Have you seen the nest of a Oropendola? They are crafty birds that knit beautiful nests with holes to keep and protect the juveniles. We found several nests hanging from the branches. The parent Oropendolas flew in to the nests to ensure that the little ones are fed. Many other such actions unfolded within the first kilometer of the trail at Curi-Cancha Reserve, a bird watcher’s paradise in Monteverde.
The cloud forest reserves in Monteverde provide the opportunity to immerse in the flora and fauna of this biodiverse zone of Costa Rica. Curi-Cancha Reserve, with its primary and secondary forests along with open landscapes, has the best setup for birdwatching in Monteverde. You may even get to spot the elusive Resplendent Quetzal.
The Curi-Cancha Reserve
The Curi-Cancha Reserve was designated as a wildlife refuge in 1997 followed by its opening for visitors in 2011. The 83 hectares (205 acres) refuge is 50% primary forest and 50% secondary forest or pasture. It is no wonder that this home of 200 species of birds attract birdwatching enthusiasts from all over the world.
How to Reach Curi-Cancha Reserve
The Curi Cancha Reserve is located around 3 km / 1.9 miles away from the Santa Elena town center on the road to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
After crossing Stella Monteverde Restaurant and Cafe Monteverde, go down the road for another few hundred meters. The access road next to Heladeria Monteverde leads to the open parking lot and ticket counter of the reserve.
You can also find Curi-Cancha Reserve on Google Maps.
Birding at Curi-Cancha Reserve
Curi Cancha has open areas which make it easier for birdwatching and bird photography. Birds are often difficult to spot in dense forests as they hide behind leaves or stay at the canopies. Curi-Cancha has large areas with landscaping, flower shrubs and trees where the birds frequent, including the Resplendant Quetzal.
Monteverde is one of the top places to spot the Resplendent Quetzal and Curi-Cancha has better chances of spotting the elusive bird. Although we have not been able to spot a Resplendent Quetzal yet in Monteverde (We have spotted the Resplendent Quetzals multiple times in San Gerardo de Dota – separate story), we got good sightings of several other bird species.
Birding areas on the Alondra Trail
The first birding spot is on the 1 km long Alondra Trail, a few minutes from the entrance. This is in our opinion the best area for birdwatching in Curi-Cancha. There are multiple places on the trail which are worth spending some time to try your luck. Get the camera or binoculars and tripod ready.
We had spotted Montezuma Oropendola, Chestnut-Headed Oropendola, Emerald Toucanet, Chlorophonia, Honeycreepers, Baltimore Oriole, Grassquit, Brown Jays, Yellow-bellied Trogon around the same spot. This made us stay here and enjoy the actions and drama for an hour or two. Also, the flowery shrubs attracted several hummingbirds and butterflies.
The Hummingbird Feeder and Leo Trail
The Alondra Trail meets the main road and a rest area, which has hummingbird feeders. You will find several species of hummingbirds buzzing around, on the feeders or the surrounding trees. When we stood there for some time, we were constantly moving our heads as these tiny jets flew past our head and startled us.
There is another place at the onset of the Leo Trail which is not dense and we were able to spot lots of birds.
We had spotted more birds during our hike in the longer trails further inside the reserve, however, the above 2 places were the best in terms of getting most of your bird images.
Trails Experience
Curi Cancha Reserve has ~6 km (3.7 miles) of trails traversing through primary and secondary forests. The Alondra trail, as we talked about in the previous section, is the best for the birders, while the other trails are interesting for exploring the cloud forest vegetation.
If you have couple of hours for hiking the reserve, go for the Leo Trail, after you cover the birding special areas. The 1.5 km trail is the longest one with chances of animal sightings. The forest gets dense as you pass the secondary forests and landscaped areas. That is where we chanced upon an Aguoti, followed by a family of Coatis and a group of Capuchins. The Leo Trail has a viewpoint of the Continental Divide halfway through it.
While returning, take the Manga trail which runs beside the Rio Cuecha. There is a small detour to another viewpoint that overlooks the valley and the Gulf of Nicoya on a clear day. Also, the trail has a short access to the river, if you wish to cool down during your hike.
If you have lot of time to hike, you can add the Puma Trail (1.2 km) as well and circle back through the Leo Trail. Also, the short Ficus trail has number of huge Ficus trees, interesting due to the size and the protruding roots.
As the trails of Curi Cancha are like a web and they cross one another, you need detours to explore all, if you have enough time.
Booking Information
You can opt for a self-guided tour or a guided tour, either private or in group. The trails are well-marked and a guide is not necessary to navigate. The person at the ticket counter will show you a map and explain all the trails.
However, the chances of spotting more species of birds increase if you take a guided tour. If you are planning to book a guided tour, it is better to book it in advance. You can book it online here. For self-guided tour, you can purchase the tickets at the reserve office.
Entrance Fees & Timings
For self guided tours:
- Foreign Nationals: 20 USD
- Foreign Nationals, Children (5-20 yrs): 12 USD
- Costa Rican Residents: 6 USD
- Costa Rican Residents, Children between 7 to 17 years: 4 USD
Timings: 7 am to 3 pm
Guided tours include guide and entrance:
Curi-Cancha Reserve offers guided tours for bird watching, natural history and night walk. The prices vary by the type of tour and whether the tour is private or in group.
All prices listed below are per person, and include fees for entrance and naturalist guides.
Bird Watching Tour
- Group – max 6 persons | Adult: 100 USD
- Group – max 6 persons | Child (5-20 yrs): 92 USD
- Private| Adult: 120 USD
- Private| Child (5-20 yrs): 112 USD
Timings: 6:30 am to 11:00 am
Natural History Tour
- Group – max 9 persons| Adult: 45 USD
- Group – max 9 persons| Child (5-20 yrs): 32 USD
- Private | Adult: 90 USD
- Private| Child (5-20 yrs): 82 USD
Timings: 8:00 am to 11:00 am/ 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Night Walk
- Group – max 9 persons: 25 USD
- Private: 60 USD
Timings: 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm
Other Important Information
Parking: Free parking is available on site. However, it is recommended not to leave any valuables in the car as there are no guards monitoring the area.
Restrooms: There are restrooms available at the entrance and also at the last meeting point of the Alondra Trail and main road, near the rest area.
Cafeteria: There are no restaurants/ cafes inside the reserve.
Best Time to Visit Curi-Cancha Reserve
We have visited Monteverde during various seasons. There is something for the visitors in every season. Curi-Cancha is no different given the diverse nature of the wildlife refuge. If birdwatching is your primary goal, the dry season between December and April is the best bet.
The best time for watching the Resplendant Quetzals is between March and July, which is the breeding season for them. Although with some luck you may find them in other months as well.
We have visited the reserve in the months of March and September. We walked in the early hours that elevated the chances of spotting birds.
COVID19 Protocols at Curi-Cancha Reserve
Curi-Cancha Reserve management has implemented required measures to minimize COVID-19 contagion, like the other national parks and tourist destinations in Costa Rica.
- Temperature is checked before entering the booking office.
- Wash basin is installed outside the booking office. You need to wash your hands with soap before entering the office.
- Limited number of persons are allowed inside the office at one time.
- Use of mask is mandatory inside the office.
- There are signages on the ground to maintain the queue following social distancing.
- Additional wash basins provided for washing hands again post booking tickets.
- Additional social distancing measures are applicable for guided tours.
What to Wear / Carry?
The hiking trails at Curi-Cancha Reserve, are easy in most areas with few moderate stretches. Here is a checklist of what to wear and what to carry for the tour.
- Camera with a telephoto (high zoom) lens for bird photography.
- Wear comfortable closed toed walking shoes.
- Hiking pants/shorts and light tee should be fine.
- Carry raincoat, a must have item on your Costa Rica packing list.
- Carry drinking water.
Final Thoughts
If you are exploring the cloud forests of Monteverde, Curi-Cancha deserves a special place for its bird watching and wildlife spotting experience. So keep a morning to explore the birds galore, the treasures of the biodiversity of Costa Rica.
Plan your Monteverde trip:
Monteverde: The Complete Travel Guide
Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
Children’s Eternal Rainforest: Bajo del Tigre sector in Monteverde
Best Restaurants in Monteverde
Like the post? Pin it!
