BIRDING COSTA RICA

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28 March 2021

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Price: From £3805/person

Visit 4 different ecozones (biomes) in one trip

Observe hundreds of unique birds during the many private birdwatching tours included in this itinerary

Enjoy an Aerial Tram Tour in Braulio Carrillo National Park

Spend time in Carara National Park, one of the best birding locations of the Central Pacific ecozone.

Possible Bird Sightings on this Holiday

Santa Barbara:

Buff-throated Saltator, Cabanis´s Wren, Clay-colored Thrush, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Great Crested Flycatcher, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Laughing Falcon, Lesson´s Motmot, Long-tailed Manakin, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Palm Tanager, Rufous-breasted Wren, Squirrel Cuckoo, and many more…

Sarapiqui:

Broad-billed Motmot, Mealy Parrot, Blue-chested Hummingbird, Dusky Antbird, White-necked Puffbird, Great Potoo, Spectacled Owl, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Green Macaw, Snowy Cotinga, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, Great Curassow, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and many more…

Boca Tapada:

Great Green Macaw, Sunbittern, Montezuma Oropendola,  Agami Heron, Brown-hooded Parrot, Muscovy Duck,  Great Curassow, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture, King Vulture, Scarlet Macaw, White-collared Swift, Black-throated Trogon, Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, and many more…

Juan Castro Blanco National Park:

Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Rufous Motmot, Green Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Red-headed Barbet, Yellow-throated Toucan, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, White-crowned Parrot, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Resplendent Quetzal, and many more…

Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge:

Amazon Kingfisher, Anhinga, Black Vulture, Black-and-white Owl, Masked Duck, Passerini’s Tanager, Boat-billed Heron, Red-lored parrot, Solitary Sandpiper, Great Kiskadee, White-tailed Kite, Shining Honeycreeper, Jabiru, Green Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Keel-billed Toucan, and many more…

Dominical:

Long-billed Hermit, Yellow-throated Toucan, Riverside Wren, Summer Tanager, Cattle Egret, Blue-throated Goldentail, Panama Flycatcher, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Red-capped Manakin, Green-breasted Mango, Charming Hummingbird, Wood Stork, Yellow-headed Caracara, and many more…

San Gerardo de Dota:

Highland Tinamou, Black Guan, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Cooper’s Hawk, Ruddy Pigeon, Dusky Nightjar, Chestnut-collared Swift, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Steely-vented Hummingbird, Resplendent Quetzal, Collared Trogon, Ringed Kingfisher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Golden-winged Warbler, and many more…

Day 1: San Jose – Santa Barbara

 

Arrive at the International Airport of San Jose where our driver will transfer you to your accommodation which will be located north of the capital, at the Central Valley. In the evening free time for leisure.

Overnight at Santa Barbara.

Meals included: None

Yellow-throated Euphonia in Santa Barbara

Day 2: Santa Barbara

 

Wake up early today and start the day with an exciting birdwatching tour in the Central Valley. You will be escorted by a naturalist guide and have the chance to walk through the Finca Rosa Blanca’s Coffee Plantation. The plantation and the surrounding forest is home to over 130 species of birds, it will be an excellent start to your birding holiday.

The afternoon will be free for your leisure.

Overnight at Santa Barbara.

Meals included: Breakfast

Lesson's Motmot in Santa Barbara, Costa Rica

Day 3: Santa Barbara to Sarapiqui via Braulio Carrillo National Park 

 

Today you will continue your journey with your driver to another ecozone, to the Caribbean Lowlands of Sarapiqui. En-route to Sarapiqui, you will stop at a 475-hectare private reserve at Braulio Carrillo National Park and enjoy an aerial tram ride with a local naturalist guide. The tram will cover around 2,6km and you will enjoy the breathtaking views of the National Park and learn about the flora and fauna of the region.

Overnight in Sarapiqui.

Meals included: Breakfast

Blue-throated Toucanet in Costa Rica

Day 4: Sarapiqui

 

Start your day very early and discover a prima birding location, the La Selva Biological Station. The tour will last around 2 hours and you will be escorted by a local naturalist guide. The Biological Station is an excellent place to observe the Caribbean Lowland’s bird-life, around 400 different species can be found here.

In the afternoon you will discover the trails of the Lodge and observe the local birds with a local naturalist guide.

Overnight in Sarapiqui

Meals Included: Breakfast

Slaty-tailed trogon in Sarapiqui

Day 5: Sarapiqui to Boca Tapada

 

After breakfast, you will be picked up and taken to Boca Tapada, right next to the Nicaraguan Border. This location is more remote, but also an excellent birding hotspot.

Overnight in Boca Tapada

Meals Included: Breakfast

Keel-billed Toucan in Boca Tapada

Day 6: Boca Tapada

 

Start the day with another early wake-up and enjoy a 2-hour briding trip in the Caribbean lowlands. The area is home to over 400 species of birds. You’ll have the chance to see may species and if you are lucky you can spot some endangered Great Green Macaws.

Overnight in Boca Tapada

Meals Included: Breakfast

King vulture in Boca Tapada

Day 7: Boca Tapada to Arenal

 

Breakfast at the lodge then your driver will transfer you to Arenal where you will spend your next three nights. Arenal is an excellent place to relax, to discover the flora and fauna of the area and to explore other locations nearby.

Overnight in Arenal.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Great Curassow in Arenal, Costa Rica

Day 8: Juan Castro Blanco National Park

 

Today you will visit the majestic Juan Castro Blanco National Park on a 7-hour day trip. The National Park surrounded by lush cloud forests and it is an excellent place to observe Resplendent Quetzals. At the end of the trip, you will visit the Pozo Verde Lagoon and have a delicious lunch before returning to Arenal.

Overnight in Arenal

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Great Black Hawk in Costa Rica

Day 9: Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge

 

Today you will be visiting one of the most important wetlands and migratory bird refuge, Cano Negro. This crucial wildlife reserve is close to the Nicaraguan border. You will embark on a private boat with a naturalist guide and will look for caimans, monkeys, sloths and different birds.

Lunch will be provided during the excursion.

Overnight in Arenal

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Amazon Kingfisher in Cano Negro

Day 10: Arenal to Dominical via Carara National Park

 

After breakfast, your driver will take you to your next destination, to Dominical. On the way, you will have the chance to stop and visit the unique Carara National Park and discover its amazing flora and fauna. The National Park is home to over 350 species of birds, it is one of the prime birding locations of the Central Pacific ecozone.

Overnight in Dominical

Meals Included: Breakfast

Aracari in Carara National Park

Day 11: Dominical

 

Wake-up early and enjoy a guided tour at Hacienda Baru in the morning. Hacienda Baru is another birders paradise, nearly 500 species of birds live in the area. Discover the primary rainforest and the abundant birdlife of the forest.

Overnight in Dominical

Meals Included: Breakfast

Yellow-throated Toucan in Dominical, Costa Rica

Day 12: Dominical

 

Today is free for leisure. You may enjoy the sandy beach of Dominical, or opt for an optional activity.

Overnight at Dominical

Meals Included: Breakfast

Egret in Dominical, Costa Rica

Day 13: Dominical to San Gerardo de Dota

 

Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the Highlands of Costa Rica. This will be the last biome what you will explore during your holiday. San Gerardo de Dote lies among the Talamanca Mountain range and is an excellent place to see quetzals and hummingbirds. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, walk around the hotel and observe the local plants and wildlife.

Overnight at San Gerarado de Dota.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hummingbird in San Gerardo de Dota

Day 14: San Gerardo de Dota

 

Enjoy a half-day private birding tour in the Highlands of Costa Rica. There are around 170 bird species who live in the nearby forests. Enjoy the walking tour with your naturalist guide and discover the local birdlife.

Overnight at San Gerarado de Dota.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Resplendent Quetzal in San Gerardo de Dota

Day 15: Departure Day

 

Breakfast in the hotel, then free time for leisure. Your driver will pick you up and take you to San Jose’s International Airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Red-legged Honeycreeper in Santa Barbara, Costa Rica

Central Valley

Finca Rosa Blanca (Premium)

This luxurious accommodation is situated in the Highlands of Costa Rica, just north of San Jose. The Hotel also operates a sustainable, forested coffee farm. Experience authentic Costa Rica in comfort while you learn about coffee production or enjoy the surroundings.

Sarapiqui

Selva Verde Lodge (Classic)

A unique eco-lodge in the hear of Sarapiqui. The lodge offers simple, but comfortable accommodation. They protect 500 acres of rainforest and its trails are perfect to start discovering the local wildlife.

Boca Tapada

Maquenque Eco Lodge (Classic)

A comfortable eco-lodge near Boca Tapada. The hotel is near the San Carlos River and it also belongs to the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge. The hotel protects 68 acres of rainforest. It is a great place to do some birdwatching, kayaking or discovering the wildlife of the San Carlos River.

Arenal

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa (Premium)

This eco-lodge has 48 rooms and has probably the best views of Arenal Volcano. It is located in a remote area, surrounded by a nice forest. It has a large observatory deck, swimming pool, a jacuzzi and 7-mile long network of trails for hiking and birdwatching.

Dominical

Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa (Premium)

It is a nice, 4-star Mediterranean-style resort hotel which overlooks the Ballena Marine National Park. It is situated on a rainforest-covered hill, on a 1-hectare ground near Uvita. The hotel provides very spacious rooms, an ocean-view swimming pool, an open-air gourmet restaurant and bar and some hiking trails through the rainforest.

San Gerardo de Dota

Hotel Savegre (Premium)

The hotel is located only 2 hours away from San Jose, and only 5 miles away from Los Quetzales National Park. It is an excellent place to start discovering the tropical cloud forest and its flora and fauna. The lodge has 41 comfortable rooms, a restaurant and a day spa, it also offers exceptional services from the owners, a local Costa Rican family.

Prices & Inclusions

Travel Period

Holiday Price

Single Supplement

15th January – 30th April 2023

£3895/person £1435/person

01st May – 31st October 2023

£3805/person £1290/person

Inclusions

 

Exclusions

Your
Next Holiday

Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama; it is bordered from East by the Caribbean Sea and from West by the Pacific Ocean.

 

Volcanoes, heigh mountain ranges, and lush tropical forests are dominating the landscapes. It also provides beautiful golden beaches for some who want to relax at the end of their holiday.

 

This Central American country is one of the leaders in eco-tourism and sustainability. They have more than 190 biological reserves and national parks. The country has 12 different life zones and despite of its small size it is home of nearly 5% of the total living species of the Earth.

 

It is a perfect place for wildlife watching, birding (over 900 species of birds), wildlife and nature photography and for families who can combine nature, adventure, and the beach.

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