Description
In Monteverde, the first hours of the day belong to the birds. As the light begins to tint the mist with gold, the forest wakes up in a chorus of trills, whistles and metallic calls. It is the perfect moment to head out with a specialized birding guide and discover why this region, home to more than 400 resident and migratory species, is a dream destination for birdwatchers around the world.
The tour starts at 5:30 a.m., and you can choose between two exceptional settings: the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, with its primary forest trails, or the Curi-Cancha Reserve, a former farm turned nature refuge and widely considered one of the best birding spots in the area. Your private guide carries a professional spotting scope and knows the fruiting trees, clearings and calls that give each species away.
The star is often the resplendent quetzal, with its iridescent green plumage, crimson breast and long tail streamers rippling among the wild avocado trees. Yet the list of possible sightings runs long: the three-wattled bellbird, emerald toucanet, prong-billed barbet, Lesson's motmot, orange-bellied trogon and a dazzling variety of hummingbirds, from the violet sabrewing to tiny woodstars.
Because the tour is private, you set the pace. Linger as long as you like at a nest, perfect that photograph or ask every question that comes to mind. Private transportation, a bilingual guide and entrance fees are all included. It is an intimate, authentic and deeply memorable morning in the cloud forest.
