In the rainforest stillness, it begins with a shimmer—green, violet, gold—flickering at the edge of a leaf. Then the hum. Fast, focused, impossibly agile. In an instant, it’s gone, just a blur in the canopy. But for that moment, it felt like the forest paused to breathe with it.
Hummingbirds are a living contradiction: delicate but daring, tiny but fierce. At Chachagua Rainforest Hotel, they’re not rare guests—they’re part of the daily rhythm. Whether zipping between heliconia flowers or pausing mid-air in front of your bungalow porch, these winged wonders bring motion, color, and life to the jungle’s quiet corners.
Found only in the Americas, hummingbirds are engineered for the impossible. Their wings beat up to 80 times per second, enabling them to hover, reverse, and dart through the forest like winged acrobats. Their hearts race at over 1,200 beats per minute. At rest, they enter a state of torpor to conserve energy, one of many adaptations that help them survive in high-energy environments.
In the Chachagua Rainforest, they thrive. With more than 30 species documented in the region, the reserve’s native plants, shady understory, and protected nesting areas make it a hummingbird haven.
While you’ll see several species depending on the season and time of day, a few stand out not just for their color or speed, but for the curious stories they seem to carry in their wings.
The Purple-crowned Fairy is one of the forest’s most elusive highlights—a tiny hummingbird with an iridescent crown that inspired the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel logo. It moves quickly through the understory, flashing between bromeliads and low-hanging branches just beneath the canopy.
Early morning is your best chance to catch a glimpse. When the light filters through the trees at just the right angle, her shimmering crown appears for a moment before she disappears again. Quiet, fast, and almost always alone, she’s easy to miss—but unforgettable once seen.
In a place filled with color and movement, this hummingbird stands out for those who take the time to look. A symbol of beauty, subtlety, and the life that thrives all around us, the Purple-crowned Fairy is part of what makes Chachagua feel so alive.
Imagine a bill so dramatically curved it looks more like a sickle than a beak. That’s the sickle-billed hummingbird, whose name reflects its unique silhouette. It may look strange, but in the rainforest, form follows function: this bird’s bill is perfectly adapted to reach nectar in long, curved flowers others can’t access. At Chachagua, spotting one feels like watching evolution in motion—a delicate balance between bird and bloom.
The white-necked jacobin brings the drama. Males shimmer in iridescent blues and purples, with a crisp white belly that flashes in flight. They’re territorial and bold, often chasing off rivals mid-air in a show of dazzling aerobatics. Around Chachagua’s flowering trees, they move like streaks of lightning, announcing themselves with a burst of movement and light.
The band-tailed barbthroat is another master of disguise—until the sun hits just right. This hummingbird is part of the hermit group, but its subtle green-gold sheen and unique tail markings give it away. Unlike the others, it sometimes perches for long moments between feeds, giving lucky observers time to study its curved bill and elegant movements.
Barbthroats prefer dense, damp understory. So if you're walking near the streams or tucked-away corners of the reserve, keep your eyes open.
To spot a hummingbird in flight is to witness precision. But to stand quietly as one approaches—hovering close enough to hear the buzz of its wings or feel the breeze as it passes—is something else entirely. These are the rainforest’s tiny guardians of the present moment. Blink and they’re gone. Stay still and they might show you something unforgettable.
Guided walks through Chachagua’s trails often yield multiple sightings, especially during early morning hours when the forest is waking and flowers are opening. Guests who sit on their bungalow porch with a cup of coffee are often rewarded with front-row seats to hummingbird behavior—feeding, flirting, defending their patch of blooms with theatrical flair.
Hummingbirds depend on native plants, clean water sources, and undisturbed spaces to thrive. At Chachagua, the commitment to organic farming, habitat conservation, and reforestation ensures they always have what they need.
Every visit helps support these efforts. With each hummingbird sighting, you're not just witnessing beauty—you’re participating in its protection.
You don’t need binoculars or fancy gear to see hummingbirds at the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel. Just look out your window. Listen for the hum near a banana blossom or hibiscus. Join a naturalist walk or wander on your own. These birds are everywhere—and yet, every sighting feels like a secret.
Because in a world filled with noise, hummingbirds ask for quiet. In a place bursting with color, they bring movement. And in a forest that’s constantly changing, they remind you to be still—just long enough to witness the shimmer.