Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica
A success story in red, blue and yellow
Few birds symbolize the wild beauty of Costa Rica as spectacularly as the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao).
With its brilliant red plumage, flashes of blue and yellow and unmistakable loud calls, a pair of Scarlet Macaws flying over the rainforest is a sight you are unlikely to forget.
But there was a time when this magnificent bird was disappearing from Costa Rica.
From threatened to thriving
Scarlet Macaws once occurred across much of Costa Rica. Habitat loss, deforestation and, above all, the illegal removal of chicks from their nests for the exotic-pet trade caused their numbers to fall dramatically.
In the early 1990s, scientists feared that the population of the Central Pacific region could disappear within just a few decades.
Then something remarkable happened.
Scientists, local communities, conservationists and businesses began working together to protect the birds and their habitat. Nests were monitored and protected, new nesting opportunities were created, forests were restored and, perhaps most importantly, local people became actively involved in protecting their Scarlet Macaws.
Schools played an important role too. Children learned about the birds and their importance to the ecosystem – and took that knowledge home to their families.
The results have been impressive: the Central Pacific population has recovered significantly since the 1990s.
Today, Scarlet Macaws once again fill the skies of the region with their spectacular colours and raucous calls.
Where can you see Scarlet Macaws?
One of the great things about visiting Costa Rica is that you don’t necessarily need to visit a zoo or sanctuary to see these birds.
Scarlet Macaws can be observed in the wild, particularly along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. They often travel in pairs or small groups, flying between feeding and nesting areas.
And sometimes they appear completely unexpectedly – their brilliant red wings suddenly flashing through the green canopy, accompanied by their distinctive calls.
A Scarlet Macaw encounter near Paradise Lodge
At Paradise Lodge Costa Rica, you don’t have to travel far to experience this.
Just about 15 minutes by car from the lodge, there are places where Scarlet Macaws can be seen with a very high probability. We know the best locations and are happy to give our guests current information and tips on where to look.
Seeing these magnificent birds in their natural environment – free, wild and flying overhead – is one of those Costa Rica experiences that stays with you long after the holiday is over.
And perhaps that is the most beautiful part of the Scarlet Macaw story:
Sometimes, conservation really works.
A species that once seemed destined to disappear can return – when science, local communities and people who care about nature work together.
