Top Bird-Watching Destinations in Latin America

A flash of blue, green and yellow darts by as you traverse the hanging bridges of Monteverde, piquing your curiosity for what lies ahead. Cheeps and chirps fill the air in the jungles surrounding the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan. A colony of boobies and frigate birds make their way over and around the rocky terrain of the Galapagos Islands, setting up nests to welcome their babies home. Welcome to Latin America, arguably the best place to experience some of the world’s most breathtaking and rarest avian species. 

Where to go for the best bird watching in Latin America? 

South America’s dense jungles, islands and even deserts are home to around 3,500 species of birds, the highest of any continent. From the verdant greenery of the Amazon in Brazil to the islands of the Galapagos to the rugged valleys of the Colca Canyon in Peru, South America is every bird lover’s dream and is one the best destinations for bird watching in the world.

Best destinations for bird watching in Latin America

1. Costa Rica

If the mention of Costa Rica conjures up images of multicoloured macaws, brilliantly hued quetzals, vibrant beaked toucans and iridescent hummingbirds flitting over mist-hugging greenery, you aren’t mistaken. 

Costa Rica is home to 900+ bird species, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to 500+ avifauna species. It is, without a doubt, one of the best birding destinations in South America. 

Go on a walking tour of Monteverde’s hanging bridges for a bird’s eye view of the refreshing green landscape and for a chance to see flocks of rainbow-coloured parrots gliding over the treetops. Keep your binoculars ready as you trek to the observation platform and scan your environment for graceful flycatchers, bellbirds and more. Looking for an adrenaline rush? Take the sky gondola up and zipline above the forest canopy and experience the joy of soaring high for a few minutes, feeling free and boundless… much like a bird. Talk to our destination experts about the Curi-Cancha Reserve, located in the heart of Monte Verde and recognised as a birder’s paradise. 

For an offbeat adventure, head to San Gerardo De Dota, a town located in a beautiful valley surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains. While not as popular as Monteverde, the region is a birding hotspot and offers the adventurous traveller wonderful opportunities for birdwatching. Hike through the nearby Los Quetzales National Park to spot woodpeckers, toucanets, warblers, sooty robins and more. 

2. Colombia

With its diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical forests to grasslands to mountain ranges and, of course, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Colombia boasts an incredible diversity of plant, animal and bird life and is considered one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Case in point – Colombia welcomes close to 2,000 species of birds, more than any other country on Earth! Catch a glimpse of this when you head out on guided walks through the Otun Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. A pioneer in ecotourism, the Otun Quimbaya sanctuary was instrumental in increasing the populations of the once-endangered Cauca Guan. The Otun River feeds its lands and attracts an astonishing variety of avifauna. Take off on a trek with the resident naturalist and come across some of its vividly hued tanagers, antpittas, toucans, bobtails and, if lucky, even the red-ruffed fruit crow. 

3. Mexico

If you thought Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was only about Mayan ruins and beautiful sandy beaches, think again. The Yucatan Peninsula’s diverse habitats, such as wetlands, coastal dunes, forests and more, provide conducive environments for a wide variety of bird species to thrive and interesting settings for some of the best bird watching in South America. 

Rio Lagartos is known for its sizeable population of flamingos (estimated to be around 40,000). The Muyil Archaeological site, located 15 km from Tulum, is surrounded by a semi-deciduous jungle that provides shelter for birds such as parakeets, trogons, collared aracari and more. Take a guided walk from the small village of Chunyaxché to the lagoon and try to identify the calls of different bird species. 

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site bordering the Muyil Archaeological Site, is another superb destination for birdwatching in South America. It is known for its rich flora and fauna, including 350 species of birds and many water birds. 

4. Peru

With over 60% of the country covered by the Amazon, it comes as no surprise that Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and one of the best birding destinations in South America. However, what makes Peru unique is the variety of landscapes it presents for bird lovers. 

The Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, attracts birders from all over the world due to its healthy populations of majestic condors. Take a hike through the gorge or head straight for the Cruz del Condor or ‘Condor Cross’ observation point, located between the villages of Maca and Cabanaconde and marvel at the sight of these birds catch thermal updrafts and soar against the rugged background.

Known as Kings of the Air, the Andean Condors have an average wingspan of 3m (10 feet) and can live up to 70 years, thus earning them the nickname ‘the Eternity Bird’.

The Peruvian Amazon jungle’s dense foliage and green hues present a brilliant contrast to the raw beauty of the Colca Canyon. Start your journey at Iquitos, the capital of the Peruvian Amazon, from where you can launch into excursions to observe some of the over 1800 bird species that make their way to the forest treetops. Or discover the Amazon from Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the southern Amazon jungle. Go on guided walks with in-house naturalists and learn tips and tricks to listening to and spotting the birds of the Amazon, including vibrantly hued macaws, harpy eagles, hawks, toucans, parakeets, golden-headed manakins and more. 

5. Ecuador

Ecuador’s small size belies the rich biodiversity of its lands; around 1500+ bird species have been recorded on its mainland and the Galapagos Islands. A trip to the Galapagos Islands goes beyond casual bird watching. It ties back to one of the most groundbreaking scientific theories of our times – Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Sign up for a cruise or make San Cristobal your base as you go around the islands and spot some of the 13 different species of finches, four different species of mockingbirds, short-eared owls, Galapagos Hawks, Doves and other land birds.

Go on day excursions to North Seymour, Floreana, Genovesa, Fernandina, Espanola and San Cristobal Islands to observe, up close, some of its other famous residents, such as the Red-footed, Blue-footed and Nazca booby birds, frigatebird, Galapagos penguins, waved albatross and more. With such an impressive number of bird species, the islands’ birdwatching calendar is always abuzz with mating, nesting and hatching activities, making it one of the most attractive destinations for birdwatching in South America. 

Back on the mainland, the Yasuni National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve situated at the intersection of the Equator, Andes Mountains, and the Amazon rainforest, provides a fertile ground for close to 600 species of birds to thrive. Set off on treks and canoe rides and catch sight of oropendolas, tanagers, and euphonias zigzagging their way through the forest and majestic raptors sunbathing upon treetops. The park also presents the rare opportunity of observing hundreds of parrots and parakeets feeding on clay at clay licks. 

6. Brazil

Widely considered the most bio-diverse country in the world, Brazil owes much of it to the Amazon forest, 60% of which is within the country’s borders. Make time for a jungle river cruise and watch the lush greenery of your surroundings come alive with the calls and colours of herons, kingfishers, oropendolas, macaws, chickadees and more. The Pantanal region is a stunning tropical wetland with an amazing variety of animals. This remote region is truly a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers. But perhaps, the most exciting part of birdwatching in the Brazilian Amazon is the presence of a significant number of endemic species, estimated to be 200+, such as the White-crested Guan, Brown-chested Barbet, and the Rufous faced Antbirds, among others that can only be found in this part of the world. 

Can’t wait to experience this wondrous world of birds for yourself? Call our destination experts for a customised itinerary to some of the best birding spots in South America. We promise it will get your heart, mind and spirit soaring. 

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