Which is Better for a Birding Tour- Costa Rica or Ecuador?

Birds are everywhere but let's face it, some destinations are pretty darn exciting! Massive seabird colonies in Alaska, scenic African plains with fantastic rollers, bustards and raptors, warbler migration hotspots, it's all good! Even so, Central and South America take birding to another level. We're talking dozens of hummingbird species, glittering tanagers, and literally hundreds of other birds during a 10 day birding tour. Oh yeah, and there's also incredible bird photo opportunities every single day.

The toughest decision might be picking where to go. Each region and most countries offer their own set of birding experiences, some easier than others. Thanks to good infrastructure and accessible bird habitats, two such major destinations are Costa Rica and Ecuador. Several birding tours are offered in each of these wonderful, birdy nations and many birders have visited each country on more than one occasion! However, if you had to pick between the two countries for a birding tour, which should you choose? Is one better than the other?

In brief, not really. Whether you take a birding tour to Ecuador or go birding in Costa Rica, you can't go wrong. Both countries offer unique birding opportunities in a variety of habitats. However, if you had to choose between them, here are some tips to make the best decision that best meets your birding desires and needs.

Costa Rica isn't quite as far from Eurasia and North America

Both countries are far away but Ecuador is just a little bit further. Also, if you fly from the southern USA, Costa Rica is a short 3 to 4 hour flight. Flying from Canada? There are easy, non-stop flights from Toronto and Montreal!

At the same time, Ecuador's not extremely far away and with such fantastic birding, the flights are worth it.

Costa Rica is a nice introduction to tropical birding

A huge number of bird species are packed into Costa Rica but it still makes for a nice introduction to tropical birding. You'll see a lot but, you might not be as overwhelmed as birding in Ecuador or Colombia. Costa Rica also has plenty of lodges and hotels with fun and easy, on-site birding.

You'll have plenty of time to relax and get your fill of toucans, parrots, beautiful tanagers, and lots of other tropical birds. That fact also makes Costa Rica a great destination for a birding workshop or visiting with a non-birding spouse and family.

Birding regions in Costa Rica are closer to each other

One of the biggest advantages of taking a birding trip to Costa Rica is having so many different regions so close to each other. For example, after watching toucans and Great Green Macaws in the Caribbean lowlands, it only takes an hour and a half to drive to cloud forest with quetzals and a plethora of endemics shared with western Panama.

Drive down to the Pacific slope and it only takes a couple hours to reach dry forest habitats with another suite of exciting birds. After watching big White-throated Magpie-Jays and gaudy Turquoise-browed Motmots, drive another hour south and you'll find yet another set of birds!

In Ecuador, different regions aren't very far from each other either but, in general, compared to Costa Rica, it takes a bit longer to drive between them.

Resplendent Quetzal, Snowcap, and Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Most of all, Costa Rica is a fantastic place to see Resplendent Quetzal, the surreal Snowcap, and the majestic Ornate Hawk-Eagle. For some reason, Ornate Hawk-Eagles are easier to see in Costa Rica than in many other parts of their range. There's also dozens of endemics that only live in Costa Rica and western Panama, around four dozen hummingbird species, and plenty of other birds to look at.

Ecuador has many more bird species

Costa Rica has an impressive bird list of 930 or so species. Given that the country is the size of West Virginia, that's a pretty hefty total! Even so, Ecuador has even more, a heck of a lot more. Yes, Ecuador is somewhat larger than Costa Rica but it's still fairly small, just a bit bigger than the state of Colorado. It also has a bird list a fair bit larger than Colorado; an incredible 1670 species!

That huge species total means you can bird one or two regions in Ecuador and see more than 500 species. It would be pretty hectic birding but it is possible. In Costa Rica, while you could also see more than 500 species, you'd probably need three weeks and have to visit various parts of the country.

Andean birding is incredible

Ecuador has easily accessible, fantastic Andean birding. While Costa Rica does have a nice set of montane birds, in Ecuador, the mountains host more. There are two species of quetzals, mountain-toucans, jays, dozens of hummingbirds, large numbers of multi-colored tanagers...the list goes on!

All those birds mean that a birder can be easily overwhelmed but you'll certainly be birding with a smile.

Ecuador has fantastic ecolodges in the Amazon rainforest

Another main draw is the Ecuadorian Amazon. Birding in the Amazon is not easy but it's always rewarding. Several days at a good ecolodge with good local guides can result in views of macaws, Paradise Tanagers, several jacamars, puffbirds, manakins, and so much more. There are boat rides through flooded forest, canopy towers, and forest trails beneath huge rainforest trees.

Even better, in Ecuador, you can also bird the Amazon with a certain degree of comfort.

Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Harpy Eagle, and Mountain-Toucans

Just as Costa Rica has its own set of fantastic birds, Ecuador likewise entertains with an excellent suite of magnificent birds. These include the incredible Andean Cock-of-the Rock, blue-gray mountain-toucans with colorful beaks, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, and many other stunning tanagers with intriguing names, Andean Condor, and more. Not to mention, visiting birders might also have a chance at seeing a Harpy Eagle at its nest.

At the end of the day, both Costa Rica and Ecuador have fantastic birding. No matter which country you choose for a birding tour, you can't go wrong. I would suggest taking the tips above into account, looking at field guides for each country, and then picking the birding tour based on the birds you'd like to see. Contact us at sharpbill@lifertours.com, whether thinking of birding in Costa Rica, taking a birding tour to Ecuador, or other places, we'll help you figure it out!