Target List Trek

Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, you will be greeted by your private driver and transferred to your hotel.  Enjoy the hotel gardens and later this evening meet your fellow travelers and your private guide for a welcome dinner and introduction to your tour. This evening, your guide will provide an overview of the exciting journey ahead. Overnight in San José.

Birdwatching in the Gardens – Hotel Bougainvillea

Explore the beautifully landscaped gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea, a top location in Costa Rica’s Central Valley for birdwatching. Spread across ten acres, the gardens are a haven for native plants, butterflies, and over 100 species of birds—making them ideal for both beginners and experienced birders.

Well-maintained walking paths wind through a mix of open lawns, flowering hedges, fruiting trees, and shaded forest patches, creating varied microhabitats that attract a wide range of birdlife. Common sightings include Blue-gray Tanagers, Clay-colored Thrushes, Crimson-fronted Parakeets, Squirrel Cuckoos, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, often at eye level and perfect for photography.

Target List: Crimson-Fronted Parakeet, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Brown Jay, Steely-vented Hummingbird, Orchard Oriole, Rufous Tail Hummingbird, Blue and Grey Tanager, Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Squirrel Cuckoo, Blue-and-white Swallow, Turkey Vulture, White-tipped Dove, Black Vulture, Yellow-headed Caracara, Vaux’s Swift, Yellow-throated Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Green-breasted Mango, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, Inca Dove and more.

Day 2: San Jose to Sarapiqui

Depart San Jose for the Sarapiqui region. En route, visit Cope’s Gardens for excellent birding opportunities. Continue to your lodge, your home for the next two nights. Spend the afternoon exploring the rich biodiversity of Tirimbina Reserve with your guide.

Donde Cope – A Premier Birding & Photography Experience in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Lowlands

Tucked away in La Unión de Guápiles, on Costa Rica’s lush Caribbean slope, Donde Cope is a must-visit destination for birders and wildlife photographers. This privately owned property is managed by local naturalist and artist José “Cope” Pérez, who has transformed his land into one of the country’s most beloved small-scale wildlife refuges.

With its well-maintained gardens, accessible forest trails, and active feeding stations, Donde Cope offers rare opportunities for close-up encounters with a wide range of birds and other wildlife. Guided by Cope himself or one of his trusted local experts, you’ll explore secondary forest and wetland habitat rich in color, movement, and sound.

This is one of the best places in Costa Rica to observe and photograph elusive species at close range. Whether you’re in search of owls in the shadows, hummingbirds in flight, or sloths in the canopy, Cope’s deep local knowledge ensures a highly personalized and productive experience.

Target Species:
White-Tipped Sicklebill (one of the most wanted hummingbirds in Costa Rica, White necked Jacobin, Bronze Tailed Plumeleteer, Long Billed Hermit, Scarlet Rumped Tanager, Palm Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Clay-Colored Thrush, Pale-vented Pigeon, Rufous Tailed Hummingbird, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Montezuma Oropendola, Great Kiskadee, Russet-Naped Wood Rail, Stripe-Throated Hermit, Green Honeycreeper, Melodious Blackbird, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Red-Winged Blackbird, Collared Aracari, Crowned Woodnymph, Great-Tailed Grackle, Crimson-collared Tanager, Spectacled Owl, Yellow-throated Toucan, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Green-breasted Mango, Black Vulture, Green Kingfisher, Crested Owl, Turkey Vulture, Olive-backed Euphonia, American Pygmy Kingfisher, White-collared Manakin, Shining Honeycreeper, Bay Wren, Band-tailed Barbthroat,Tropical Kingbird, Buff-throated Saltator, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Keel-billed Toucan, Social Flycatcher, Violet headed Hummingbird, Green Heron, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Golden-hooded Tanager, Wood Thrush, Great Potoo, Bananaquit, Variable Seedeater, Ruddy Ground Dove, Common Tody Flycatcher, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Blue Chested Hummingbird, and many more.

Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve – A Gem for Birding in the Caribbean Lowlands

Located in Costa Rica’s Sarapiquí region, the Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve is a premier destination for bird watchers and photographers seeking access to some of the most biodiverse lowland rainforest in Central America. Encompassing over 345 hectares (850 acres) of protected tropical forest, the reserve offers a mix of primary and secondary forest, river habitats, and gardens—making it an ideal place to observe a wide range of species in a relatively compact area.

Tirimbina is home to more than 400 recorded bird species, with excellent chances to encounter everything from toucans, trogons, and manakins to elusive forest raptors, antbirds, and hummingbirds. The reserve’s mosaic of habitats—paired with a well-maintained trail system—makes it a top spot for both observation and photography. One of the most iconic features of the reserve is its suspension bridge, spanning over 260 feet (80 meters) across the Sarapiquí River and immersing visitors in the mid-canopy—an excellent vantage point for viewing and photographing birds moving through different forest layers.

Target Species:
Clay-colored Thrush, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Yellow-throated Toucan, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Great Kiskadee, Orange-billed Sparrow, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Keel-billed Toucan, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Black Vulture, Golden-hooded Tanager, Palm Tanager, Bay Wren, Lesser Greenlet, Olive-backed Euphonia, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Melodious Blackbird, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Collared Aracari, Great-tailed Grackle, Red-billed Pigeon, Stripe-breasted Wren, Broad-billed Motmot, Green Honeycreeper, Baltimore Oriole, Short-billed Pigeon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Gartered Trogon, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Southern House Wren, Bright-rumped Attila, Summer Tanager, White-breasted Wood-Wren, White-tipped Dove, Fasciated Antshrike, Western Cattle-Egret, Brown-hooded Parrot, Spotted Sandpiper, Crimson-collared Tanager, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Snowy Egret, Mealy Amazon, Ringed Kingfisher, Yellow Warbler, Ruddy Ground Dove, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Black-crowned Antshrike, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, White-necked Jacobin, Squirrel Cuckoo, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Northern Barred-Woodcreeper, Tennessee Warbler, Great Tinamou, Crested Guan, Black-faced Grosbeak, Crested Caracara, Black-headed Saltator, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Red-winged Blackbird, Red-capped Manakin, Blue-black Grosbeak, Groove-billed Ani, Swainson’s Thrush, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Laughing Falcon, Pale-vented Pigeon, Great Egret, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-whiskered Puffbird, Bronzed Cowbird, Shining Honeycreeper, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Red-legged Honeycreeper, White-ruffed Manakin, Cinnamon Becard, White-fronted Nunbird, Black-cowled Oriole, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Anhinga, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Broad-winged Hawk, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant

Day 3: La Selva Biological Station

A birding visit to La Selva Biological Station is not only an opportunity to see a remarkable diversity of tropical bird species, but also to experience one of the most influential sites for tropical ecological research in the world. Operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), La Selva has played a foundational role in advancing conservation science and biological study in Costa Rica and across the Neotropics. Its protected 1,600+ hectares of lowland rainforest serve as a living laboratory, hosting hundreds of long-term research projects and contributing significantly to our understanding of tropical ecology.

With your private guide, you’ll explore a network of well-maintained trails—ranging from wide gravel paths to paved and elevated concrete walkways—that provide excellent access to a variety of habitats, including primary and secondary forest, open clearings, and riverside zones. The station’s layout makes it possible to observe an impressive range of species with relative ease. Signature birds of La Selva include Great Green Macaw, Snowy Cotinga, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Broadbill Motmot, Long-Billed Hermit, and dozens of species of trogons, manakins, flycatchers, and antbirds.

Alongside your expert guide, you’ll explore this living laboratory, seeking the Caribbean lowland rainforest’s most iconic and elusive species.

Target Species:
Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Yellow-throated Toucan, Montezuma Oropendola, Great Kiskadee, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Clay-colored Thrush, Olive-backed Euphonia, Collared Aracari, Social Flycatcher, Golden-hooded Tanager, Turkey Vulture, Keel-billed Toucan, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blue-gray Tanager, Short-billed Pigeon, Crested Guan, White-collared Manakin, Tropical Kingbird, Black Vulture, Broad-billed Motmot, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Great Tinamou, Variable Seedeater, Buff-throated Saltator, Rufous Motmot, Gray-capped Flycatcher, Palm Tanager, Red-lored Amazon, Squirrel Cuckoo, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Green Honeycreeper, Cinnamon Becard, Bananaquit, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Gray-rumped Swift, Masked Tityra, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Bright-rumped Attila, Gartered Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Orange-billed Sparrow, Mealy Amazon, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Buff-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Parrot, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Black-faced Grosbeak, Lesser Greenlet, Stripe-breasted Wren, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Bay Wren, Summer Tanager, Long-billed Hermit, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Northern Black-throated Trogon, Black-cowled Oriole, Great Curassow, Green Ibis, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Black-crowned Antshrike, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Long-tailed Tyrant, Shining Honeycreeper, Southern House Wren, White-tipped Dove, Baltimore Oriole, Fasciated Antshrike, Stripe-throated Hermit, Northern Barred-Woodcreeper, White-ringed Flycatcher, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Rufous Mourner, Mistletoe Tyrannulet, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Green Kingfisher, White-whiskered Puffbird, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Great Crested Flycatcher, Middle American Screech-Owl, Long-billed Gnatwren, Black-crowned Tityra, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Red-capped Manakin, White-necked Puffbird, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Swainson’s Thrush, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great-tailed Grackle, King Vulture, Red-billed Pigeon, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Black-headed Saltator, Northern Waterthrush, Double-toothed Kite, Spotted Sandpiper, Gray-breasted Martin, Gray-headed Chachalaca, Pale-vented Pigeon, Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Ringed Kingfisher, Gray-headed Kite, Black-striped Sparrow, Mangrove Swallow, Anhinga, Lineated Woodpecker, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Northern Tropical Pewee, Groove-billed Ani, Yellow-winged Flatbill, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Bay-breasted Warbler, Melodious Blackbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Amazon Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Crimson-collared Tanager, Osprey, Scaled Pigeon, Pied Puffbird, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Spotted Antbird, Barn Swallow, White-ruffed Manakin.

Day 4: Sarapiqui to Arenal

Journey to the Arenal region, stopping at the famous Cinchona Feeders, fantastic for hummingbirds, barbets, and the Emerald Toucanet. Next visit Bogarin Trails & Feeders before arriving at Arenal Observatory Lodge. Spend the afternoon exploring the lodge’s gardens and feeder stations.

Cinchona Feeders – Iconic Bird Watching in Costa Rica’s Highlands

Perched along the scenic mountain route between Varablanca and Sarapiquí, the Cinchona Feeders, also known as the Mirador San Fernando—offer a rewarding bird watching stop in Costa Rica. This humble, family-run café sits on the edge of a lush valley, with panoramic views of forested slopes and a distant waterfall, creating a spectacular natural backdrop for viewing birds.
Dozens of strategically placed feeders attract a vibrant cast of species, including tanagers, barbets, toucanets, and a variety of hummingbirds—many just feet from your binoculars. Frequent visitors include the Crimson-collared Tanager, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Prong-billed Barbet, Red-Headed Barbet and Green-crowned Brilliant. The café’s balcony offers shelter from the rain and ideal angles for eye-level viewing, making it a favorite for both serious and casual birders alike. In addition to the feeder action, short trails near the café provide chances to spot additional highland species in the surrounding forest. Accessibility is easy, with no hiking required, and the site is welcoming to all levels of bird watchers. Whether you’re stopping for a quick coffee or spending time adding species to your life list, Cinchona delivers an unforgettable glimpse of Costa Rica’s highland birdlife.

Target Species:
Emerald Toucanet, Red-Headed Barbet, Prong-billed Barbet, Blue-gray Tanager, Scarlet Rumped Tanager, Rufous Tailed Hummingbird, Coppery-Headed Emerald, Tennessee Warbler, Green Thorntail, Black Vulture, Black-bellied Hummingbird, White-Bellied Mountain Gem, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Turkey Vulture, Brown Violetear, Melodious Blackbird, Summer Tanager, Gray-breasted Wood Wren, Slate-throated Redstart, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Common-Tody Flycatcher, Lesser Violetear, Great Kiskadee, Blackburnian Warbler, Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Black-headed Saltator, Black and White Warbler, White-collared Swift, Bay-headed Tanager, Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush, Yellow Winged Tanager, Tropical Parula, Tropical Kingbird, Chestnut Sided Warbler, Black Guan, Green Hermit, Bat Falcon and many more.

Bogarin Trail and Gardens

Bogarin Trail and Gardens is a remarkable example of ecological restoration and a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Once a cattle pasture, this 2.5 km (1.5-mile) network of flat, well-maintained trails now meanders through thriving secondary rainforest, offering easy access to a rich variety of flora and fauna. The trail is known for its high probability of sloth sightings, including both two-toed and three-toed species. Birdwatchers will appreciate the diversity of avian life, with species such as toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, and the occasional owl making appearances. Reptiles and amphibians, like poison dart frogs and basilisks, are also commonly spotted. For Bird Watchers, the active feeding station is an excellent opportunity to see tanagers, toucans and some rare specialties like the White Throated Crake, and if you’re very lucky, the Uniform Crake.
The trail’s accessibility and proximity to La Fortuna make it an ideal excursion for birders, and anyone interested in experiencing Costa Rica’s biodiversity up close.

Target Species:
Red-legged Honeycreeper, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Green Honeycreeper, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Turkey Vulture, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, Bananaquit, Black-headed Saltator, Montezuma Oropendola, Yellow-throated Toucan, White-collared Manakin, Tropical Kingbird, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Great-tailed Grackle, White-tipped Dove, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Social Flycatcher, Variable Seedeater, Black-throated Wren, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Uniform Crake, Tropical Mockingbird, Melodious Blackbird, Crested Guan, Ruddy Ground Dove, Red-billed Pigeon, Summer Tanager, Olive-backed Euphonia, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Yellow-billed Cacique, Squirrel Cuckoo, Lesser Greenlet, Gray-capped Flycatcher, Crimson-collared Tanager, American Redstart, Black-cowled Oriole, Keel-billed Motmot, Southern House Wren, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Tennessee Warbler, Fasciated Antshrike, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Northern Waterthrush, Long-billed Gnatwren, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, White-winged Dove, Orchard Oriole, Red-lored Amazon, Golden-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Slaty Spinetail, Gray Hawk, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Black-striped Sparrow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Crested Caracara, Black Vulture and more.

Day 2: Arenal Observatory Lodge Reserve

A day of birding at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails in Costa Rica offers an immersive experience in one of the country’s premier birdwatching destinations. Situated adjacent to the Arenal Volcano National Park, the lodge encompasses over 350 hectares of diverse habitats, including primary and secondary forests, tropical gardens, and pastures. With more than 500 bird species recorded on the property, it’s a haven for bird enthusiasts.

Your day begins with morning exploration around sunrise when bird activity is at its peak. Accompanied by your private guide, you’ll traverse various trails that wind through different habitats, increasing your chances of spotting a wide array of bird species.

Target Species:
Song Wren, White-breasted Wood-wren, Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Golden-crowned Warbler, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Black-headed Nightingale-thrush, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, Spotted Woodcreeper, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Russet Antshrike, Broad-billed Motmot, Rufous Motmot, Bay-headed Tanager, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Bicolored Antbird, Spotted Antbirds, Immaculate Antbird, Ocellated Antbirds, Thicket Antpitta, Black Hawk-eagle, White Hawk, Barred Hawk, Ornate Hawk Eagle, Black and White Owl, Grey Headed Chachalaca, Crested Guan, White-necked Jacobin, Green Hermit, Long Billed Starthroat, Crowned Woodnymph, Rufous Tailed Hummingbird, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Gartered Trogon, Lineated Woodpecker, Orange Chinned Parakeet Plain Antvireo, Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant, Yellow-olive Flatbill, yellow-bellied Elaenia, Great Kiskadee, Piratic Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Long-billed Gnatwren, House Wren, Clay-colored Thrush, Black-striped Sparrow, Melodious Blackbird, Carmiol’s Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, Variable Seedeater, Morelet’s Seedeater, Bananaquit, Buff Throated Saltator, White-Crowned Parrot, Red-Lored Parrot, Social Flycatcher, Tawny-Capped Euphonia, Scarlet Rumped Tanager, Band-Tailed Pigeon, Bronze Tailed Plumeleteer, Collared Trong, Crimson Fronted Parakeet, Masked Tityra, Grey Capped Flycatcher, Yellow throated Euphonia, Giant Cowbird, Great Tailed Grackle, Hepatic Tanager, Collared Aracari, Red-billed pigeon, White Collared Swift, Brown Violetear Hummingbird, Shiny Cowbird, Olive backed Euphonia, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Long Billed Hermit, Stripe Throated Hermit, Grey Hawk, White-Winged Dove, Laughing Falcon, Black-Headed Saltator, Brigh-Rumped Attila, Blue-black Grassquit, Scarlet thighed Dacnis, Tropical Mockingbird, and many more

Day 6: Arenal to Monteverde

Travel to Monteverde with birding stops at La Peninsula and Lake Arenal. Your guide will share some of the “hidden gems” of Costa Rica today. Arrive at Hotel in the cloud forest and spend the afternoon birding the surrounding area with your guide.

Afternoon Birdwatching at Hotel de Montaña Monteverde (on-site)

After check-in, enjoy a relaxed birding session on the grounds and gardens of Hotel de Montaña Monteverde with your private guide. The lodge’s native gardens, surrounding forest edge, and scenic mountain views provide excellent opportunities to spot a wide range of highland species without needing to venture far. This is a perfect way to stretch your legs after travel and begin building your Monteverde bird list at a comfortable pace.

Target List:
Gray-headed Chachalaca, Red-billed Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Black Swift, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Blue-vented Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Lesson’s Motmot, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Three-wattled Bellbird, Masked Tityra, Willow Flycatcher, Bright-rumped Attila, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Brown Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern House Wren, Cabanis’s Wren, Clay-colored Thrush, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Montezuma Oropendola, Baltimore Oriole, Bronzed Cowbird, Melodious Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Blue-gray Tanager, Yellow-faced Grassqui and more.

Day 7: Monteverde

Explore the mystical Monteverde Cloud Forest and Curi Cancha Reserve, two of Costa Rica’s most celebrated cloud forest birding locations, each offering unique species and habitats. This is Quetzal country, your guide will be after this species along with many others. 

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve

Founded in 1972, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated conservation areas; internationally recognized for its extraordinary biodiversity, pioneering research, and long-standing commitment to preservation. Covering over 7,400 acres (3,000 hectares), the reserve protects a rare cloud forest ecosystem and is home to an estimated 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity.

The reserve is particularly famous for birdlife, including the Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Emerald Toucanet, and a wide range of hummingbirds and mixed flocks. The combination of elevation, habitat diversity, and careful management makes Monteverde a premier destination for bird watchers and photographers. Whether you’re hoping to see orchids clinging to mossy branches or hear the haunting call of the Bellbird, a visit to Monteverde offers a quiet, immersive glimpse into one of Costa Rica’s most magical environments. Today you’ll explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve with your private guide.

Target List:
Spotted Barbtail, Three-striped Warbler, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Buffy Tufted-Cheek, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Azure-hooded Jay, Ruddy Treerunner, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Red-faced Spinetail, Buff-fronted Quail-dove, Three-wattled Bellbird, Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Coppery-headed Emerald, Green-crowned Brilliant, Violet Sabrewing, Scintillant Hummingbird, Gray-throated Leaf tosser, Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Prong-billed Barbets, Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrushe , Black-headed Nightingale Thrush, Resplendent Quetzal ,Orange-bellied Trogon, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Gray-throated Leaftosser, Costa Rican Warbler, Chestnut-capped Brush finch, Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, Chiriqui Quail-Dove, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Long-tailed Manakin, Grey Headed Chachalaca, Red-Billed Pigeon, Lesson’s Motmot, Keel-Billed Toucan, Bat Falcon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Grey-Breasted Wood Wren, Black-Faced Solitaire, Mountain Thrush, Common Chlorospingus, Slate-throated Redstart, Yellow Faced Grassquit, White Throated Spadebill, Cabanisi’s Wren, Ornate Hawk Eagle, Spotted Woodcreeper, Gray throated Leaf Tosser, Dusky Capped Flycatcher, Crested Caracara, Costa rican Warbler, Silver Throated Tanager, Emerald Toucanet, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Tropical Screech Owl, Bare-shanked Screech Owl, Crested Owl, Common Tody Flycatcher, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Elegant Euphonia, Grey Headed Kite, Blackburnian Warbler, Lineated Woodpecker, Pale-Bill Woodpecker, White-Taile Kite, Brown Hooded Parrot, Swainson’s Thrush, Middle American Leaf Tosser, Hepatic Tanager, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Long Billed Hermit, Zeledon’s Antbird, Barred Hawk, Barred Forest Falcon, Golden-Bellied Flycatcher, Tufted Flycatcher, Red-headed Barbet, Black Phoebe, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, White-fronted Parrot, Grey-Cowled Woodrail, Smoky Brown Woodpecker, and many more.

Curi Cancha Reserve

Located on the lower slopes of Monteverde and bordering the famed Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Curi Cancha Reserve is a private wildlife reserve known for its excellent birdwatching, quiet trails, and more open habitat structure. Covering approximately 205 acres (83 hectares), Curi Cancha protects a mix of premontane cloud forest and secondary growth, offering a rich blend of environments that attract a wide variety of species.  The reserve features well-maintained trails totaling over 7 kilometers, weaving through dense forest, open pastures, and regenerating woodlands. This mosaic of habitats allows for clearer viewing conditions, making it a favorite among bird photographers and serious birders alike.

Curi Cancha is an excellent place to see the Resplendent Quetzal, especially during the nesting season, along with species like the Orange-bellied Trogon, Emerald Toucanet, Three-wattled Bellbird, and an array of hummingbirds. Mammals such as coatis, agoutis, and tamanduas are often seen along the trails as well.

Target List:
Spotted Barbtail, Three-striped Warbler, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Buffy Tufted-Cheek, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Azure-hooded Jay, Ruddy Treerunner, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Red-faced Spinetail, Buff-fronted Quail-dove, Three-wattled Bellbird, Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Coppery-headed Emerald, Green-crowned Brilliant, Violet Sabrewing, Scintillant Hummingbird, Gray-throated Leaf tosser, Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Prong-billed Barbets, Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrushe , Black-headed Nightingale Thrush, Resplendent Quetzal, Orange-bellied Trogon, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Gray-throated Leaftosser, Costa Rican Warbler, Chestnut-capped Brush finch, Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, Chiriqui Quail-Dove, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Long-tailed Manakin, Grey Headed Chachalaca, Red-Billed Pigeon, Lesson’s Motmot, Keel-Billed Toucan, Bat Falcon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Grey-Breasted Wood Wren, Black-Faced Solitaire, Mountain Thrush, Common Chlorospingus, Slate-throated Redstart, Yellow Faced Grassquit, White Throated Spadebill, Cabanisi’s Wren, Ornate Hawk Eagle, Spotted Woodcreeper, Gray throated Leaf Tosser, Dusky Capped Flycatcher, Crested Caracara, Costa rican Warbler, Silver Throated Tanager, Emerald Toucanet, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Tropical Screech Owl, Bare-shanked Screech Owl, Crested Owl, Common Tody Flycatcher, Palm Tanager, Highland Tinamou, Collared Trogon, Blue and White Swallow, Brown Jay, Golden Olive Woodpecker, Mottled Owl, Rufous and White Wren, Slaty Antwren, Spotted Barbtail, Black Guan, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Long Billed Hermit, Zeledon’s Antbird, Barred Hawk, Barred Forest Falcon, Golden-Bellied Flycatcher, Tufted Flycatcher, Red-headed Barbet, Black Phoebe, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, White-fronted Parrot, Grey-Cowled Woodrail, Smoky Brown Woodpecker, and many more.

Day 8: Monteverde to Central Pacific

Transfer to the Central Pacific coast, with birding stops at La Ensenada Road and Chomes Salt Ponds. You’ll feel the change in temperatures as you leave the cool highlands and arrive at the warm Pacific coast. Settle in at your lodge and enjoy afternoon birding on the property.

Birding En Route: La Ensenada Road & Chomes Salt Ponds

As you travel from Monteverde toward the Central Pacific, enjoy excellent birding opportunities along the way with your private guide. The rural stretch along La Ensenada Road offers open fields, scattered forest patches, and wetlands that attract a wide range of dry forest and aquatic species. Continuing to the Chomes Salt Ponds, you’ll explore a productive series of salt pans, mangrove edges, and mudflats known for hosting shorebirds, waterbirds, and migratory species. Depending on the season, highlights may include Roseate Spoonbill, Black-necked Stilt, Kingfishers along with numerous herons, terns, and raptors.

This birding-focused route offers a great contrast to the highland species of Monteverde and serves as an ideal natural transition between ecosystems before arriving at your next lodge.

Target species: Double Striped Thick-knee, Barn Swallow, Cave Swallow, Crane Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, Northern Harrier, Roadside Hawk, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Short-tailed Hawk, Broad-Winged Hawk, Gray Hawk, Common Black Hawk, American Kestral, Collared Forest Falcon, Laughing Falcon, Peregrin Falcon, Crested Carara, Yellow-Headed Carara, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Pacific Screech Owl, Mottled Owl, Barn Owl, Western Sandpiper, Black- Bellied Whistlying Duck, Marbled Godwits, Ruddy Turnstone, Semi-Palmated Plover, Spot-Breasted Oriole, American Oystercatcher, Willets, Whimbrels, Elegant Terns, Black Skimmer, Green Herons, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Little Blue Heron, Bare Throated Tiger Heron, and many more.

Day 9: Carara National Park

Located along Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast, Carara National Park is a biologically rich destination known for its unique position at the meeting point of two major ecosystems: the dry tropical forests of the north and the humid rainforests of the south. This transitional zone supports an exceptionally high level of biodiversity, making Carara one of the most important wildlife corridors in Central America and a key stronghold for species movement between regions.

The park’s mosaic of forest types, rivers, wetlands, and secondary growth creates habitats for an impressive variety of wildlife. Birdwatchers will find Carara especially rewarding, with regular sightings of trogons, antbirds, woodcreepers, hummingbirds, and rufous-tailed jacamars, as well as raptors soaring overhead. Carara is also home to one of the most successful Scarlet Macaw rehabilitation programs in Costa Rica. Thanks to years of conservation work, these iconic birds now nest and thrive in the park, and visitors often spot vibrant pairs flying overhead or foraging in the canopy.

Target Species:
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Ruddy Quail-dove, Rufous-and-white Wren, Northern Bentbill, Black-hooded Antshrike, Dusky Antbird, Brown-hooded Parrot, Scarlet Macaw, Plain Xenops, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Masked Tityra, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antwren, Orange-collared Manakin, Baird’s Trogon, Common and Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher, Purple-crowned Fairy, Long-tailed and Little or Stripe-throated (same species) Hermit, Turkey, Black and King Vulture, Streaked Flycatcher, Cocoa or Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Rufous-breasted Wren, Black-bellied Wren, Black-throated Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Barred Antshrike, Rose-throated Becard, Great Tinamou, White-winged Becard, Golden-crowned Euphonia, Black-faced Antthrush, Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Plain-capped Starthroat, Ochraceous Flycatcher, Fiery-billed Aracari, Laughing Falcon, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan,Ruddy Quail-dove, White-winged Becard, Plain-capped Starthroat and Brown-hooded Parrot, Crested Guan, Bright-rumped Attila, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Chestnut-collared Swift, Buff-throated Saltator, Orange-billed Sparrow, Blue-crowned Manakin, Amazon Kingfisher, Gray-necked Wood-rail, Olive Sparrow, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Ovenbird, Blue-throated Goldentail, White-shouldered Tanager, Rufous Piha, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Painted Bunting, Long-billed Gnatwren, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Muscovy Duck, Buff-rumped Warbler, Gray Hawk, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and Bay-headed Tanager, Great Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Short Billed Pigeion, Squirrel Cuckoo, Gartered Trogn, Fiery Billed Aracari, Golden Naped Woodpecker, Laughing Falcon, Baird’s Trogon, Dot-Winged Antwren, Chestnut Backed Antbird, Black Faced Anthrush, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Back Striped Woodcrepper, White Ruffed Manakin, Rufous Piha, Plan Xenops, Rufous Piha, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Eye-Ringed Flatbill, Red-Capped Manakin, Northern Bentbill, Bright Rumped Attila, Great Kiskadee, Green-Shrike Vireo, Lesser Greenlet, Long Billed Gnatwren, Scaly Breasted Hummingbird, Yellow Olive Flatbill, Yellow-Bellied Eleania, Riverside Wren, Spot-Crowned Euphonia, Blue-Black Grosbeak, Grey headed Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Melodious Blackbird, Riverside Wren, Clay Colored Thrush, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antwren, Red-Lored Parrot, Orange Chinned Parakeet, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Short billed Pigeon, White Whiskered Puff Bird, and many more

Day 10: Tarcoles River & Return to San Jose

Begin with a birding excursion along the Tarcoles River Estuary by boat. This tour takes you through interesting habitats, including the Mangrove. Birding here is exceptional.  After your river tour you’ll head back to the Central Valley. Check in to your hotel and enjoy final afternoon birding in the hotel gardens with your guide.

Tarcoles River Estuary

Set out on a private boat tour along the Tárcoles River Estuary, one of the top birdwatching and photography destinations in Central America. Accompanied by your private birding guide and an experienced local captain, you’ll travel in a covered boat through a landscape where mangrove forest, open water, and riverine habitat converge, culminating at the mouth of the river where it meets the Pacific Ocean.
The Tárcoles River forms the northern boundary of Carara National Park, a unique ecological zone where tropical dry forest meets Pacific rainforest, creating conditions for extraordinary biodiversity. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here, including resident and migratory species, coastal birds, and mangrove specialists. Expect excellent opportunities to observe species such as Roseate Spoonbill, Mangrove Warbler, Boat-billed Heron, Double-striped Thick-knee, Common Black Hawk, and various kingfishers, shorebirds, and waders—many from close range and ideal angles for photography.
As you move slowly and quietly through the estuary, your guide will help you spot the area’s most sought-after birds while your captain navigates the narrow waterways and open stretches of river. Beyond birds, the tour also offers the chance to encounter the region’s famed Central American Crocodiles, 2nd largest in the world, often basking along the banks, as well as basilisk lizards, iguanas, and occasional sightings of monkeys or anteaters.
This private experience offers bird enthusiasts of any level a relaxed and productive way to explore one of Costa Rica’s most iconic wildlife corridors. You’ll travel with your private guide, and boat captain exploring this unique habitat.

Target Species:
Panama Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Mangrove Vireo, Scarlet Macaw, Mangrove Hummingbird, Black Bellied Whistly Duck, Muscovy Duck, Double-Striped Thick-knee, Black Necked Stilt, Black Bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Southern Lapwing, Wilson’s Plover, Collared Plover, Whimbrel, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Least Sandpiper, Wood Stork, Magnificent Frigatebird, Anhinga, Neotripic Comorant, Brown Pelican, Bare-Throated Tiger heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Little Blue Heron, Sony Egret, Green Heron, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Gray hawk, Black and White Owl, Green Kingfisher, Crested Caracara, Yellow-headed Carara, Mangrove Swallo, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow Warbler, Great-Tailed Grackle, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Frey Hawk, and many more.
In addition to birds, the Tarcoles River is an important habitat to one of the world’s largest populations of American Crocodiles, as well as habitat to Basilisk lizards, iguanas, monkeys, anteaters, and much more.

Bird Watching in the gardens and trails at Villa San Ignacio

Birding in the gardens and trails at Villa San Ignacio is a great way to ease into your trip—or wind it down before heading home. The property has become a quiet haven for birds and butterflies, thanks to a botanist who once owned the land. He planted native trees and let the previously cleared areas return to their natural state, creating a space that now reflects the Central Valley’s original landscape.
Today, guests can enjoy easy walks through the gardens, where birds are active throughout the day and tropical butterflies add color to the experience. Join your private guide to explore the area.

Target List:
Lesson’s Motmots, Hoffmann’s Woodpeckers, Rufous-naped Wrens, and Steely-vented Hummingbirds, Fiery-billed Aracari, Rufous tailed Hummingbirds, White Tipped Dove, White Winged Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, House Wren, Cabanis’s Wren, Clay Colored Thrush, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Blue Grey Tanager and many more.

Day 11: Departure

Today you return to the San Jose Airport with your private driver  for your departure flight, taking with you memories of Costa Rica’s incredible bird life with you.