Birding in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
The Osa Peninsula holds more bird species per square kilometre than almost anywhere in the Western Hemisphere — over 400 species recorded in a landmass smaller than a mid-sized US county. The headline birds are the scarlet macaws, which nest in the Osa in numbers that make every other Costa Rican destination feel like a preview. They fly in bonded pairs, loudly, at canopy height, several times a day, and the sight of them crossing a gap in the forest with the Pacific visible below is one of those bird moments that stays with you.
But the Osa is serious birding beyond the macaws: harpy eagles hunt the interior, four species of toucan work the fruit trees, and the forest floor holds the great tinamou and the black-faced antthrush for those willing to slow down and look. The dry season from December through April is peak, with February and March offering full canopy visibility, active nesting behaviour, and guides who know exactly where to stand and when.
Weather & Conditions
| Month | High / Low | Rain Days | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89° / 72°F | 5 | Peak |
| Feb | 90° / 73°F | 3 | Peak |
| Mar | 92° / 74°F | 4 | Peak |
| Apr | 91° / 75°F | 8 | Peak |
| May | 89° / 74°F | 18 | Good |
| Jun | 88° / 73°F | 20 | Good |
| Jul | 88° / 73°F | 16 | Good |
| Aug | 87° / 72°F | 22 | Okay |
| Nov | 86° / 71°F | 18 | Okay |
| Dec | 87° / 72°F | 10 | Good |
Where to Go
Airstrip and jump-off point.
World-class right-hand points.
The biological heart of Osa.
Rainforest lodge reserve
Know Before You Go
Lapa Rios is open to the jungle. You will share your space with insects, monkeys, and macaws. It is not a manicured resort experience.
To minimize environmental impact, the bungalows at Lapa Rios do not have AC. They rely on ocean breezes and ceiling fans. The nights can be warm.
Even in the dry season, the jungle can be muddy. The lodge provides rubber boots, but bring clothes you don't mind getting dirty and wet.
Hotels & Lodges for Birding
Lapa Rios
A pioneering rainforest lodge set in a private 1,000-acre reserve at the tip of Cabo Matapalo — one of the original and still definitive wilderness lodge experiences in Central America, where the bungalows are open to the jungle and the wildlife arrives uninvited.