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.
Half-Day Tour
Your adventure begins with an early 5:00 AM pickup from your hotel in the Central Valley before heading directly to the Poás Volcano area. The morning is spent exploring high-elevation habitats where you’ll search for iconic mountain species including Resplendent Quetzal, Sooty Thrush, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Large-footed Finch, Collared Redstart, and many other regional specialties.
As the morning progresses, you’ll gradually descend into productive middle-elevation forests in search of species such as Prong-billed Barbet, Dark Pewee, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Collared Trogon, and numerous colorful tanagers, flycatchers, and warblers.
Half-day tours conclude around 11:30 AM before returning to your hotel and commonly produce 60–70 bird species, depending on the season and bird activity.
Tour Details
Duration: Half Day
Cost: $130USD (1-3 guests)
Transportation Add-on: $50USD
Start Time: 5:00 AM
What’s Included
- Professional birding guide
- Transportation to and from your hotel (when selected)
Not Included
- Snacks
- 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 Half 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
$130.00
*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.
Half-Day Tour
Your adventure begins with an early 5:00 AM pickup from your hotel in the Central Valley before heading directly to the Poás Volcano area. The morning is spent exploring high-elevation habitats where you’ll search for iconic mountain species including Resplendent Quetzal, Sooty Thrush, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Large-footed Finch, Collared Redstart, and many other regional specialties.
As the morning progresses, you’ll gradually descend into productive middle-elevation forests in search of species such as Prong-billed Barbet, Dark Pewee, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Collared Trogon, and numerous colorful tanagers, flycatchers, and warblers.
Half-day tours conclude around 11:30 AM before returning to your hotel and commonly produce 60–70 bird species, depending on the season and bird activity.
Tour Details
Duration: Half Day
Cost: $130USD (1-3 guests)
Transportation Add-on: $50USD
Start Time: 5:00 AM
What’s Included
- Professional birding guide
- Transportation to and from your hotel (when selected)
Not Included
- Snacks
- 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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