Caribbean lowland rainforest · Costa Rica
Sarapiqui
Lowland Caribbean rainforest of toucans and hummingbird feeders — a birder's and photographer's first stop.
Getting there
~1.5 hr from San José, in the Caribbean lowlands
Best for
Toucans, hummingbird feeders, great green macaws, sloths, lowland rainforest birding
The land
Humid Caribbean lowland rainforest along the Sarapiquí river
Good to know
The feeders and lodges here make it one of the easiest places to photograph toucans and hummingbirds
What it is
Sarapiquí is Costa Rica's classic lowland-rainforest opener — toucans at the fruit feeders, hummingbirds at the nectar, and rich Caribbean birding.
In the humid Caribbean lowlands, Sarapiquí is prime rainforest birding and photography: keel-billed and chestnut-mandibled toucans at the fruit feeders, clouds of hummingbirds, great green macaws, sloths and frogs, with the famous La Selva research station nearby. Its lodges and feeder setups make wildlife both abundant and accessible.
The reason to come
Feeders and rainforest
Sarapiquí delivers easy, abundant lowland wildlife — ideal for the camera.
Toucan feeders
Toucans and tanagers at the fruit feeders, at close range.
Hummingbird gardens
Nectar feeders alive with hummingbirds.
Lowland birding
Great green macaws, sloths and rainforest species along the river.
Worth knowing
Wildlife made easy
Sarapiquí's feeders bring toucans and hummingbirds to within camera range — a flying start to any trip.
When to come — honestly
A year-round lowland base.
December – April
Best
The dry season — easiest access and reliable feeder activity.
May – November
Good
The green season — lush, with excellent birding and fewer visitors.
Year-round
Good
Feeders draw wildlife throughout the year.
It is humid and can be wet year-round in the Caribbean lowlands; rain often means superb feeder activity.
Context
The lowland opener
Sarapiquí is the classic first wildlife stop, with easy, abundant Caribbean-lowland birds.
It opens most birding and photography itineraries.
We open most trips at Sarapiquí for its accessible feeders and rich lowland birding.
Beyond the obvious
More to Sarapiquí.
Toucan feeders
Close-range toucans and tanagers.
Hummingbird garden
Nectar feeders in action.
River & rainforest
Lowland birding and sloths.
Why Wild Voyager
We pack the wildlife in.
Costa Rica's habitats sit close together but each needs the right base and guide. We sequence them so you see the most — quetzals, macaws, tapirs — with no wasted miles.
Handpicked lodges
We choose the lodge and guides that fit your goals, not whatever is left.
We time it right
We build your visit around the season and the wildlife that delivers.
Where to stay
Where you can stay in Sarapiqui
Luxury Collection
Classic Collection
Wildlife you may see
Plan your Sarapiquí trip.
Photograph toucans and hummingbirds in the lowland rainforest. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.
Plan a Sarapiquí trip