Talamanca Mountains and Osa Peninsula Endemics

The Southern Highlands and the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica have some of the highest rates of endemism in the American Continent. This program has been designed to take our guest in a quest for many of the endemic species of birds in the country.

  • Duration: 11 Days
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Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day off to recover from your trip and enjoy the grounds of the hotel. Birding on the hotel gardens is a good way to start getting familiar with some of the common birds Costa Rica.
Target species: Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Lodging at: Hotel Bougainvillea or similar. Meals included: Dinner.

After an early breakfast drive to Tapanti National Park and spend the morning birding this spectacular protected area. Then drive to Ujarras for lunch and more amazing birding at Restaurant El Cas. In the midafternoon head to the Talamanca Mountains a major center of endemism. Along the way stop for some birding at Los Quetzales National Park.
Target species: Black-bellied Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Back-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher.
Lodging at: Savegre Lodge or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Today we will leave early to look for one of our biggest targets: Resplendent Quetzal. The Talamanca Mountains is the most reliable place to see this bird in the Country and possibly in all its range, so our hopes for great views are pretty high. We will spend the rest of the day birding around the area looking for some of the highland specialties.
Target species: Resplendent Quetzal, Flame-throated Warbler, Golden-browed Chlorophonia
Lodging at: Savegre Lodge or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Early morning birding on the hotel grounds. After breakfast we make our way to the highest point of Costa Rica accessible on a paved road, to explore the Paramo, a unique ecosystem growing above timberline. Then drive down into the San Isidro Valley and spend the rest of the day birding around the hotel.
Target species: Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren
Lodging at: Talari Lodge or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Early birding on the grounds of the Lodge. After breakfast drive a few minutes to Los Cusingos Bird Sanctuary, a hotspot for South Pacific Foothill species and former home to the great 20th Century naturalist Alexander Skutch, Pioneer of the Ornithology in Costa Rica. Then drive to San Vito and after check-in spend the rest of the day birding on the grounds of the lodge.
Target species: Turquoise Cotinga, Speckled Tanager, Orange-collared Manakin
Lodging at: Las Cruces Biological Station or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Spend the whole day searching for middle-elevation species. Early morning birding on the grounds of the lodge and bird tables. After breakfast explore the trails and watch-tower at Las Cruces Biological Station. In the afternoon explore the neighboring hotspots for some of the specialties of the area.
Target species: Crested Oropendola, Masked Yellowthroat, Costa Rican Swift
Lodging at: Las Cruces Biological Station or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Early morning birding on the lodge grounds. After breakfast drive to the lowlands and stop at Ciudad Neily to check the rice fields. Then continue to La Gamba and spend the rest of the day birding the trails and surroundings of the lodge.
Target species: Black-bellied Wren, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Charming Hummigbird
Lodging at: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Early birding on the grounds of the Lodge. After breakfast leave the hotel and bird the gravel road that leads to Golfito. Then drive around the North end of Golfo Dulce to Bosque del Rio Tigre. Spend the rest of the day birding the lodge trails and gardens.
Target species: Fiery-billed Aracari, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Black-hooded Antshrike
Lodging at: Bosque del Rio Tigre Lodge or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Spend the morning enjoying the birding at the bird feeders, gardens and trails at Bosque del Rio Tigre. In the afternoon explore the coastal plains and Rincon River Bridge for open area species.
Target species: Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, Baird’s Trogon, Yellow-billed Cotinga
Lodging at: Bosque del Rio Tigre Lodge or similar / Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

Early birding on the grounds of the lodge and then drive to Puerto Jimenez for a short domestic flight to San Jose.
Target species: Riverside Wren, Cherrie’s Tanager, Charming Hummingbird
Lodging at: Hotel El Robledal or similar. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

After breakfast, drive to the International Airport to catch your plane.

Includes:
  • Private transportation.
  • Private birding guide.
  • 10 nights of accommodation in comfortable lodge.
  • Entrance fees to all parks and reserves mentioned in itinerary.
  • Meals listed.
Not included:
  • Travel insurance.
  • International flight tickets and departure tax.
  • Medical expenses.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Tips and gratuities.