Bijagua, Cordillera de Guanacaste
A quiet farm town with remarkable wildlife
Between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes, conservation is turning Bijagua into one of Costa Rica's best places to see wildlife, especially the endangered Baird's tapir.
Wildlife reported around Bijagua
- Bird species
- ~500
- Reptile species
- 100
- Frog species
- 65
- Mammal species
- 60
Why wildlife thrives here
Two volcanoes, two climates, one valley
Bijagua is a small, quiet farm community in the Cordillera de Guanacaste, the mountain range that runs along the northwest of Costa Rica. Until a few years ago, few travelers knew about it. Today, the conservation work being done here is making it one of the best places in the country to see wildlife.
The secret is the geography. Bijagua lies in the valley between two dormant volcanoes, Miravalles to the west and Tenorio to the east, right on the continental divide.
- A meeting point of forests: the valley is a transition between the dry forest of Guanacaste and the wet, humid Caribbean.
- A wetter, milder climate: conditions here suit a huge variety of animals and plants.
- A migration route: many birds move north and south through the valley during migration, and altitudinal migrants travel up and down the steep slopes of both volcanoes.
For you, that means a real Costa Rica jungle experience with great wildlife encounters, from your first sloth to rare birds. Not sure where to start? Read which birding tour is right for you or learn about our Tapir Valley birdwatching tour.
All within a few hours
Three habitats, one easy base
Because the climate and geography here are so varied, you can visit very different habitats in a single day, with a local guide who knows each one.
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Dry forest, just outside town
Only a few minutes from Bijagua, you can find species of Guanacaste's dry forest.
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Cloud forest on Tenorio
Head up the slopes of Tenorio Volcano to look for cloud forest species in cool, misty woods.
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Wet Caribbean at Tapir Valley
Tapir Valley's forests and wetlands hold wet Caribbean species, and it's a great place to look for the Baird's tapir.
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Private, at your pace
Every tour is private and led by a local certified naturalist, so we can plan around the habitats and species you care about most.
Tell us what you'd love to see
Have a question or a target species in mind? Message us on WhatsApp or email and we'll help plan the perfect private tour.