Costa Rica Bird watching Trips

This was my first Exodus trip and it was a wonderful two weeks exploring Costa Rica with a small group of 7, our fantastic guide Guillermo and excellent driver Carlos. Two nights in each location, very different landscapes. We saw a huge number of creatures and an amazing 174 species of birds. Great hotels and excellent airport pick up in San Jose. This holiday was fabulous!

From steamy Tortoguero, with the howler monkeys waking us up at 5.00am (no need for an alarm!) to cool, mountainous Savegre thronging with hummingbirds, this was a tour of contrasting habitats each with their own variety of wildlife, plants and flowers. In addition to the wildlife elements of the tour, visits to the Aquiares coffee factory and CAITE research centre were incredibly interesting. The optional visit to the Bri Bri community was well worth it; we learned all about how chocolate is made from scratch and had great fun trying each part of the process. While there were some longer travel days, they were well paced, never felt too onerous and we often saw interesting things en route. The boat trips were fantastic- just getting to Tortoguero and to Drake Bay were experiences in themselves, with opportunity to see lot of wildlife on the way. The snorkelling trip was amazing- we were able to swim above sea turtles, rays and amongst lots of colourful fish. Even if you don't snorkel, the boat trip was worth doing- we saw a pod of humpback whales quite close to the boat, and a variety of birds. The accommodation was comfortable and in all the hotel grounds we were able to spot a variety of wildlife- great for photographers who enjoy having a camera/phone in one hand and a 'sundowner' in the other!

Our guide Mnfred Cyrman was great, the itinery was very interesting and well thought out with a perfect balance of group activity and personal time for relaxation. All of the food and accomodations were great, and the transport bus and driver were also great.

This trip truly lives up to its name and was an unforgettable way to experience Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity. From lush rainforests and wildlife-rich national parks to volcanic landscapes and the coast, the itinerary felt perfectly balanced and thoughtfully paced, with each destination offering something new and exciting. One of the real highlights was the wildlife. Seeing animals in their natural habitat was a daily occurrence, made even more special by the expertise of our local leader. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and ability to spot wildlife we would otherwise have missed added huge value to the experience and brought the landscapes to life. The trip also offered a great mix of guided walks, scenic drives and time to simply take in the surroundings, making it feel immersive without ever being rushed. Early starts were well worth it for the rewarding wildlife encounters and peaceful moments in nature. Overall, this adventure is ideal for anyone wanting to explore Costa Rica’s natural highlights in depth, with the reassurance of excellent organisation and an outstanding local leader. A truly memorable journey through one of the world’s most beautiful and biodiverse countries.

I did this trip in September 2025 and this is by far the best one I have done so far. This trip shows you how diverse the country is with its different ecosystems and wildlife. From the Caribbean coast over to the Pacific. Everywhere you look there is an abundance of wildlife from the colourful birds and larger mammals/primates right down to the tiny frogs and leaf cutter ants.

As an Exodus Employee, spending two weeks in Costa Rica getting to explore the country's most beautiful and diverse sites was one of the most incredible adventures I have been on. The fact that all places are so unique and diverse from one another and getting to see incredible wildlife throughout the trip was fantastic.