Caribbean Foothills 

The Caribbean foothills of Costa Rica are found in the eastern slopes of its three mountain ranges, facing both, the northern plains towards Nicaragua and the Caribbean Sea.

In the northern part of the country the town of Bijagua is nestled between the slopes of Miravalles Volcano and Tenorio Volcano and while situated on the Caribbean slope, Bijagua is also very close to the junction with the pacific dry forest, creating a high level of biological diversity and lots of microecosystems with lots of great birding opportunities. Just 90 minutes south of Bijagua lays La Fortuna, another great birding spot located in the foothills of Arenal Volcano National Park.

Similarly, the Caribbean slope of the central volcanic cordillera offers great mid-elevation birdwatching opportunities in places such as Bajos del Toro and Braulio Carrillo National Park, while the Talamanca mountain range in southern Costa Rica, counts with exceptional birdwatching hotspots on its foothills, places like Turrialba and Barbilla National Park are wonderful getaways for birders, photographers and naturalists.

Weather and temperature at the foothills are almost perfect year-round (23 º C), not too hot and not cold, typically with sunny mornings and rain showers occurring daily after 2pm. 

Emblematic Birds 

  • Snowcap 

  • Bicolored Antbird 

  • Speckled Tanager

  • Tawny chested Flycatcher 

  • Black throated Wren 

  • Ornate Hawk Eagle 

  • Grey headed Piprites

  • Thicket Antpitta 

  • Yellow eared Toucanet 

  • Bare necked Umbrellabird

Birding Hotspots 

  • Braulio Carrillo National Park

  • Barbilla National Park

  • La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano National Park 

  • Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve 

  • El Copal Reserve

  • La Marta Wildlife Refuge  

  • Tenorio Volcano National Park 

  • Children’s Eternal Rainforest, Pocosol Station 

  • Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve

  • Tapir Valley Nature Reserve