Private Full-Day Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde
Guided service only
For a better experience, the reserve or reserves to visit are agreed with you and our professional bird watching team at the Stella's meeting point, according to the season, activity and conditions. Admission is not included or quoted in the tour price and is paid on arrival at each reserve selected together.
Private
24-hour booking cutoff · 100% refund (guide service and admission) if you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour · tours run rain or shine: entrance fees are non-refundable with less than 48 hours' notice · 2-person minimum, solo guests book via manual request.
- Start time
- 6:10 am – 2:30/3:00 pm
- Modality
- Private only
- Where
- Reserve selected at Stella's meeting pointMap: Stella's Monteverde
Requests close 24 hours before the tour. Cancel at least 48 hours in advance for a reserve-admission refund — cancellation policy
Photos from this tour
8 photos by our guidesOverview
This private full-day experience is designed for birdwatchers who want an unhurried day in the field with a certified guide and professional spotting scope.
The reserve or combination of reserves is selected with your guide at Stella's according to the season, weather and recent bird activity, making the most of the conditions available that day.
A full day creates more opportunities to look for Resplendent Quetzals, Three-wattled Bellbirds, guans, hummingbirds and understorey species. Wild sightings are never guaranteed.
Guided by Nasua Tours' certified naturalist guides, led by founder Oscar Castillo Mejía (license #1090) — read more about the team. Still comparing options? The Monteverde planning guide explains how this tour differs from the others. Travelling for birds? Check the quetzal, bellbird and manakin seasons.
Itinerary
Meet at Stella's and select the reserve
Meet your guide early and choose the best site together based on the season, conditions and recent bird activity.
Morning birding
Work the most productive habitat at a quiet pace, with the scope set on standout sightings.
Midday break
Take a scheduled rest and lunch stop; lunch is not included.
Afternoon birding
Continue at the site or second reserve recommended by your guide for the day's conditions.
What to expect
For a better experience, the reserve or reserves to visit are agreed with you and our professional bird watching team at the Stella's meeting point, according to the season, activity and conditions. Admission is not included or quoted in the tour price and is paid on arrival at each reserve selected together.
What's included
- Professional bilingual naturalist guide certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
- Shared use of a high-end professional spotting telescope for close-up viewing and photography
What to bring
- A high-quality waterproof jacket or heavy rain poncho
- Comfortable, well-broken-in hiking shoes or trail sneakers
- Camera or smartphone fully charged — a power bank is recommended
- A daypack with snacks, plenty of water and eco-friendly insect repellent
Optional or not included
- Lunch and meals
- Transportation
Good to know
The essentials before your tour: what to bring, what to wear, where we meet and whether the reserve entrance is included.
What to bring
- Insect repellent — mandatory, the cloud forest has insects all year round
- Closed walking shoes — sandals or socks alone are not allowed
- A rain poncho or waterproof jacket, plus a warm layer for the cool, damp cloud-forest air
What to wear
- Long, quick-dry trousers and a light long-sleeve top are the most comfortable choice on the trail
- Dress in layers: mornings and nights are cool and the cloud forest is humid
- Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting damp from mist or light rain
Meeting point
- Map: Stella's MonteverdeMeet at Stella's — the reserve you visit is decided there with your guide, according to the activity and the conditions.
Is the reserve entrance included?
No — the reserve entrance is not included in this guided tour. It is agreed with your guide at the meeting point (Stella's), according to the activity and our team's advice, and you pay it when you arrive.
Not a mass-market tour
This is an exclusive experience run in small groups or fully private — never a large commercial departure. You walk with one of our certified naturalist guides, led by Oscar Castillo Mejía, at your pace, with professional optical equipment on the trail.
- Small groups or fully private — no crowded buses
- Personal attention from a certified naturalist guide
- Professional spotting scope and quality optics included
- Reserve admission quoted separately and settled on the day of the tour
What guests said about this tour
Read all reviews“Absolute highlight of our trip! Oscar was an incredible guide with a true passion for ecological conservation and we learned so much from him during our tour.”
Hannah SwiftGoogle · 3 months ago“Excelente tour privado en Curi Cancha (Monteverde) con Nasua Tours. Oscar es un guía extraordinario, con un conocimiento impresionante sobre las aves, sus comportamientos y sus cantos.”
AdrianGoogle · 2 months ago“We couldn't have asked for a more wonderfully guide. Oscar was knowledgeable, interested, energetic, and full of helpful information. He was delightful, pleasant, conversational and fun to be with.”
Jackie Jove-AltmanGoogle · a month ago
Did you join this tour? Leave a review
Your review is about the Private Full Day Birding Tour only. We read every review before publishing it on this page.
You can also review us on:
Booking & cancellation policies
These terms apply to every Nasua Tours booking and you accept them before your request is sent.
Booking cutoff: 24 hours
Requests close 24 hours before the tour starts, so admission and guiding can be arranged in time.
Full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour
Cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts and both the guide service and the reserve admission (entrance tickets) are refunded 100%. With less than 48 hours' notice, the entrance tickets are no longer refundable.
Tours run rain or shine
Monteverde weather is unpredictable, so tours run rain or shine. Entrance fees already purchased are non-refundable.
Minimum booking: 2 people (solo guests welcome)
Shared groups open with a 2-person minimum, and the booking system is already set that way. Traveling solo? Send us a manual tour request and we'll do our best to add you to an existing group.
Questions about this tour
- Can we stay in the reserve after the tour ends?
- It depends on the reserve. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve you leave the reserve when the tour ends — staying on afterwards is not allowed. In Curi-Cancha Reserve you are welcome to stay on your own after the tour; the reserve closes at 4:30 pm.
- How long is the full-day tour?
- It begins at 6:10 am and finishes between 2:30 and 3:00 pm.
- Which reserves are visited?
- The reserve or reserves are selected with your guide at Stella's meeting point according to the season, weather and current bird activity.
- Who is this tour designed for?
- Birders who want a full day in the field rather than a short walk, with the whole morning and early afternoon dedicated to finding and watching birds.
- Which birds do we look for?
- Target species include the resplendent quetzal, the three-wattled bellbird, guans and a range of hummingbirds. Wild birds are never guaranteed, but your guide recommends the site with the best current conditions and works the areas where birds are feeding and holding territory.
- Is transportation available?
- Transportation can be arranged. Mention where you are staying in Monteverde when you send your request and it will be quoted with the tour.
- Are reserve entrance fees included?
- No. The full day is sold as guided service only, with 15% tax. Reserve entrances are quoted separately and settled on the day of the tour, according to the site or sites you visit with your guide.
- How much does the tour cost?
- The request panel shows a live total with 15% tax already included. That total covers the guided service only; the reserve entrance is quoted separately and paid on the day of the tour. Prices per guest depend on group size. Children 4–10 have their own rate and infants 0–3 are free. You confirm the exact total with Nasua Tours before anything is booked.
- Is a full day too much walking for moderate fitness?
- The walking is spread across the day with breaks, and your guide sets the pace with your group. Mention your fitness, mobility or pace preferences in your request and the route is planned accordingly.
- What happens if it rains during the full day tour?
- Tours run rain or shine — rain is part of the cloud forest, so bring a rain jacket. Entrance fees are refundable when cancelled at least 48 hours in advance; after that they are non-refundable.
- Can the full day tour be combined with the night walk?
- Yes. You can request both in the same submission and Nasua Tours confirms the schedule with you — the night walk starts at 5:30 pm, so it can follow the same day or another evening.
Continue your Monteverde experience
You can combine tours to see different sides of Monteverde. These pair well with this one:
Night Walk Tour
Nine hours on the trails is a full day, so book the night walk for another evening rather than the same one.
Private Guided Tours
Prefer a different length or start time? A fully private custom tour can be shaped around your own schedule.
Build a multi-tour itinerary
Send us the tours you like and the dates you are in Monteverde. Oscar sequences them realistically around start times and reserves, then replies with the current rates and one combined plan.
About 9 hours
Guided service only