Resplendent Quetzal at Guápiles

Guápiles serves as the gateway to Braulio Carrillo National Park, where the terrain plunges from misty cloud forest into steamy Caribbean lowland rainforest, supporting a remarkable list of over 500 recorded bird species. Amongst this incredible diversity, sharp-eyed photographers travelling with our Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife holiday stand a chance of encountering the Resplendent Quetzal, alongside other sought-after species such as the King Vulture, Three-wattled Bellbird & Bare-necked Umbrellabird. November visits allow access to this dramatic elevational gradient, where the forest structure itself creates the conditions for such an exceptional range of birdlife. For those hoping to capture this iconic quetzal on camera, Guápiles offers a genuine chance amid one of the richest birding areas on the itinerary.