The two hour Hummingbird Garden tour features a dazzling array of over 14 species including those not typically seen anywhere else. Set outside in a beautiful tropical garden next to an idyllic cascading waterfall, the flowers and feeders attract over one hundred aerial acrobats that will continuously keep your camera clicking.
You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to Selvatura Park where you will meet your knowledgeable naturalist guide. Your guide will help you identify the various species as well as present a wealth of information about a hummingbird’s life, habits and preferences.
Monteverde’s cloud forest environment, noted for its constant mist and multiple elevations, create ideal conditions for epiphytes, or plants that grow on host trees utilizing nutrients from the bark as well as from the air. Orchids are one of the best known epiphyte families at Monteverde (even though not all orchids are epiphytes) and it has been estimated around 500 distinct orchid species are found here. This is important to hummingbirds as the nectar, such as that found in orchids, make up about three-quarters of a hummingbird’s diet. The orchids become pollinated when hummingbirds flit from flower to flower ensuring the orchid’s survival. With so many orchid species found in Monteverde’s cloud forest, it is no wonder they attract so many hummingbirds.
The long, delicate, often curved bills of the hummingbird evolved so they can easily access the nectar found deep within the flowers. Their ability to fly in all directions including hovering in place makes them the only bird species in the world with this unique feature. Hovering helps them to be able to spend time at each flower sipping up the nectar. They expend a lot of energy with their rapid wing action so they need a lot of nectar!
Some of the most indescribably iridescent colors are seen here on such species as the Magenta Throated Woodstar, Green Violet-Ear, Purple Sablewings, Coppery Headed Emerald, and Purple Throated Mountain Gems. In addition, you might see the tiny Bananaquit bird sneak in to grab a quick drink.
Located within an 850-acre conservation park dedicated to providing public educational opportunities, these tropical gardens maintain a year round hummingbird population in a native plant and wildlife setting.
This guided tour includes a bilingual nature guide, admission fee, and transportation from Monteverde. One way transport can take up to one half hour depending on the location of your hotel. Combined time of tour and round trip transportation is typically between 2.5 to 3 hours. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, bring rain gear and your camera.
Latitude: N 10° 20' 33.26"
Longitude: W 84° 47' 55.34"
05/07/2017
Educational and fun!
02/21/2017
Being Birders, we loved the experience of having a hummingbird sit on our finger while she drank her nectar. We took lots of great photos here.