Monteverde Full Day Birding Expedition with FREE BINOCULARS

Loved our 10-hr birding tour with Jorge Jr—saw rare birds and had an amazing day in the cloud forest.

My dad and I booked the full day birding expedition with George having not been birding before, and it was the best tour we've had in over a week in Costa Rica by far. George dropped us off at a starting point, and we spent the majority of the day with his son, George Junior. They provided binoculars, and also had a spotting scope which was very helpful for taking pictures with (George Junior took amazing pictures/videos, some of which I've attached here). They were very accommodating, and George Junior was able to take us to the right location to find the species we were most interested in. Going in, the two species I wanted to see most were the quetzal and three wattled bellbird (both very rare), and we were able to see both! We also saw various mammals, toucans, and a viper. Altogether, we saw over 35 species of birds in a single day! If you are in Monteverde, you need to book a tour (or more) with George :).

George is amazing. We began with a full day birding expedition and ended up spending three days with George. I ticked all of the birds on my list and my wife had a blast. We also did a night tour which was very satisfying. We got to see many frogs, vipers and insects. On another hike we saw a coati, an armadillo and the most beautiful tarantula I have ever seen. Finally, George created a custom experience to some near by hot springs and a couples massage. I can’t say enough good things about George!

My dad and I travelled to Costa Rica for birdwatching. George was the perfect host for a full day of guided birdwatching! Not only does he have incredible knowledge of the birds of Monteverde, but he shared the same enthusiasm and excitement as we did. It made for a fun and memorable day, and we saw over 50 species of birds including many of the most iconic. We cannot recommend George enough for his professionalism, expertise, and friendly demeanor.

This was such a nice way to spend a day enjoying such a unique and beautiful location in Costa Rica. George was raised and resides in Monteverde so his pride, passion, and knowledgeability of the area makes for a special way to appreciate this unique spot. He was able to tailor the day around my interests, which were to capture some of the wildlife in pictures. I added a very small sample of the hundreds of pictures I took. Such a nice day.

We had a big group of 6 couples and we had a great time. George handled the group well and everyone got to see and learn so much. As a guide George is a professional, able to recognize calls and spot birds instantly. Passion for wildlife is real and contagious through this experience. Plus a great host for all things Monteverde, and in general a fun companion for your trip.

After visiting Monteverde five times, I am convinced that George is the best guide you will find in the area. I used George as a guide for a solo trip a couple of years ago, and most recently while traveling in Costa Rica with my 15-month old and my mother and her two friends. George was so helpful with my baby, carrying my backpack while I carried my babe in a carrier. He was patient with my elderly mother and her friends, allowing us to rest and take a break when needed. He made sure our tours were accessible to my mom and her friends, while still seeing some of the most beautiful birds and animals. George was our guide for hanging bridges, a night tour, birding and a walk to the Continental Divide. He is a very talented photographer, so he will get great photos of you and your family and all of the beautiful things you see. George is well-loved and respected in the community, which means when you come across other guides on your treks, they will tell him the location of where they have recently seen the hard to find animals, like the quetzal! Every time I visit Monteverde, I see new beautiful birds and animals because George is on top of his game. 🦜🌱🐍🌳🌙🦋

George was an amazing guide, responsive, easy to work with and fun to be around! I was a solo traveler and he was able to accommodate me which i was delighted to hear. On our tour day, he was prompt and on-time and wanted to hear what my goals for the day were so that he could tailor my experience as best as possible. It was an awesome experience in which i got to see and photograph all of my goal birds that day (specifically the Resplendent Quetzal) and even some others that i didn’t expect! Not only that, but I never felt rushed or slowed down with George and was able to take in as much or as little that i wanted of any given place we visited. Lastly, George knows something about everything in monteverde, and he’s happy to share with you his great knowledge about the flora and fauna as well as history and cultural knowledge (he’s a local) of this amazing place! 10/10 would book again! PS included in this review are some photos taken via iphone from George’s scope.

George is hands down the best tour guide in all of Costa Rica! I came to Monteverde the first time not knowing fully what to expect. I fortuitously hired him as a guide at the park, and he proceeded to take me on the best experience I would go on in Costa Rica. His knowledge on the local flora and fauna was unmatched. His attention to detail was remarkable, able to show me so many hidden plants and animals. I have gone on atleast 5 tours with George now, and each one has been a wonderful experience. He is genuinely a good person and wants the experience he provides to be an unforgettable one. I have since recommended many friends to do a tour with him, and each one has had similarly excellent experience. A tour with George of the Cloud Forest should be on anyone's itinerary who visits Costa Rica!

My wife and I did a full day of birding with George. He was a fantastic guide, spoke fantastic English, with really good sound & visual ID skills. Above all, the best thing about spending a day was his enthusiasm and passion about the wildlife of the Monteverde area. This made the day really special to us. George tailored our day for our target species, and we found a good number of them. I would highly recommend anyone to spend a day with George - we enjoyed it so much that we ended up doing a private night tour with him the next day too, which again was brilliant!