Birding at El Rey: Private tour with Swarovski scope

Your guide identifies birds you photograph instead of you keeping notes.

A private birding tour at El Rey, 28 km from Manuel Antonio, where tropical transitional forest and marshes attract kingfishers, seedeaters, flycatchers, hummingbirds and woodpeckers. A licensed guide helps you locate and identify species while you photograph. At the end, you receive a complete list of all birds spotted so you can name them later. Snacks and water are provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Birding tour at El Rey habitats

• Travel to El Rey birding site
• Spot kingfishers, seedeaters, flycatchers
• Observe hummingbirds and woodpeckers
• Receive guidance on bird behaviors
• Take photographs and identify birds
• Enjoy provided snacks and water
• Get detailed species list from guide

The experience

El Rey sits in a mosaic of habitats (tropical transitional forest mixed with marshes and rice fields) that draws the birds most birders come to Costa Rica to see. Kingfishers work the water edges, seedeaters move through the scrub, flycatchers dart between branches, and hummingbirds hover at flowering plants. The guide does the heavy lifting of locating them and sharing details about behavior, diet and mating rituals. You spend your time actually watching, photographing and getting a clear sighting instead of scribbling field notes.

The tour runs four hours and includes a Swarovski Crystal scope (the kind of optics that turn a distant bird into something you can see clearly), so you're not limited to what your binoculars show. Snacks and water keep you comfortable in the field. At the end of the morning or afternoon, your guide emails you a full species list with every bird the group identified, so you can match it to your photographs and remember exactly what you saw.

Wear neutral colors so the birds don't spot you first, and bring insect repellent. The guide speaks English or Spanish. If weather turns bad, the tour is rescheduled or refunded. Pickup is included, and the minimum age is twelve.

What’s included

• A licensed Costa Rican tour guide in English or Spanish.
• access to a Swarovski Crystal scope.
• snacks and bottled water.
• a complete species list emailed after the tour.
• all photos and videos shot through the scope.
• a typical Costa Rican casado meal (rice, beans, salad, pork, chicken, fish, or vegetarian option).
• hotel pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 12:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Costa Rica Wakoo Tours – Jason Solano, Naturalist & Birding Guide

Is this one for you?The four-hour pace involves walking through marshes and forest to spot birds, so it suits anyone comfortable on their feet in warm, humid conditions. The guide's expertise means you don't need birding experience. Just bring binoculars, wear muted colors, and show up ready to look.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What birds am I likely to see at El Rey?

El Rey's mix of tropical transitional forest and marshes attracts kingfishers, seedeaters, flycatchers, hummingbirds and woodpeckers, among many others. The guide helps locate and identify them, but since birds are wild and not held in captivity, sightings depend on the day and conditions.

Do I need my own binoculars for this tour?

You should bring your own binoculars. The tour includes access to a top-of-line Swarovski Crystal scope, which gives you a much closer view of distant birds, but binoculars are your responsibility.

What happens if I want to keep my own bird list during the tour?

The guide handles the identification and note-taking so you can focus on watching and photographing. At the end of the tour, your guide sends you a complete species list of everything the group saw, which you can use to label your photos and sightings later.

How far is El Rey from where I'm staying near Manuel Antonio?

El Rey is 28 km from the Manuel Antonio national park area. Pickup is included in the tour, so the guide collects you from your hotel and brings you back.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear neutral colors: avoid bright shirts or pants, since birds will spot you more easily. Bring insect repellent and your own binoculars. The tour provides snacks and water, and all photos and videos taken with the spotting scope are yours to keep.