Many visitors to Costa Rica want to see hummingbirds. While these tiny birds are indeed abundant in Costa Rica, when viewing them in the wild, you typically catch little more than a glimpse as they flit by. But in Monteverde, there is one place where you can see these gorgeous birds up close. The Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery has feeders that attract dozens of hummingbirds. In this post, we’ll tell you more about the hummingbirds you can see as well as tips for planning your visit.
Background
As the name implies, the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery is located in Monteverde, Costa Rica. This region is in the mountains and known for its cooler cloud forest habitat.
The Hummingbird Gallery is situated just outside the entrance of the main cloud forest reserve called the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. It makes a great quick stop after a hike in the reserve.
Previously, Santa Elena/Monteverde had other hummingbird-specific exhibits (e.g., at Selvatura Park). However, they have since closed, making the Hummingbird Gallery the best option.
Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery
Set Up
The Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery has gardens and feeders as well as a café and gift shop. The property is set on a small hill with thick forest backing it.
In the front of the simple structure are a handful of feeders. These are spread out, allowing plenty of room for visitors. Some are located near the outdoor seating for the café, while others are on their own.
The Hummingbirds
What makes the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery so special is that the birds are wild so you never know what you will see.
Monteverde has a huge diversity of wildlife living in its thick forest and is an especially good place for birding.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird website, an astounding 248 different bird species have been spotted at the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery property alone!
Costa Rica has 52 species of hummingbirds. Among the long list you can see at the Hummingbird Gallery are the Green Hermit, Lesser Violetear, Green-crowned Brilliant, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Violet Sabrewing, Coppery-headed Emerald, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Blue Vented Hummingbird, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Canivet’s Emerald, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Stripe-throated Hermit, White-bellied Mountain-gem, Crowned Woodnymph, White-necked Jacobin, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Brown Violetear, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Purple-crowned Fairy, Black-crested Coquette, and Blue-tailed Hummingbird.
For the birding enthusiasts looking to add other species to their list, there are plenty more interesting birds to see. These include the Masked Tityra, Three-wattled bellbird, American Kestrel, Highland Tinamou, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Long-tailed Manakin, Lesson’s Motmot, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Broad-billed Motmot, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Bananaquit, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Blue-and-gold Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, and Emerald Tanager.
Photographing the Birds
Although the feeders are definitely what draw the birds to the property, they also stop to rest frequently on nearby branches in the gardens, providing the perfect photo opp.
Other Wildlife
Since the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery abuts the forest, it is also possible to see some animals. On one of our visits, we have seen white-nosed coati. These are raccoon-like animals with a long muzzle and long, striped tail that points up.
Café and Gift Shop
There is no charge to see the hummingbirds at the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery. It’s nice to support them, though, by picking up a souvenir or getting something from the café.
The café, Café Colibri (Hummingbird in Spanish), is small, but well-stocked.
In the display case, you’ll find many tasty treats like pastries, cakes, empanadas, and cinnamon buns. The coffee is also very good. They have an espresso machine for specialty coffee.
Seating at the café is limited to a handful of tables inside and a few tables outside; however, the turnaround is fairly fast.
Tips for Visiting the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery
Hours
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily
Cost
Free
Parking
There is no parking lot, but people park along the street. Alternatively, there is a paid parking lot (around $5) for the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 1.5 km before the Hummingbird Gallery. This lot has a shuttle van that will drop you off in front of the reserve.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to see hummingbirds up close, the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery is a great stop. You’ll be amazing at the number of birds you’ll see in just a short time.
Have a question about visiting the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery or have you been? Leave a comment below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Monteverde Hotel Guide: Recommendations for where to stay to enjoy the cloud forest.
Catarata del Toro: A Hidden Gem in Costa Rica: Another good stop to see hummingbirds and also check out an amazing waterfall is Catarata del Toro. This property has elaborate gardens and a few hummingbird feeders set up.
Selvatura Hanging Bridges: These hanging bridges are a nice way to explore the cloud forest and learn about this unique ecosystem. Read our post for more information about visiting.
