Tropical Dry Forest & Mangrove Half Day Birding Tour
Experience a different side of Costa Rica on this birding adventure through the country’s unique tropical dry forests and coastal mangroves. Just an hour from San José, the Orotina and Mata de Limón region is home to an incredible variety of colorful birds, including Scarlet Macaw, Turquoise-browed Motmot, tropical raptors, and the endangered Mangrove Hummingbird.
Ideal for birders of all experience levels, this half-day tour explores a fascinating mix of dry forest, open countryside, wetlands, and mangrove habitats. Whether you’re searching for regional specialties, adding lifers to your list, or simply enjoying Costa Rica’s remarkable biodiversity, your guide will tailor the outing to maximize your birding opportunities.
More Information & Itinerary
While many visitors come to Costa Rica for its rainforests and cloud forests, the country’s tropical dry forests and mangroves support an entirely different collection of spectacular birds. This half-day tour explores one of the best regions to experience these unique habitats, combining productive roadside birding with visits to coastal mangroves that are home to several localized specialties.
Your morning begins in the tropical dry forests near Orotina, where you’ll explore a diverse landscape of open woodlands, seasonal wetlands, and productive birding habitats. This unique region supports an incredible variety of tropical birds, offering excellent birding opportunities throughout the morning.
As you explore the area, you’ll search for colorful species such as Turquoise-browed Motmot, Black-headed Trogon, Scarlet Macaw, Orange-fronted Parakeet, and Yellow-naped Amazon, along with dry forest specialists including Double-striped Thick-knee, Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Stripe-headed Sparrow.
The region is also well known for its impressive diversity of birds of prey. Depending on the season and conditions, you may observe Gray Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, and, with a little luck, less frequently encountered species such as Crane Hawk, Collared Forest-Falcon, and Pearl Kite.
Later in the morning, you’ll visit the productive mangroves of Mata de Limón, one of the best places in Costa Rica to search for the rare and endangered Mangrove Hummingbird, along with Mangrove Vireo, White-throated Magpie-Jay, and other species specially adapted to this unique coastal ecosystem.
The diversity of habitats makes this tour an excellent choice for birders looking to experience a different side of Costa Rica’s avifauna. Birding typically concludes around 11:30 AM, after which you can enjoy lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean or return directly to your hotel. Depending on the season and bird activity, it’s common to record 80–100 species during the morning.
Tour Details
Duration: Half Day
Cost: $160USD (1-3 guests)
Transportation Add-on: $50USD
Start Time: 5:00 AM
Location: San José and the Central Valley to Orotina and Mata de Limón on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast
What’s Included
- Professional birding guide
- Transportation to and from your hotel (when selected)
- Transportation throughout the tour
Not Included
- Lunch
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Possible Species Highlights
Depending on the season and conditions, you may encounter species such as Scarlet Macaw, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Black-headed Trogon, Mangrove Hummingbird, Mangrove Vireo, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Yellow-naped Amazon, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Double-striped Thick-knee, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Plain-breasted Ground-Dove, Long-tailed Manakin, Northern Scrub Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Nutting’s Flycatcher, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Rufous-backed Wren, Banded Wren, Scrub Euphonia, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Streak-backed Oriole, Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Short-tailed Hawk, Gray Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, Crane Hawk, Collared Forest-Falcon, Pearl Kite, and many more.
Tropical Dry Forest & Mangrove Half Day Birding Tour
Experience a different side of Costa Rica on this birding adventure through the country’s unique tropical dry forests and coastal mangroves. Just an hour from San José, the Orotina and Mata de Limón region is home to an incredible variety of colorful birds, including Scarlet Macaw, Turquoise-browed Motmot, tropical raptors, and the endangered Mangrove Hummingbird.
Ideal for birders of all experience levels, this half-day tour explores a fascinating mix of dry forest, open countryside, wetlands, and mangrove habitats. Whether you’re searching for regional specialties, adding lifers to your list, or simply enjoying Costa Rica’s remarkable biodiversity, 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
$160.00
*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.
While many visitors come to Costa Rica for its rainforests and cloud forests, the country’s tropical dry forests and mangroves support an entirely different collection of spectacular birds. This half-day tour explores one of the best regions to experience these unique habitats, combining productive roadside birding with visits to coastal mangroves that are home to several localized specialties.
Your morning begins in the tropical dry forests near Orotina, where you’ll explore a diverse landscape of open woodlands, seasonal wetlands, and productive birding habitats. This unique region supports an incredible variety of tropical birds, offering excellent birding opportunities throughout the morning.
As you explore the area, you’ll search for colorful species such as Turquoise-browed Motmot, Black-headed Trogon, Scarlet Macaw, Orange-fronted Parakeet, and Yellow-naped Amazon, along with dry forest specialists including Double-striped Thick-knee, Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, and Stripe-headed Sparrow.
The region is also well known for its impressive diversity of birds of prey. Depending on the season and conditions, you may observe Gray Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, and, with a little luck, less frequently encountered species such as Crane Hawk, Collared Forest-Falcon, and Pearl Kite.
Later in the morning, you’ll visit the productive mangroves of Mata de Limón, one of the best places in Costa Rica to search for the rare and endangered Mangrove Hummingbird, along with Mangrove Vireo, White-throated Magpie-Jay, and other species specially adapted to this unique coastal ecosystem.
The diversity of habitats makes this tour an excellent choice for birders looking to experience a different side of Costa Rica’s avifauna. Birding typically concludes around 11:30 AM, after which you can enjoy lunch overlooking the Pacific Ocean or return directly to your hotel. Depending on the season and bird activity, it’s common to record 80–100 species during the morning.
Tour Details
Duration: Half Day
Cost: $160USD (1-3 guests)
Transportation Add-on: $50USD
Start Time: 5:00 AM
Location: San José and the Central Valley to Orotina and Mata de Limón on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast
What’s Included
- Professional birding guide
- Transportation to and from your hotel (when selected)
- Transportation throughout the tour
Not Included
- Lunch
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Possible Species Highlights
Depending on the season and conditions, you may encounter species such as Scarlet Macaw, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Black-headed Trogon, Mangrove Hummingbird, Mangrove Vireo, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Yellow-naped Amazon, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Double-striped Thick-knee, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Plain-breasted Ground-Dove, Long-tailed Manakin, Northern Scrub Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Nutting’s Flycatcher, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Rufous-backed Wren, Banded Wren, Scrub Euphonia, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Streak-backed Oriole, Mangrove Yellow Warbler, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Short-tailed Hawk, Gray Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, Crane Hawk, Collared Forest-Falcon, Pearl Kite, and many more.
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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