Birdwatching Safari from Drake Bay
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5.0 · For birders2 hoursSmall group · local guide
Nature & Wildlife · Birding

Birdwatching Safari from Drake Bay

The Osa is one of the planet's great birding spots. Head out at peak activity with an expert local guide to find toucans, tanagers, parrots and dozens more species.

Reserve this trip$55per person
About this trip

What to expect

We walk the forest when the birds are most active — early morning or late afternoon — with a guide who knows the calls and the canopy.

Toucans, tanagers, parrots and many more live here, often joined by other wildlife along the way. Bring binoculars for the best of it.

Trip highlights

Peak bird activity

Out when the canopy is busiest.

Toucans, tanagers & parrots

Plus dozens more rainforest species.

Expert local guide

Knows every call and perch.

Authentic rainforest

Quiet trails, real immersion.

Your day, hour by hour

The itinerary

5:50 AM

Meet in town

Gather at the town centre at first light.

6:00 AM

Into the forest

Two hours along quiet birding trails.

8:00 AM

Walk concludes

Back to town mid-morning.

What's included

  • Certified local guide (EN / ES)
  • 2-hour guided walk

Not included

  • Binoculars (recommended)
  • Alcoholic beverages & snacks
  • Sunscreen & repellent
  • Tips for your guide (appreciated)
$55per person
Reserve this trip
Before you go

Good to know

What to bring

Binoculars above all — we do not supply them and the trip is much poorer without. Muted clothing, repellent and a bird list if you keep one.

Who it's for

Birders of any level and curious beginners. The pace is slow and mostly standing still; the walking itself is easy.

Best season

Resident species are here all year. December to March adds northern migrants, and the early dry season is when the canopy is easiest to see into.

Where we meet

In the centre of Drake Bay at first light, around 5:50 AM. Late afternoon also works if the morning does not — just ask.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How many species might we see?

On a good morning, thirty to fifty. The Osa Peninsula holds a very high share of Costa Rica's birds, including regional specialities like the black-cheeked ant-tanager that live essentially nowhere else.

Will we see scarlet macaws?

Very likely. The Osa has one of the healthiest scarlet macaw populations in Central America and they are loud, large and hard to miss — you often hear them before your guide points them out.

Do you provide binoculars?

No, and this is the one trip where it really matters. Bring your own if you possibly can. If you cannot, tell us in advance and we will try to borrow a pair for you.

Why two hours rather than a full morning?

Because that is the window when the birds are actually moving. Activity drops sharply once the heat comes up, and a longer walk mostly adds heat, not birds. If you want more, we can run a second session at dusk.

Is it suitable for children?

For patient ones, yes. It is quiet, slow work with a lot of standing and listening — children who like looking at things through binoculars enjoy it; restless ones find it long.

Is this tour refundable?

Yes. If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible so we can arrange your refund.

From our guests

Hear from travelers who chose us

13 reviews on Google

We booked two tours with Bucaneros and were very satisfied. We especially enjoyed a trip with Carlos on the boat, where we saw a huge pod of dolphins and were treated to a delicious meal in a beautiful bay. Carlos is a relaxed, caring, and friendly guide. If you're still hungry or thirsty after the tour, the family-run restaurant El Bucanero is a great option.

Mats Ahlgren

The bioluminescence tour was wonderful. Carlos and Carlos or friend will take you out on a multipurpose boat, the same one their family uses to catch fresh fish for their restaurant. This type of bioluminescence is reactive to the touch. In Drake Bay in mid-July, we went out into the middle of the bay and swam in life jackets. They were willing to do a private tour for a bit longer for a little more, and were very flexible and nice. I felt comfortable at night with a ratio of 1 guide to 3 people, so if swimming in a lifejacket at night in the bay is scary for you, you might inquire about that. It is difficult to climb up to the boat without a ladder on your own, but extremely easy with the captain's helping hand. This bioluminescence is not easily photographable and requires at a minimum a very very large aperture DSLR with very high ISO and sensitivity, and even then it's extremely faint. Think of it as bright as small ephemeral stars in the water, a few dozens whenever you move. The snorkeling goggles are not compatible with prescription glasses, but I preferred personally the clarity of no goggles (which can get foggy), while my companions preferred with goggles. Any night is good as long as the moon is not up in the sky (new moon or near new moon is fine any time of night, but anything else and you have to check the lunar hour by hour moonrise moonset time table). Very nice family, who helped us out a few times when we forgot an item or two. Tasty drinks and food at their restaurant too. Another unnamed popular agency across the street cancelled another bioluminescence tour we booked, disingenuously claiming "weather" (seemed fair weather; I think they didn't get enough customers that night), but Bucaneros Corcovado Tours is very good. Bucarenos Tours honored the scheduled time and has always been straightforward and honorable, and we greatly enjoyed their kindness/hospitality and experience. Muchas gracias para todos 🤎

Dominik Müller

Thanks Carlos for the amazing kayak tour showing us the bioluminescence! After paddling out in the sea for a while, the biolumnescence was clearly visible from the kajak and even more while swimming in the sea. It was magical!

Christoph Hammer

We booked the Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour as a family, and it was absolutely amazing. Carlos and his friend did an outstanding job throughout the experience. Our kids especially loved when they cut fresh coconuts from the palms and prepared sugar cane for us to try. They even brought along cold beers, which we enjoyed while watching the sunset from the boat. Later, swimming in the glowing water under the pitch-black, starry sky felt truly magical. We can without hesitation recommend this tour. If you're interested, it’s best to visit Bucaneros Restaurant and arrange it directly with them, as the website still needs a bit of improvement . Its worth it! :)

Ron Mitchell

My wife and I were impressed by the professionalism and knowledge of Carlos during our inshore fishing tour today. He tried different spots, different techniques in pursuit of the best experience. We caught Bonito Tuna, Red Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Jack. The Jack fish was served at the El Bucanero Restaurante in a Ceviche dish - muy deliciosa!

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Small groups, licensed local guides, 100% wild. Tell us your dates and we'll get you out on the water.

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+506 6194 7003 info@bucaneroscorcovadotour.com
Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula · Costa Rica
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