Off the Beaten Path

10-Night, 11-Day Trip

About This Birdwatching Group Tour

Focus: Birdwatching

Scheduled Dates

Jul 10 - Jul 20, 2026
Feb 12 - Feb 22, 2027

Maximum number of guests

10 Guests

Pace

Intermediate

Tour Highlights

Privately guided birding tour led by an expert local birding guide
Remote, off-the-beaten-path locations for a unique birding experience
Explore 5 diverse habitats, from coastal rainforests to cloud forests and highland paramo
Bird in the secluded El General Valley
Explore the pristine Talamanca Highlands
Targeted searches for Pacific region's most elusive bird species

Trip Overview

Day 1:

Arrive San Jose

Days 2-3:

Santa Juana - Cerros de Parrita

Days 4-5:

San Isidro Valley

Days 6-7:

La Gamba - Piedras Blancas

Days 8-9:

Talamanca Highlands

Day 10:

San Jose

Day 11:

Return to SJO Airport

This exclusive 11-day privately guided birding tour ventures well beyond the usual tourist routes, offering access to some of Costa Rica’s most remote and pristine ecosystems. Perfect for repeat visitors seeking new birding regions or first-time travelers looking for something different, this journey explores off-the-beaten-path locations rarely visited by most travelers. You'll experience five distinct habitats, from coastal rainforests to cloud forests and highland páramo, with a focus on finding the Pacific region’s most elusive bird species. With an expert local birding guide leading the way, you’ll explore unique destinations such as the El General Valley, the untouched forests of the Talamanca Highlands, and the transition zone of Carara National Park, where dry and humid forests meet. Additional highlights include birding in the Santa Juana Reserve, the scenic Copey de Dota Road, the hidden trails of Esquipulas Reserve, and a visit to Los Cusingos, the former home of famed ornithologist Alexander Skutch. This is a rare opportunity to experience Costa Rica’s birdlife in some of its most authentic and least explored landscapes.
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What's Included in Your 10-Night, 11-Day Off the Beaten Path Tour?

  • Small Group Tour – Birdwatching

    On a group tour with a private guide, the guide is with you from your arrival to your departure. You not only bird at the hotels, parks, and reserves on your itinerary, you also have the flexibility to stop with the guide at local spots, and places that only the guides know. You have an expert with you every step of the way. Guests with a Private Guide can expect to see at least 50% more species than guests using local guides.

    Pros and Cons of a Scheduled Group Trip

    Continuous expert guidance throughout the entire trip

    50% more species typically observed

    Access to off-the-beaten-track locations

    Flexibility for impromptu stops

    Daily species recap with guide

    Species identification from your guide during and after your trip.

    Fixed travel dates

    Less individual flexibility

      Ideal for

    • Serious birders aiming to maximize species sightings

    • First-time visitors wanting constant expert guidance

    • Birders interested in off-the-beaten-path locations

    • Travelers who value having all meals and services included

    • Birders who enjoy shared experiences with like-minded travelers

    • Travelers looking for easy, seamless experience

    • Off the Beaten Path Itinerary Details

      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.

      Day 2: Birding at Carara National Park

      Travel to the Pacific lowlands and explore Carara National Park, a unique transition zone between dry and humid forests. This is your top spot for Scarlet Macaws.  After Carara you’ll climb in elevation to the Cerros de Parrita Mountains for more birding and amazing views. 

      Day 3: Highlands of Santa Juana Reserve

      Venture into the remote Santa Juana Reserve, a little-visited montane forest where you’ll search for an incredible array of Pacific bird species. From the forest trails to the beautiful waterfall pool, Santa Juana is a pristine birders paradise. 

      Day 4: Esquipulas Reserve & San Isidro

      Early morning birding at Santa Juana and then on to Esquipulas Reserve, a hidden gem in the foothills known for its rich biodiversity. Then, travel to El General Valley, where you’ll settle into your lodge and explore the surrounding forests.

      Day 5: Villa Tica Private Reserv

      A full day of birding at Villa Tica, a little-known private reserve offering excellent opportunities to observe a variety of species in a tranquil setting. You’ll enjoy forest trails, gardens and feeding stations, searching out the top species with your guide.

      Day 6: Los Cusingos & Transfer to Esquinas Lodge

      Morning birding at Los Cusingos, the former home of famed ornithologist Alexander Skutch, offering fantastic views of both forest and garden species. Continue south to Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, located in the heart of Piedras Blancas National Park. In the evening, enjoy a guided night hike in search of nocturnal wildlife.

      Day 7: Esquinas & Piedras Blancas National Park

      Explore the pristine lowland rainforests surrounding Esquinas Lodge and the trails of Piedras Blancas National Park, an area known for its incredible diversity and healthy populations of rare and endemic species. Today you’ll visit forests, rivers and even farmlands searching for the area top birds. 

      Day 8: Transition to the Talamanca Highlands

      Travel from the lowlands up to the Talamanca Highlands, stopping along the way for birding in key transition areas. Have your sweaters handy and enjoy the cool mountain temperatures. Arrive at your lodge for afternoon birding on site.

      Day 9: Copey de Dota & Providencia Road

      Spend the day exploring the remote backroads of Copey de Dota and Providencia, excellent highland birding areas with dramatic landscapes and quiet trails. This is Quetzal country, be on the look out for this spectacular bird. 

      Day 10: Return to the Central Valley

      Enjoy a final morning of highland birding before traveling back to the Central Valley. Your guide will be sure to stop at key spots en route for your last looks at the highland birds.  This evening relax at your hotel, enjoy a farewell dinner and reminisce about your journey.

      Day 12: Departure

      Private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight home. Farewell, and thank you for joining this unforgettable bird photography adventure in Costa Rica.

        "Simply the best!"

        We can’t say enough about how pleased we were that we went with Costa Rica Focus, and thoroughly recommend them in every respect … As for our guide and driver Andres, what can we say? If a review sheet had a plus and minus column, we would request a third plus-plus column. He was absolutely amazing in every respect.  We arrived to meet Andres as a stranger only to leave two weeks later feeling like we just left our best friend behind. He was the most knowledgeable guide, an extremely careful and diligent driver, plus a delightfully thoughtful fellow in every respect. Nothing was too much trouble and any questions or requests were answered or taken care of immediately.  …

        Richard B

        San Diego, CA

        "Costa Rica Focus made our first Costa Rica experience perfect."

        What a vacation this turned out to be. I’ve had the best vacation of my life, and a big part of this is down to Costa Rica Focus. Thanks a lot, and I want to recommend this company to everyone with a wish to visit Costa Rica. A thoroughly professional company, which gave my first-time birding experience with the American continent another dimension.

        The drivers brought us safely between the sites. The local birding guides did an excellent job, and I were satisfied to discover the guides were equally nerdy as me. The guides knew bird-ID, song/calls and sites very well. I ended up with a species list of nearly 300, but would certainly have struggled reaching 220-230 without the help by the local birders from Costa Rica Focus. They also included my not-so-nerdy wife in a brilliant way, which made her happy as well.

        I can’t praise the company enough, and the money was well spent. The standards of our hotels were around 3 (4) stars, and all breakfast included. About two weeks before our tour started, Costa Rica gave us a must-do-list, which included connecting to a Whatsapp-group, to download an app (Axis) which kept an overview of our schedule and name of the guides for the trip, and a list to remind us of what to pack. These were all useful to us. The contact with Costa Rica Focus during our trip was quick and easy, and through the WhatsApp-group the company always responded quickly to our questions. …

        Jørn Helge M

        Norway

        "Another home run by Costa Rica Focus"

        A 10-day birding trip with a photography focus. Great birding and photography with our fabulous guide Sr. Minor H. despite occasionally iffy weather. Locations were great, accomodations ranged from luxurious to very basic, food from merely very good to excellent, including some pleasant surprises like Pizzeria Los Colibries, on the road to Savegre where we ended up when our destination restaurant turned out to be closed due to a medical emergency in the owner’s family – really good pizza with near-perfect crust and hyper-local ingredients like local mushrooms, herbs from their own gardens, lettuce from their hydroponic gardens, etc. It’s the first pizza place on the right on the road down to San Gerardo de Dota from National Route 2. You can’t miss it:). Logistics were perfect, including arrival and departure.

        Not a lot ot add to the overwhelmingly positive reviews of Costa Rica Focus. This is the fifth trip I’ve taken with them in four years, including one to Ecuador in collaboration with Ecuador Birds Tours, and if I go again to a destination they offer, I can’t think why I would look elsewhere.

        rfichera

        Boston, MA

      Additional Tour Info

      This itinerary requires an intermediate level of physical activity. Guests will traverse a variety of environments, including well-established trails, narrow forest paths, gardens, feeders, and observation platforms. Participants should be comfortable walking at least 2 miles at a steady, relaxed pace without the need for frequent stops or rest. Additionally, participants should be comfortable walking in hot, humid conditions. 

      Weather

      Weather in Costa Rica varies significantly by region and elevation. Expect different temperatures and rainfall patterns as you travel through the country. While some areas experience brief morning mist or afternoon showers, others may have longer periods of rain. These patterns shift throughout the year and create the perfect conditions for Costa Rica’s rich wildlife. While we plan activities around typical weather patterns, we recommend packing for both sun and rain to ensure your comfort throughout your journey. The temperatures listed below represent typical averages for each region, though daily conditions may vary.

      • Central Valley: Warm daytime temperatures from the high 70s °F to low 80s °F. Evenings pleasant in the high 60s °F to low 70s °F.
      • Pacific Mountains:  Daytime temperatures will range from the mid 80s to low 90s °F. Evening temperatures will be in the mid 60s – mid 70s °F.
      • Pacific Lowlands: Daytime temperatures will range from the high 80s to low 90s °F. Evening temperatures will be in the high 70s – low 80s °F.
      • Highlands (Talamanca Mountains): Cooler conditions prevail here, with daytime temperatures in the mid to high 70s or low 80s °F. Evenings can drop to the high 40s or low 50s °F, so pack appropriately to stay comfortable throughout your journey. We recommend layers and a fleece or jacket. 
      • Mid-Elevation Locations (Foothills): Enjoy temperate weather with daytime highs in the low to mid-80s °F and evenings and early mornings in the low to mid 60s Mid-Elevation Locations: Enjoy temperate weather with daytime highs in the low to mid-80s °F.

      On the Trail

      Please note that some parks and reserves lack seating or designated rest areas once inside the forest. While most trails are relatively flat, certain locations may involve inclines, steps, or uneven terrain with minor elevation changes.

      Trail conditions will vary, and guests should be prepared to navigate narrow forest paths with natural debris such as sticks, leaves, rocks, and roots. In the event of rain, trails may become muddy and slippery, adding to the challenge.This itinerary is designed for participants with an intermediate level of fitness and mobility, ensuring a rewarding experience for those prepared for the natural demands of these environments.

      All guests should be comfortable carrying their own equipment and personal items in the field. We understand that everyone’s pace and energy levels are different. If you ever feel the need for a shorter day, a morning to rest, or time to recharge, please let your guide know. This is your trip, and we’re here to ensure you enjoy it to the fullest.

      This trip would not be recommended for a person with mobility issues.

      Accommodations

      For our group trips, we select hotels based on their prime locations for birding opportunities. Accommodations will range from basic, rustic lodges to mid-range hotels with additional amenities, always with the goal of prioritizing excellent access to birding hotspots.

      It’s important to note that not all hotels will have air conditioning, but all will feature private bathrooms, hot or warm running showers, fans, and Wi-Fi (available at least in reception or dining areas, though signal strength may vary). The level of comfort will align with the descriptions provided in the itinerary.

      In some locations, rooms may be a 5–15 minute walk from the reception or dining areas. If you have physical needs and would prefer a room closer to these facilities, please inform us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.