About the Location

This is a fantastic spot for some hard-to-spot Caribbean foothill species including the ever elusive Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo. It is primarily a stop on the route between San José airport and La Fortuna for zip-lining, a hanging bridges hike, or to eat at their typical restaurant. However, the trails and the feeder are fantastic for birding.

Why I Recommend It

For visitors to the La Fortuna area, I recommend a trip up to San Luis (or a pit stop on your route) to grab some species that are less common or harder to photograph in and around La Fortuna at places like the Arenal Observatory Lodge or Papa’s Place. It’s also reasonably priced at $10 for the feeder area or around $20 to do the hanging bridges (as of posting). The food is also top-notch, I particularly like their carne en salsa, it’s very tender and flavorful. Local guides Maylor and Ariel as well as the manager Adonai are very friendly and helpful if you’re looking for a certain species.

Birdwatching & Photography Highlights

372 species have been spotted there on eBird. While that’s fewer total than some places around La Fortuna it is due to having primarily forest habitat rather than much in the way of open habitat. It’s one of the best spots for the Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo and other army ant swarm followers. It’s also the only spot where the endemic Blue-and-gold Tanager arrives at a feeder.

Feeder Birds

Many colorful tanagers: Emerald, Speckled, Silver-throated, Blue-and-gold, Bay-headed, Crimson-collared, and more

At the hummingbird feeders below the main deck: Crowned Woodnymph, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green Hermit, Violet Sabrewing

Tawny-capped Euphonia

Green Honeycreeper

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Common Chlorospingus

Great Spot For:

The Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo alone makes this worth a stop when it is showing up.

The Dull-mantled Antbird is a skulker that loves embankments full of undergrowth and being on the side of a hill there is plenty of habitat for this fire-eyed species.

Lattice-tailed Trogon

Collared Trogon

Tufted Flycatcher

Black-and-Yellow Tanager (they don’t come to feeders but can be found on trails, especially around the long bridge)

Bare-necked Umbrellabird

Gallery

If you’d like me to show you around at San Luis please don’t hesitate to contact me.