Costa Rica Toucans: Species Guide and Best Places to See Them

One of the most exciting birds to spot in Costa Rica is the toucan. With their huge colorful beaks and quirky personalities, they’re like something straight out of a cartoon. And yes, they really are just as cool in real life as they look in the photos.

Over the years, we’ve spotted toucans while sipping coffee on a hotel balcony, hiking through rainforest trails, and even just walking down the street in smaller towns. If you’re hoping to see one during your trip (and maybe snap that perfect toucan photo), you will (most likely) be in luck!

We wrote this guide to toucans in Costa Rica to fill you in on:

• The different types of toucans in the country
• Our favorite areas of the country to spot them
• Tips for how to increase your chances of seeing one
• How to see toucans up close (ethically!)
• A few fun toucan facts you can drop into conversation later

Let’s get into it!

Types of Toucans in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home to six species of toucans. These are:

Keel-Billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)

Also known as: Rainbow-Billed Toucan

This is the toucan everyone dreams of seeing. It’s bright, flashy, and totally tropical. Its beak looks like it was painted with a rainbow palette.

Appearance

• Bright yellow chest and face
• Black body
• Large, multicolored bill (green, orange, blue, red)
• About 18 in (46 cm) long

Fun Facts

• Their bill is made of keratin and is surprisingly light despite its size.
• They eat mostly fruit but also hunt insects, lizards, and bird eggs.
• Known for their dry, frog-like croaking call.
• Nest in tree cavities. Usually lay 2 to 4 eggs.
• They’re quite social and often travel in small groups.

Where to Spot Them

They are very common on the Caribbean slope and lowland rainforests. They are sometimes on the northern Pacific side as well.

Top spots include:

• Tortuguero
• Sarapiquí
• Puerto Viejo / Cahuita
• La Fortuna
• Nicoya Peninsula
• Northern Pacific Coast

Fiery-Billed Aracari

This toucan is endemic to Costa Rica and western Panama.

It is often confused with the Collared Aracari, but this one stands out with its bolder beak and red belly band.

Appearance

• Black upperparts
• Yellow chest with red belly band
• Bright red-orange upper mandible
• About 17 in (43 cm) long

Fun Facts

• It is only found on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.
• They travel in small social groups.
• They have a high-pitched, two-note “hiccup” call.

Where to Spot Them

The Fiery-billed Aracari are best seen on the central and southern Pacific slope, especially around:

• Osa Peninsula (Corcovado)
• Dominical & Uvita
• Manuel Antonio (we took the picture above from a hotel balcony in Manuel Antonio)
• Carara National Park

Collared Aracari

These colorful and social toucans are often seen in groups hopping through the canopy.

Appearance

• Yellow chest with black spot
• Black head
• Red and yellow belly bands
• Long, narrow beak with white upper mandible
• About 16 in (41 cm) long

Fun Facts

• They are very vocal with a high-pitched, squeaky call.
• They nest in tree cavities, often reusing woodpecker holes.

Where to Spot Them

The Collared Aracari is common in Caribbean lowlands and northern Pacific foothills. Look around:

• Sarapiquí
• La Fortuna
• Monteverde
• Puerto Viejo

Emerald Toucanet

The Emerald Toucanet is the only small green-bodied toucan in Costa Rica.

More compact and less flashy, but still beautiful and a favorite among birdwatchers.

Appearance

• Bright green body
• Blue throat
• Compact size
• About 12 in (30 cm) long

Fun Facts

• Found in middle elevations, from 2,600 to 7,900 ft (800 to 2,400 m).
• Vocal with a harsh, barking call.
• Prefers montane wet forests and adjacent gardens.

Where to Spot Them

• Monteverde
• Bajos del Toro
• San Gerardo de Dota
• Savegre Valley

Yellow-Eared Toucanet

These are one of the rarer toucans in Costa Rica.

This elusive species is hard to find, but striking if you’re lucky enough to spot one.

Appearance

• Green body
• Black throat
• Yellow patch behind the eyes (on males)
• About 14 in (36 cm) long

Fun Facts

• Sexes look different. Only males have the yellow ear patch.
• Found in foothills from 300 to 1,200 m.
• Call resembles that of the Keel-Billed Toucan.

Where to Spot Them

• Caribbean foothills
• Pacific slope of Guanacaste

Black-Mandibled Toucan

These are also called the Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan.

It is the largest toucan in Costa Rica and one of the most vocal.

Appearance

• Yellow throat and chest
• Black body
• Massive yellow-and-brown bill
• About 22 in (56 cm) long

Fun Facts

• Their booming “dee-dee-dee” call can be heard across the forest.
• They are often seen in pairs or small family groups.
• They are found in both Caribbean and southern Pacific lowlands.

Where to Spot Them

• Tortuguero
• Puerto Viejo / Cahuita
• Osa Peninsula
• Sarapiquí
• Manuel Antonio

Tips for Spotting Toucans in the Wild

Toucans don’t exactly pose for selfies (though they sometimes seem like they’re trying to). Here are a few tried-and-true ways to spot them in their natural habitat:

• Wake Up Early: Toucans are most active just after sunrise. Between 5:30 and 8:00 AM you’ll have the highest chances of seeing them. Bring your coffee outside and scan the treetops!
• Stay Near Forested Areas: Lodges near rainforest or secondary forest give you the best odds. Bonus points for places that put out fruit near the trees.
• Bring Pocket Binoculars: A small pair of travel binoculars can make a big difference. Toucans often stay high in the canopy. We have this pair and they are great!
• Learn Their Calls
  • Keel-Billed Toucan: Dry, frog-like croak
  • Black-Mandibled Toucan: Deep “dee-dee-dee”
  • Aracaris: High-pitched squeaks or hiccups
• Download the Merlin Bird Id app. It’s free and a great way to recognize bird sounds.
• Be Patient and Still: If you’re quiet, toucans are more likely to stay nearby. Listen, look, and wait. It’s part of the fun.

How to See Toucans Up Close (Ethically!)

Want to get a closer look at a toucan without disturbing its natural behavior? Here are a few responsible ways to do it:

Stay at a Wildlife-friendly Lodge

Many eco-lodges put out fruit near forest edges to attract birds naturally. It’s not uncommon to see toucans from your breakfast table or balcony.

Toucans are full of quirky behaviors and surprising adaptations. Here are some fun tidbits to share on your trip:

• Their bills are hollow and lightweight. Despite the size, it’s all keratin and air pockets.
• They’re not great flyers. Toucans mostly hop between branches and fly in short bursts.
• They nest in cavities. Often taking over abandoned woodpecker holes.
• They toss fruit to eat. Toucans flick food into the air and catch it. Yes, they’re that cool.
• They’re social. Most toucans travel in pairs or small flocks and communicate with a variety of calls and clacks.

Final Toucans in Costa Rica Thoughts

Seeing a toucan in the wild is one of those Costa Rica moments you’ll never forget. Whether you hear their croak echoing through the trees or spot one swooping from tree to tree, it’s a special kind of jungle magic.

Have you seen a toucan in Costa Rica? Or do you have any questions about spotting a toucan? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget to tag us in your wildlife pics!

You might also be interested in:

• Birds of Costa Rica: The Most Unique and Where to See Them
• Parrots in Costa Rica: Every Species You Can Find and the Best Places to Spot Them
• 6 Hummingbird Species in Costa Rica and Exactly Where to Find Every Single One
• Carara National Park Near Jaco – A Great Day Hike
• The 11 Best Animal Sanctuaries in Costa Rica for Wildlife Lovers and Conscious Travelers