Carara National Park · Tárcoles · Costa Rica

★★★★★4.99 · 4,850+ reviews across Airbnb, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide & Viator

Carara Birdwatching
Private Birding

A full day in the park world-famous for the scarlet macaw, with an ICT-certified guide, a Swarovski scope, park entrance and a traditional Costa Rican lunch included.

Scroll to enter the forest

Duration

8 hours

Start time

5:00 AM

Lunch

Costa Rican buffet included

Star of the park

Scarlet macaws

Species list

Included after tour

01

About this tour

Where the dry forest
meets the rainforest.

Carara National Park is world-famous for one bird above all: the scarlet macaw. Sitting on the transition between the dry forests of the north and the rainforests of the south, Carara concentrates a remarkable mix of species – macaws, trogons, motmots, antbirds and toucans – in a single morning of birding.

Your ICT-certified guide knows every corner of the trails and carries a Swarovski spotting scope, so you take home free 4K photos and videos plus a complete list of every bird seen during the tour. A traditional Costa Rican lunch is included on this full-day adventure.

16+

years in the field

4K

photos & videos included

ICT

certified guides

Tour options

Private Birding — tour details

Review what is included in this option, then check availability.

Included in the listed price
Must be arranged or purchased separately

Prices are per person. Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the tour. From December 15 to January 15, bookings are non-refundable.

What the forest may reveal

Every tour writes
a different story.

Macaws, trogons, motmots, antbirds and toucans in a single morning of birding. Your guide knows every corner of the trails and brings each sighting into the Swarovski scope.

Scarlet macaws

Trogons

Motmots

Antbirds

Toucans

Black-and-white owl

Manakins

Puffbirds

Before you go

From the first step
to an unforgettable nature tour memory.

01

Book and get your welcome message

After booking you receive a welcome message with your pickup point and time in Quepos, Manuel Antonio or Jacó.

02

Starting time

5:00 AM – full day, about 8 hours. Round-trip transport and Carara National Park entrance are included.

03

Lunch in Carara

A traditional Costa Rican buffet lunch is included on every option.

04

What to bring

Your binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, sunblock, a hat, camera and a reusable water bottle. Binoculars are not included.

05

Keep the discoveries

After the tour, receive your free 4K photos and videos plus a complete list of every bird seen.

SELECTED FIVE-STAR GUEST STORIES

What travelers
remember most.

4.96 ratings

Guest reviews for Carara National Park Birdwatching.

17 five-star reviews

Grace_Y

★★★★★

Jason delivered an absolutely unforgettable bird watching experience—easily one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we started, his energy, kindness, and genuine passion for birding stood out. He didn’t just guide us—he completely elevated the experience. He went above and beyond to make sure we saw everything we hoped for and more, taking the time to track down species we never would have spotted on our own. His knowledge is incredible, and the way he shares it makes the whole experience exciting and engaging. What really sets Jason apart is how much he cares—he’s patient, attentive, and truly wants you to have the best possible time. We never felt rushed, and every moment felt intentional and special. We had an amazing time, saw incredible wildlife, and walked away with memories we’ll never forget. 10/10 in every way—would recommend 100% without hesitation!

Sergey M

★★★★★

The tour was wonderful. Jason really took his time showing us our desired bird species in Carara and vicinity. Highly recommend for serious birders

William_B

★★★★★

Jason is a great bird watcher and also a great person! We had a wonderful day with spending the day with him and I highly recommend him for birdwatching in Costa Rica. Thank you so much.

blythekg

★★★★★

Jason made every single moment of our tour exceptional. He has a fantastic knowledge of birds (by their calls and morphology) and is very friendly. We had a wonderful day learning from him. He spots birds so quickly and accurately! This was the the experience of a lifetime! We will definitely try to book a tour with him on our next visit to Costa Rica.

A1418HOfrankt

★★★★★

We spent a wonderful day with Jason at Carara National Park and surrounding areas. He is a great guide and host. We started the day at a site he knew that had trees filled with parakeets, offering a cacophony of bird sounds to wake us up for the day ahead. Another site he knew had nesting scarlet macaws, offering a very up-close experience viewing the birds. Still another had a family of bat falcons. There were macaws near this site as well, until the bat falcons chased them away directly over our heads. We saw orange collared manakins doing their dance - a ritual he was able to describe in detail - and the long tailed manakin posing regally in a tree. Jason was adept at identifying birds by call and tracking them down for our viewing. And he is a gregarious and hospitable traveling companion, providing us with a delicious breakfast and lunch and a plentiful array of snacks and drinks throughout the day. We're very glad to have had the opportunity to spend the day with him.

P7864NFalanb

★★★★★

Jason is an absolutely awesome guide! He guided my wife and me for two of the very best birding days of our lives! In addition to Carara National Park, he took us to multiple other birding locations which we would never have found on our own and which were ever birdier than Carara! His ability to spot birds AND to recognize their calls is unparalleled, so we were able to see way more of our target species than we expected PLUS rarities too. Add to that all of the snacks and drinks that he carries in his "kitchen", his great choice of lunch spots, and his tremendous (and infectious) enthusiasm for birding... Jason is a gem! I will be recommending his services to all of my friends who travel to Costa Rica! Thanks again for a great time! Pura vida, Jason!!

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