Birding Costa Rica February 5th-18th, 2019

From $ 3484.00 per person

Birding Costa Rica
From February 5th – 18th 2019

  • Price from: $ 3484.00
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We will meet at the arrivals gate at Juan Santa Maria International Airport in San Jose. We will drive to our first hotel. Once settled we will have a meeting and discuss the itinerary and logistics for the next day. If the time of flight aloud we will do some birding at the grounds of the lodge. Special species: Great Kiskadee, Rufous-naped Wren, Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Red-billed Pigeon. Lodging at Hotel Bougainvillea

Today we will start with an early birding at the grounds of the lodge, starting to get use to birding in Costa Rica with some of the common species of the central valley. After breakfast we will start our way to the Talamanca Mountain Range with visit on the way to Tapanti National Park, one of the hotspots for birdwatching in eastern slopes of Talamanca mountain range. After a morning of birding in the park we will head to Ujarras Valley for lunch at a local restaurant where we will aim for a few more special species of the area. We will then drive to our lodge in the highlands. Special species: Lesson’s Motmot, Rufous-capped Warbler, Spotted Barbtail, Prevost’s Ground-sparrow. Lodging at Paraiso de Quetzales

Today we will start with an early birding looking for what is considered the most beautiful bird of the American Continent, the Resplendent Quetzal. We will also spend the day around the trails of the lodge and some hotspots nearby looking for as many of the wonderful endemics present in the highlands of Costa Rica. Special species: Resplendent Quetzal, Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Black-and-Yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Flame-throated Warbler. Lodging at Paraiso de Quetzales

We will start with an early birding in the grounds of the lodge. After breakfast we will pay a visit to the the summit of Cerro Buenavista at 11,500 ft elevation. The Paramo ecosystem host a number of regional endemics, and also offer breath-taken views. After this visit we will make our way down to the Caribbean slope, on the way we will visit the feeders of a local artist and birder known as Cope. His garden is packed with many interesting species, and with his help we will go to the field in search for more of the special species of the area. Later in the afternoon we will head to our lodge. Special species: Volcano Junco, Volcano Hummingbird, Timberline Wren, Spectacle Owl, Long-billed Hermit, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Thicket Antpitta. Lodging at Selva Verde Lodge

We will start an early birding at the lodge and head-up to one of highlight spots of the trip, La Selva Biological Station is a research station protecting an important rainforest habitat that host more than 500 species of birds. We will spend the day birding the different trails and gardens of the reserve. We will finish the day in an open field looking at the Great Great Macaws that come to their roost trees. Special species: Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Sunbittern, Snowy Cotinga, Rufous Motmot, Gray-headed Kite, Great Green Macaw. Lodging at Selva Verde Lodge

After breakfast we will be heading to our next destination. On the way we will visit the middle elevations birding along the road at Virgen del Socorro and will have lunch at Cinchona feeders. After lunch we will head North to Caño Negro. We will finish the day birding at the San Emilio Fields on the way to the lodge. Special species: Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Tufted Flycatcher, Coppery-headed Emerald, Red-headed Barbet, Red-breasted Meadowlark, Nicaraguan Seed-finch. Lodging at Caño Negro Natural Lodge

Early boat ride along the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, this wetland habitat is home to a well number of tropical species, including the 6 species of Kingfisher present in the country, it will provide excellent opportunities for photography of the wildlife. We will come back for breakfast and then continue birding along the grounds of the lodge and around the area for more of the specialties. Special species: Agami Heron, Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher, Royal Flycatcher, Roseate Spoonbill, Spot-breasted Wren, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron. Lodging at Caño Negro Natural Lodge

Today we will go out before sunrise for special visit to Medio Queso Wetlands, where we will take a 2 hour boat trip looking for some of the special species present in this habitat. We will come back to the lodge for breakfast and check out. Drive to Arenal area stopping at Bogarin Nature Trail in La Fortuna town. This feeding station attracts a good number of special species and the trails also host a good variety of North American migrants. Special species: Pinnated Bittern, Least Bittern, Nicaraguan Grackle, Yellow-breasted Crake, White-throated Crake, Mourning Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Tropical Mockingbird. Lodging at Arenal Observatory Lodge

We will start our day birding along the gardens and feeders of the lodge, after breakfast we will go birding along the trails of the lodge. This is a middle elevation habitat and we will be hoping to find army ants which are normally accompanied by the elusive Antbirds. Later in the day we will drive over to the Peninsula road of the Arenal National Park looking for more specialties of the area. Special species: Emerald Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Great Curassow, Black-crested Coquette, Keel-billed Motmot, White-fronted Nunbirds, Ocellated Antbird. Lodging at Arenal Observatory Lodge

We will start our day birding along the gardens and feeders of the lodge spending some of the morning at the lodge and then heading to our next destination. Along the way we will stop at Hacienda Solimar a huge cattle ranch that protects an interesting variety of species from wetlands and tropical dry forest. We will then drive to our lodge. Special species: Crested Guan, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Jabiru, Double-striped Thick-knee, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Pale-breasted Ground-Dove, Pacific Screech-Owl . Lodging at Ensenada Lodge

Our birding starts today by birding around the grounds of the lodge. After breakfast we will head to Cocorocas Salt Pans and we will spend some time there working on our skills for shorebirds identification. We will make our way birding along the road to Ensenada Lodge. Special species: Yellow-naped Parrot, Orange-fronted Parakeet, Long-tailed Manakin, Black Skimmer, Long-billed Curlew, Black-headed Trogon. Lodging at Ensenada Lodge

Our day will start checking out the Salt Pans inside the grounds of the lodge hoping to catch some rare shorebird-migrants. Then we will head to another very good area for concentration of shorebirds and mangrove species, Chomes. We will get to our lodge later in the day and spend some time birding the grounds. Special species: Mangrove Rail, American Oystercatcher, Yellow Warbler (Mangrove), Hook-billed Kite, Lesser-ground Cuckoo, Spot-breasted and Streak-backed Orioles. Lodging at Punta Leona

Early birding boat trip at Tarcoles River and Mangroves. After this we will visit Carara National Park, another of the birding hotspots in Costa Rica. This national park has the particularity of being the meeting point for both Tropical Dry and Tropical Rainforest of the pacific coast, giving the park a great variety of species. Special species: Mangrove Vireo, Mangrove Hummingbird, Magnificent Frigatebird, White-whiskered Puffbird, Streak-chested Antpitta, Black-hooded Antshrike, Scarlet Macaw Lodging at Punta Leona

Early birding on the ground of the lodge. If the flight departure aloud we can go for some birding along some nearby roads before heading to San Jose. Special species: Fiery-billed Aracari, Orange-collared Manakin, Red-capped Manakin, King Vulture, Gartered Trogon, Golden-naped Woodpecker.

Includes
  • Lodging 13 nights double or single room
  • Private transportation and guide services
  • All Meals listed
  • Water during the trip
  • All activities and entrances fee listed on itinerary
Not included:
  • Items of personal use, toiletries
  • Departure tax at airport (check with airline to make sure if it is included)
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Travel insurance
  • Alcoholic drinks