Discover the spectacular birdlife of Costa Rica’s Central Highlands on a birding adventure to the Poás Volcano region. Just over an hour from San José, this area offers exceptional opportunities to see dazzling hummingbirds, regional endemics, and one of the country’s most iconic birds—the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal. Whether you’re searching for lifers, photographing hummingbirds, or simply enjoying Costa Rica’s beautiful cloud forests, your guide will tailor the outing to maximize your birding opportunities.
| Country | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| State or Province | Alajuela |
More Information & Itinerary
Poás Volcano Highlands Birding Experience
The Poás Volcano region is one of Costa Rica’s premier birding destinations and one of the easiest world-class birding areas to reach from San José. In just over an hour, you’ll arrive in the cool cloud forests and mountain habitats of the Central Highlands, where an incredible diversity of birds awaits.
This route passes through several distinct elevations, allowing you to experience a variety of habitats in a single outing. From moss-covered cloud forests to productive roadside birding locations and hummingbird-rich cafés, every stop offers new opportunities to encounter some of Costa Rica’s most sought-after species.
One of the biggest highlights is the chance to observe the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal, along with an impressive variety of hummingbirds including Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Coppery-headed Emerald, and many more. Depending on the season and recent sightings, your guide may also visit flowering shrubs and hummingbird feeders that regularly attract multiple species.
Full-Day Tour
This full-day experience includes everything offered on the half-day tour, with additional time to explore a wider range of habitats and significantly increase your species total.
After a morning of birding in the highlands, you’ll stop for lunch at a bird-friendly café before continuing into additional middle-elevation and foothill habitats. The extra time allows for a more relaxed pace, additional birding stops, and opportunities to search for species that may not be active earlier in the day.
With a bit of luck, you may also encounter impressive raptors such as Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Barred Hawk, along with specialties including White-throated Spadebill, Wrenthrush, Zeledon’s Antbird, Northern Emerald Toucanet, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and many more.
Full-day tours typically finish around 5:00–5:30 PM, with sightings often reaching 110–150 species in a single day.
Tour Details
Duration: Full Day
Cost: $200USD (1-3 guests)
Transportation Add-on: $70USD
Start Time: 5:00 AM
What’s Included
- Professional birding guide
- Transportation to and from your hotel (when selected)
Not Included
- Lunch (full-day tours)
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Possible Species Highlights
Depending on the season and locations visited, you may encounter species such as Resplendent Quetzal, Black Guan, Barred Hawk, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Barred Parakeet, Violet Sabrewing, Green-crowned Brilliant, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Coppery-headed Emerald, Lesser Violetear, Collared Trogon, Northern Emerald Toucanet, Prong-billed Barbet, Red-faced Spinetail, Ruddy Treerunner, Zeledon’s Antbird, White-throated Spadebill, Tufted Flycatcher, Dark Pewee, Barred Becard, Sooty Thrush, Mountain Thrush, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Flame-throated Warbler, Collared Redstart, Costa Rican Warbler, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, Flame-colored Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Elegant Euphonia, and many more.
Poás Volcano Highlands Full Day Birding Tour
Discover the spectacular birdlife of Costa Rica’s Central Highlands on a birding adventure to the Poás Volcano region. Just over an hour from San José, this area offers exceptional opportunities to see dazzling hummingbirds, regional endemics, and one of the country’s most iconic birds—the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal. Whether you’re searching for lifers, photographing hummingbirds, or simply enjoying Costa Rica’s beautiful cloud forests, your guide will tailor the outing to maximize your birding opportunities.
We will contact you to confirm the date, refine the start time as needed and customize your experience!
Pricing is in US Dollars
$200.00
*Hold this booking with a deposit today. The balance will be paid directly to the tour guide or operator. All deposits are refundable pending guide/operator confirmation.
Poás Volcano Highlands Birding Experience
The Poás Volcano region is one of Costa Rica’s premier birding destinations and one of the easiest world-class birding areas to reach from San José. In just over an hour, you’ll arrive in the cool cloud forests and mountain habitats of the Central Highlands, where an incredible diversity of birds awaits.
This route passes through several distinct elevations, allowing you to experience a variety of habitats in a single outing. From moss-covered cloud forests to productive roadside birding locations and hummingbird-rich cafés, every stop offers new opportunities to encounter some of Costa Rica’s most sought-after species.
One of the biggest highlights is the chance to observe the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal, along with an impressive variety of hummingbirds including Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Coppery-headed Emerald, and many more. Depending on the season and recent sightings, your guide may also visit flowering shrubs and hummingbird feeders that regularly attract multiple species.
Full-Day Tour
This full-day experience includes everything offered on the half-day tour, with additional time to explore a wider range of habitats and significantly increase your species total.
After a morning of birding in the highlands, you’ll stop for lunch at a bird-friendly café before continuing into additional middle-elevation and foothill habitats. The extra time allows for a more relaxed pace, additional birding stops, and opportunities to search for species that may not be active earlier in the day.
With a bit of luck, you may also encounter impressive raptors such as Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Barred Hawk, along with specialties including White-throated Spadebill, Wrenthrush, Zeledon’s Antbird, Northern Emerald Toucanet, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and many more.
Full-day tours typically finish around 5:00–5:30 PM, with sightings often reaching 110–150 species in a single day.
Tour Details
Duration: Full Day
Cost: $200USD (1-3 guests)
Transportation Add-on: $70USD
Start Time: 5:00 AM
What’s Included
- Professional birding guide
- Transportation to and from your hotel (when selected)
Not Included
- Lunch (full-day tours)
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Possible Species Highlights
Depending on the season and locations visited, you may encounter species such as Resplendent Quetzal, Black Guan, Barred Hawk, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Barred Parakeet, Violet Sabrewing, Green-crowned Brilliant, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Coppery-headed Emerald, Lesser Violetear, Collared Trogon, Northern Emerald Toucanet, Prong-billed Barbet, Red-faced Spinetail, Ruddy Treerunner, Zeledon’s Antbird, White-throated Spadebill, Tufted Flycatcher, Dark Pewee, Barred Becard, Sooty Thrush, Mountain Thrush, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Flame-throated Warbler, Collared Redstart, Costa Rican Warbler, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, Flame-colored Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Elegant Euphonia, and many more.
| Country | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| State or Province | Alajuela |
Patrick O’Donnell
Pat started birding in his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY at the age of
8. He has worked as a field assistant in a variety of bird studies in
different corners of the USA, helped with macaw studies in Tambopata
Peru, and has guided birders in Ecuador and Peru. In 2007, he moved to
Costa Rica where he became a legal permanent resident and guide for
hundreds of clients throughout the country. Pat is a board member for
the official bird list for Costa Rica, a country wide reviewer for
eBird, and one of the founders of Birding Field Guide apps. He is also
the author of the ebook, “How to See, Find, and Identify Birds in Costa
Rica”, and writes and consults about birds, birding, tourism,
conservation, and natural history.
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