NATURE · COSTA RICA
Cloud Forest Birding & Photography
High in Costa Rica's cloud forest, the air is cool and the canopy drips with moss — and somewhere in it sits the resplendent quetzal, the bird every photographer comes for. We work two of the country's finest spots: world-famous Monteverde and the quieter Valle de los Quetzales in San Ramón, a lesser-known reserve where smaller crowds mean more intimate sightings. Here the quetzal feeds on wild aguacatillos and then sits perfectly still for minutes at a time — a gift for any photographer — while the three-wattled bellbird sends its bell-like call ringing across the valley. Your guide knows the fruiting trees and the active nests, and in season — strongest from April to May — the adults visit the nest again and again. A full day is a taste; an overnight or a few days turns it into a real photographic chase.
Cloud forest birding with Guanadreams CR is a private birding and photography day in the cloud forests of Costa Rica — world-famous Monteverde or the quieter Valle de los Quetzales in San Ramón — where the resplendent quetzal lives and feeds on wild aguacatillo fruit. Smaller crowds mean more intimate sightings, with a bird-specialist naturalist guide and scope — from $1,000 per private group of 2.
Duration
Full Day+
Group
Private
Guide
Birding Guide
Level
Moderate
Type
Photography Tour
What is cloud forest birding like?
- Cloud-forest birding in Monteverde and the quiet Valle de los Quetzales (San Ramón)
- The resplendent quetzal — feeding on wild avocados, then posing still for the camera
- The three-wattled bellbird, whose call carries over a kilometer
- Emerald toucanets, fiery-throated hummingbirds, and the elegant long-tailed silky-flycatcher
- A guide who knows the fruiting trees, perches, and active nests
Good to Know
- Best months for nesting quetzals: April–May (constant nest visits); January is also excellent for sightings
- Elevation ~1,100–1,700 m — cool and damp; bring layers and a rain jacket
- Early starts; toucanets and many species are most active at first light
- Moderate walking on forest trails
- Any camera works; a long lens and tripod help in the canopy
Book direct with the operator
- We run these tours ourselves. No middleman, no reseller.
- Private from two people — no minimum group to fill, no strangers in your van.
- The price you see is the price you pay: taxes and door-to-door pickup included.
Photos from the Cloud Forest
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to photograph the resplendent quetzal?
Quetzals nest February through June, peaking March–May, with April and May the prime window: the adults make constant trips carrying wild avocados (aguacatillos) to their chicks. January is also excellent for sightings, and juveniles leave the nest around June. After feeding, a quetzal often sits motionless for several minutes — ideal for photography.
Where does the cloud forest birding take place?
In Monteverde and the Valle de los Quetzales reserve (Bajo La Paz, San Ramón) — part of a cloud-forest corridor linked to the Monteverde region and two of Costa Rica’s best quetzal spots.
Is it a day trip or an overnight?
A full day works, but we recommend an overnight or multi-day for the best light and far more chances — especially for photographers chasing the quetzal.
What else might we see?
The three-wattled bellbird, emerald toucanet, fiery-throated and volcano hummingbirds, flame-colored tanager, and the long-tailed silky-flycatcher, plus raptors such as the ornate hawk-eagle, barred hawk, and black hawk-eagle.
Do I need to be an experienced birder or photographer?
Not at all. All levels are welcome, any camera works, and your guide adapts the pace and shares hands-on photography tips.
When do we have to cancel by?
Twenty-four hours before your tour begins, counted from the start time and not the day. Cancel before that and you get a full refund.
How much does the private Cloud Forest birding day cost?
Our private Cloud Forest birding day starts at $1,000 per private group of 2 guests, taxes included. It is a full-day experience and it is 100% private: your naturalist guide, transportation and route are yours alone. The price includes a private naturalist guide specialized in birds, private transportation, park entrances, binoculars and a spotting scope, bottled water, snacks and lunch. We offer hotel pickup from Tamarindo, Las Catalinas, Reserva Conchal, the Riu resorts at Playa Matapalo, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Playa Panamá, Liberia and the Papagayo Peninsula. We’ll confirm your exact quote on WhatsApp based on your group size and pickup location.
Three Forests, Three Bird Lists
Guanacaste and its highlands hold three distinct forest types within a few hours of each other, and the birds change completely between them. Most visitors only ever see one. If you have more than a single morning, pairing two of these gives you a species list you cannot build in any one of them alone.
Wet, dense and loud — toucans, oropendolas, motmots, manakins and trogons in the rainforest near Río Celeste. A full day, and the richest single list of the three.
Open country and shrinking lagoons, where the water birds concentrate. Spoonbills, jabiru, wood storks and herons — and the easiest viewing of the three.
“Incredible day trip. Miller and Gabriel provided a great car ride to the Cloud forest with wonderful personal touches through the entire day! Ziplining, Tarzan Swing, walking on the bridges and the hummingbird exhibit were excellent. Incredible hospitality and very professional service that made this more than just a regular tour!”
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By the Guanadreams team, led by Miller Contreras — naturalist guide, born and raised in Guanacaste.
Part of our Nature Experiences · Bird Watching in Costa Rica