Where can I see scarlet macaws in Costa Rica?

Two Pacific strongholds: Carara National Park and the Tárcoles area on the central Pacific, and the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado in the south, which holds the largest population. They range from sea level to about 1,000 meters along the Pacific slope.

When is the best time to see scarlet macaws?

They are resident year-round, so any month works. The dry season, December through April, is prime and coincides with breeding. Late-afternoon flights to roost, such as over the Tárcoles mangroves, are among the most dependable shows for photographers.

Are scarlet macaws found on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast?

No. In Costa Rica the scarlet macaw is a Pacific-slope bird. The large macaw of the Caribbean lowlands is the great green macaw, a different species. Some birds elsewhere in the country come from reintroduction projects rather than native populations.

When to See the Scarlet Macaw in Costa Rica

Ara macao

The best time to see the scarlet macaw at Carara National Park in Costa Rica is Year-round · Dec–Apr prime, with the most activity first and last light. Sightings fall off sharply outside that window, so timing the trip matters as much as the location.

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Scarlet Macaw photographed at Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Season: Year-round · Dec–Apr prime
Best hours: First and last light
Top site: Carara National Park
Difficulty: Easy

When & where to see it

Jan best
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Primary regions

Carara National Park
Tárcoles
Osa Peninsula
Corcovado

When is the best time to see the scarlet macaw?

Scarlet Macaw viewing is best Year-round · Dec–Apr prime, with the most activity first and last light. This is a Pacific-slope bird — people lose time looking on the wrong coast. Macaws follow predictable feeding and roost routes, so the work is timing and position, not luck.

Where in Costa Rica should you photograph it?

The most dependable area is Carara and the Tárcoles area on the central Pacific, and the Osa Peninsula. Other productive sites include Carara National Park, Tárcoles, Osa Peninsula, Corcovado — a guide who knows which is working this week beats picking one off a map.

What camera settings work in Carara National Park light?

Fast flight at range: 400mm+, shutter 1/2000s or faster, continuous AF. The late-afternoon roost flights over the Tárcoles mangroves are the set-piece shot.

Which guides have the highest verified success rate?

We rank specialist guides by their verified scarlet macaw sighting rate — real trips, real outcomes, with the sample size shown next to every number. See the ranked guides ↓