places with better light, comfort, and easier access to birds. Fortunately, in Costa Rica, many such sites exist, too numerous to mention. Some of the top contenders are Laguna del Lagarto, Maquenque Lodge, Rancho Naturalista, Hotel Quelitales, Arenal Observatory Lodge, Hotel de Campo at Cano Negro, and Quinta Galeon.
There are many more places I could mention but in this blog post, I will focus on 5 of the easiest sites for amazing bird photography. These are very accessible sites within easy striking distance of San Jose and the Central Valley, can be visited alone, and have an impressive array of feathered subjects.
The Cinchona Hummingbird Cafe
This gem of a site is one of Costa Rica’s classic birding hotspots. If there is any downside, it is that the place has become very popular. However, even if you don’t mind loud conversations and sharing space with a group of people, there will still be birds.
Located about an hour and a half from San Jose on route 126, this area is easily accessible and a great place to enjoy coffee and food while photographing a good selection of middle elevation birds .
Papaya feeders often have Northern American Toucanet, Prong-billed Barbet, and even the fancy Red-headed Barbet!
Although bird species vary, common subjects also include Silver-throated Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, and other small birds. On the hummingbird front, this site usually has 7 or 8 species including the magnificent Violet Sabrewing and the endemic Coppery-headed Emerald.
This cafe has several names, the most recent one might be Cafe Colibri. It is located on the east side of the road, about ten minutes north of Peace Waterfall, and is the only place on route 126 with a donkey corral across the road. They may charge for photos but starting September, 2024, people using the restaurant will not have to pay anything extra. However, I encourage you to make a generous donation to these bird-friendly people and birders.
But wait, there’s more! The trip to Cinchona also hosts chances at high elevation hummingbirds and even quetzals. However, to see them, it will be easier if there is a guide.
Nectar and Pollen
This is the best site for foothill rainforest bird photography near San Jose. It’s also one of the best sites in Costa Rica! Just an hour’s drive or less from San Jose, Nectar and Pollen is well set up for tanagers, hummingbirds, and other rainforest species.
They do have a trail but for bird photography, it’s better and easier to sit and enjoy a coffee while photographing Rufous Motmot, Collared Aracari, oropendolas, and many others.
Hummingbirds also visit the garden and can include the Snowcap and Violet-headed Hummingbird among other species. Occasionally, the White-tipped Sicklebill also appears.
There is also a pasture area next to the rainforest that can be very good for raptors, the photogenic Long-tailed Tyrant, and various other species. In rainy season, you can get flybys of Great Green Macaw.
Nectar and Pollen is a small private area located on Route 32 just north of the Rainforest Aerial Tram. To visit, you must contact Miguel Delgado in advance. He can also update you on the entrance fees.
The Tarcoles Area
Hoping for pictures of Scarlet Macaw? Tarcoles is the closest, easiest place near San Jose. This small fishing village is about an hour and 20 minutes or so drive from San Jose, and offers access to easy roadside photography.
Macaws often feed on trees near the beach and even in town itself. Black-headed Trogons, and various lowland species are also accessible, and boat tours dedicated to bird photography are also available.
On the way to Tarcoles, nearby sites like the Ceiba Orotina area and the Guacima Road can also be good for Double-striped Thick-knee, White-throated Magpie-Jay, and many other species. There is also the Cerro Lodge road with the Cerro Lodge and the Tarcoles Birding Lodge. Both of these sites can have great photo opps in their area. For access, you will probably have to pay for a meal, both are worth contacting in advance.
I should also mention that although you can bird this area on your own, it will be easier and more productive with a guide.
San Luis Canopy
This fun place is also about an hour and a half from San Jose and is located on the main road from San Ramon to La Fortuna. Officially known as “Parque Aventura San Luis”, this site often produces exciting and popular zip line tours through the beautiful middle elevation rainforest.
There are also some nice tourist shops there and a nice local restaurant to eat at after a good morning of bird photography. The draw for this special place is their tanager feeder set up. Banana and papaya patches on and near natural perches bring Emerald, Bay-headed, and other tanager species, often, too close for long lenses!
Even the unusual Blue-and-gold and Black-and-yellow Tanager can show up along with the Black-cheeked Woodpecker and other common birds. San Luis can also have rare birds on their trails, even the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, and Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo!
Ask if these birds have been seen. If so, for $10, one of their guides can take you with them! The entrance fee can be around $30 to explore the trails and hanging bridge on your own. It costs $10 just to stay with the tanagers.
Christmas Eve at Irazu Volcano
This area is a bit far from San Jose but still close enough for easy birding. Reaching the Nochebuena area takes about an hour and 40 minutes of driving on the main road to Irazu.
This site requires an extra early start to get past San Jose by 6, otherwise you’ll be stuck in heavy, slow traffic. Nochebuena is a small, cozy cafe with trails ($6) in high elevation residences. At 9,000 to 10,000 feet, the trails can be tough on the lungs but that’s where you usually need to be to see the mega Maroon-chested Ground-Dove and Wrenthrush.
If you’d rather not hike, luckily, there are great photo opps right at the cafe and just down the road. Hummingbird feeders attract Talamanca, Volcano, and Fiery-throated Hummingbirds along with Lesser Violetears while the riparian zone and adjacent forests often have quetzals and other upland birds.
As a bonus, a short drive up the moor will bring you Volcano Juncos, Timberline Wrens, possibly a Peg-billed Finch, and other beautiful birdies.
Going birding in Costa Rica? Have an extra day for bird photography, like maybe at the beginning or end of a tour? You can’t go wrong with the sites mentioned above. To learn more about these and other birding sites in Costa Rica, prepare for your birding trip, and support this blog, get “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa Rica”. Hope to see you here!
