Manuel Antonio Esquipulas Birdwatching Tour

Fabio has many years of experience as a birding guide, but his passion for it makes the time with him more than just a birding outing. We enjoyed it from start to finish - excellent communication before and after the trip, very comfortable vehicle for climbing the steep dirt roads into the mountains, and very, very knowledgeable with eyes like a… hawk (sorry!). We were driving down the mountain road towards the end of our trip and he suddenly braked and told us to hop out - he’d spotted a mixed group of raptors in a current above us and we spent another ten minutes watching them circle and wheel. He is persistent in pursuit of species, knowing where each likes to spend time and when during the day. I expressed excitement about the possibility of seeing a particular bird and he pointed to a large shrub saying that was the kind it preferred. Almost as the words were coming out of his mouth one of the birds flew into an upper branch. To say it was a successful day is an understatement. We had a remarkably wonderful experience, and we highly recommend Fabio to other birding enthusiasts. Enthusiasts, obsessors, experts, whatever. You’ll be glad you spent some time with him in his world.

My friend and I went for a half day in the afternoon. Definitely would recommend going in the morning, especially if you’re doing a half day. We still had a great time and saw a lot of birds (including ones the workers said are rare to see at this time like a King Vulture!). We walked around the park ourselves and saw some birds, a few snakes (eyelash viper!), geckos and frogs, and amazing flora and fauna. The girl at the front desk was the absolute sweetest and she made sure we were well taken care of. Definitely would recommend! Bring your camera!

+6

AMAZING!!. saw amazing birds. lovely spot, breakfast was good after a morning of birding.

Our family of 5 has varying levels of interest in birds and this trip was SO enjoyable for all of us! We went to a number of different locations, spent time looking for a variety of species. The breakfast setting was fantastic. Saw so much more with the help of a great guide. Would highly recommend.

A really great tour, you take a mini van into the mountains and see the countryside, and you have a really great authentic breakfast. Much, much better than visiting the national park which is jam packed full of tourists. Highly recommend if you are looking for something peaceful with nature!

Very memorable bird watching experience with Fabio. He was friendly, patient and engaging and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Costa Rican birds. His telescope was optically very clear and we saw 50+ species. He sent us some very good quality videos and photos of the birds that we saw. The best wildlife trip we experienced in Costa Rica. Worth every penny.

+1

We had a wonderful morning of birding with Fabio at Esquipulas! He knows just where to look for so many different birds and his love of what he does shines through. We highly recommend this trip.

This experience is well-worth the cost, as it includes alot of time and also a great breakfast, but most importantly a local expert who has great experience with locating wildlife. We were picked up right at our hotel and started viewing even on the drive out of Quepos / Manuel Antonio. It was great to see so many species in such a short amount of time. Fabio's attention to detail and our interests was extremely appreciated. He is very knowledgeable about the wildlife and where to find it, and joins in on taking pictures when there's a great find. He even got in touch with another tour operator whom we had scheduled for a night tour later, to make sure we were connected with a good guide. Highly recommended if you are into birding or photography, or just want to skip the very crowded park and see and hear wildlife in a more natural environment.

+2

How this guy can spot these super camouflaged animals is beyond me…I know it’s his job, but still!! Lots of knowledge to. Clearly loves what he does, and loves the rainforest

Costa Rica is amazing for wildlife but I was in need of a next level wildlife experience and Fabio delivered!!! He is so passionate about wildlife and was more than happy to share his genius and took me to some amazing locations to experience so wonderful encounters! I had some David Attenborough moments where we witnessed red-capped manakins dancing and toucans playing with branches and preening. I had such a great day I ended up going on another one of his tours the following day. He made it his mission to give us the best encounters. When I got back to Costa Rica I’m definitely going to seek out Fabio again!

+8