Birdwatching

Avid bird lovers will find the bustling bird activity of Villa Lapas a perfect treat from nature. Costa Rica's climate and geography give the country a thriving environment that houses 5% of the world's biodiversity. We invite you to explore our part of this natural sanctuary. Our 500-acre rainforest preserve's proximity to the Tarcoles River attracts more than 400 species of birds, of which 230 make their home on the grounds of Villa Lapas.

The best way to locate these beautiful creatures is by venturing on our Sky Way Tour or Twilight Tour, an exciting adventure through hanging bridges and nature trails during the early morning hours or after dusk. Our expert guides will accompany you on this epic expedition. They will point out different species in their natural habitat, from the scarlet macaws, crested owls, mangrove cuckoos, and white-winged doves to Costa Rican native birds such as the crimson-fronted parakeet and the black-hooded antshrike. The colors and sounds of these magnificent creatures will leave you in awe.

Special tours are available for ornithology groups.

Villa Lapas is home of more than 230 species of birds, of the 400 that can be observed in the area. In addition to the traditional scarlet macaws (which give the hotel its name), it’s common to find crested owls, mangrove cuckoos, white-winged doves and other tropical species. Also, it is possible to observe exclusive species of Costa Rica, such as the crimson-fronted parakeet, the black-hooded antshrike and the Costa Rican swift.
To watch them in detail, we recommend our Sky Way Tour.

View Bird Species