Costa Rica Wildlife Essentials Tour (NOVEMBER 2026)

After your international flight, we’ll pick you up at the airport and head together to a beautiful hotel surrounded by tropical gardens. This is where the whole group will meet, get to know each other, and start taking our first photos in a setting filled with heliconias, orchids, and butterflies — a relaxing introduction to Costa Rica’s nature before we venture into wilder regions.

Target species in the hotel garden: Lesson’s motmot, chestnut-capped warbler, white-eared ground-sparrow, mottled owl, rufous-tailed hummingbird, great kiskadee, and grey-headed tanager.

Accessible only by boat, Tortuguero is a true immersion into Costa Rica’s wild Caribbean. Navigating its maze of canals as a group feels like entering another world, surrounded by rainforest alive with monkeys, sloths, and countless waterbirds. The black-sand beaches add an unforgettable highlight during turtle nesting season (July to October), an iconic wildlife spectacle that the group can witness together. Few places offer such a powerful combination of lush scenery, abundant fauna, and authentic isolation.

Target species in Tortuguero: Great Green Macaw, Sungrebe, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, plus three species of monkeys (Mantled Howler, White-throated Capuchin, Central American Spider Monkey), two species of sloths (Brown-throated Three-toed, Hoffman’s Two-toed), Spectacled Caiman, Green Iguana, Green Basilisk, West Indian Manatee, Jaguar, and sea turtles (Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill and Leatherback depending on the season).

In Sarapiquí, we step right into a rainforest that never stops moving. The moment we start walking, the jungle wraps around us — monkeys rustling above, toucans slipping between the branches, and small frogs showing up when you least expect it. And out on the river, everything feels calmer, like the forest is letting us peek into its world without disturbing it.

It’s the perfect place to start connecting with nature for real. Around the lodge, there’s always something happening: birds at the feeders, butterflies on the flowers, iguanas warming up in the sun. Everything flows naturally, and the wildlife shows up on its own when we slow down and let it.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Arenal Volcano, this region combines excellent wildlife watching with spectacular scenery. Garden feeders attract hummingbirds and oropendolas, giving the group great opportunities for close observation. Shared walks along rainforest trails reveal trogons, motmots, and monkeys, while suspension bridges offer a unique canopy perspective that everyone can enjoy — perfect for group photography moments.

The area is also renowned for its natural hot springs, providing a relaxing break for the group after days of exploration. Evening walks add a new dimension, as frogs, snakes, and nocturnal insects fill the forest with activity, creating a memorable experience for everyone.

Target species in La Fortuna: Emerald Tanager, Great Curassow, Black-crested Coquette, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Montezuma Oropendola, Crested Guan, antbirds, woodcreepers and euphonias. Mammals include howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, spider monkeys, coatis and sloths. Reptiles and amphibians highlights are green iguanas, emerald basilisks, red-eyed treefrogs, poison dart frogs and spectacled caimans.

The Tárcoles River is world famous for its massive crocodiles, easily seen on a boat tour that the group enjoys together. The journey also enters mangrove channels, a fascinating ecosystem home to specialized birds and countless aquatic creatures, creating shared moments of discovery for everyone.

Nearby Carara National Park protects a transition forest where dry and wet habitats meet, resulting in extraordinary biodiversity. Exploring its trails with a guide as a group allows for a richer experience, as different eyes help spot monkeys, deer, and an impressive variety of forest birds. Combined with the hotel gardens and the proximity to the Pacific coast, this region offers one of the most diverse and exciting wildlife experiences in Costa Rica.

Target species in Tárcoles & Carara: American Crocodile, Mangrove Hummingbird, Scarlet Macaw, Black-headed Trogon, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Rufous-naped Wren, Streak-backed Oriole, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, herons, egrets, kingfishers, shorebirds, White-throated Capuchin Monkey, agouti and white-tailed deer.

This region blends rainforest, rivers, and ocean into one of the most scenic coastal landscapes in southern Costa Rica. As a group, we explore the trails of Hacienda Barú, where encounters with monkeys, sloths, and a variety of colorful birds are common. The area’s wetlands also provide excellent opportunities to observe herons, trogons, and antshrikes in their natural environment.

Out at sea, Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita is one of the country’s top places to spot humpback whales and dolphins during migration season (December to March and July to October). Outside whale season, the area still shines with snorkeling, waterfalls, wide beaches, and a vibrant local atmosphere. It’s a perfect stop for groups seeking a balanced mix of marine and terrestrial wildlife.

Target species in Dominical & Uvita: At sea, seasonal Humpback Whales (Northern and Southern populations), several species of dolphins (Spotted, Bottlenose, and Spinner Dolphins), and a good variety of seabirds highlight the marine portion of the region. On land, we may find species like Fiery-billed Aracari, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Orange-collared Manakin, Common Potoo, Black-hooded Antshrike, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Riverside Wren, plus up to three monkey species (White-faced Capuchin, Mantled Howler, Spider Monkey), both two- and three-toed Sloths, Green Iguanas, and other reptiles.

The Osa Peninsula is Costa Rica’s crown jewel of biodiversity and one of the most biologically intense places on Earth. As a group, we stay near Corcovado National Park, immersing ourselves in pristine rainforest where wildlife encounters feel truly wild and unfiltered. Monkeys leaping through the canopy, tapirs quietly crossing the trails, and the constant movement of life around us make every moment unforgettable.

The experience extends beyond the forest as well. Group boat trips through the vast Sierpe mangroves reveal crocodiles, birds, and vibrant ecosystems, while snorkeling at Caño Island adds a marine dimension with pristine reefs and crystal-clear waters. The Osa brings together untouched landscapes, iconic mammals, and rare birdlife—an essential destination for anyone seeking Costa Rica at its most authentic.

Target species in Corcovado & the Osa Peninsula: Baird’s Tapir, all four monkey species (Mantled Howler, White-faced Capuchin, Spider Monkey, Central American Squirrel Monkey), both species of sloths, peccaries, anteaters, and—with some luck—wild cats including Puma and Jaguar. Bird highlights include the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager (an Osa endemic), Golden-naped Woodpecker, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Black-hooded Antshrike, Riverside Wren, Fiery-billed Aracari, and the unmistakable Scarlet Macaw.

We head out early toward the mountains of the Central Valley. This area is one of the best places in the world to observe the resplendent quetzal. The cool cloud forest is home to many high-elevation endemics, making it a dream destination for both birdwatchers and photographers.

We’ll stay in a lodge specialized in quetzal observation, surrounded by gardens and trails where hummingbirds, warblers, and many other species are easy to spot. We’ll have access to perfect perches for photography, where quetzals frequently appear in the morning and afternoon. Around midday, we’ll visit excellent hummingbird gardens to put our camera gear to the test.

Target species in Cerro de la Muerte: resplendent quetzal and multiple hummingbird species.

After a delicious breakfast, we said goodbye to Costa Rica and headed back to the airport. That same afternoon you can catch your international flight home, or continue exploring the country by combining it with another trip. Pura vida!