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Search for the Elusive Birds

8-Night, 9-Day Trip

About This Birdwatching Group Tour

Focus: Birdwatching

Scheduled Dates

Oct 14 - Oct 22, 2025
Oct 14 - Oct 22, 2026
Oct 14 - Oct 22, 2027

Maximum number of guests

10 Guests

Pace

Intermediate

Prime Birding Locations

Tour Highlights

Birding with an expert local birding guide for the entire tour
Boat-based birding in Tortuguero’s rainforest canals
Trails and feeders at Cope’s Gardens and San Luis
Volcano and forest birding at Arenal Observatory Lodge
Unique locations, like La Marta
Relaxing evening at EcoTermales Hot Springs

Trip Overview

Day 1:

Arrive San Jose

Days 2-3:

Cartago Foothills

Days 4-5:

Tortuguero

Days 6-7:

Caribbean Foothills

Day 8:

San Jose

Day 9:

Return to SJO Airport

Overview
What's Included
Itinerary
Additional Info
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This 8-night, 9-day birdwatching tour is designed to take advantage of ideal October birding conditions on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side. Led by your expert birding guide, the tour covers a range of habitats, from mid-elevations to lowlands and wetlands, maximizing opportunities to observe diverse species. Starting in the Central Valley, the journey includes birding at La Marta Wildlife Refuge and CATIE Botanical Center. In Tortuguero (“The Little Amazon”), explore the canals by boat, experiencing one of the most biodiverse regions in the country. Continue to Cope’s Gardens and San Luis, known for close-up encounters with forest species, before heading to the Arenal region for birding at Arenal Observatory Lodge. The tour also includes a relaxing visit to EcoTermales Hot Springs before returning to San José.
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Search for the Elusive Birds Costa Rica Scheduled Group Tour Map

What's Included in Your 8-Night, 9-Day Search for the Elusive Birds 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

      • Search for the Elusive Birds Itinerary Details

      Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

      Upon arrival at SJO Airport, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel in San José. In the afternoon, explore the hotel’s gardens with your private guide.  This evening enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers and guide and discuss the adventure to come. 

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Hotel Bougainvillea Gardens

    • Day 2: Birding Cartago’s valleys

      Depart San José and travel with your private guide to Cartago, a region known for its lush valleys and diverse habitats. Settle into your lodge and spend the afternoon birding the gardens and surrounding trails, where a variety of species thrive.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Quelitales Hotel Trails

    • Day 3: Foothill Forests & Botanical Gardens

      Spend the morning exploring La Marta Wildlife Refuge, a remote area with pristine forests and river habitats. After lunch, visit CATIE Botanical Center, a research facility with wetlands, gardens, and fruiting trees that attract a wide range of birds.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      La Marta Reserve

    • Explore

      CATIE Botanical Center

    • Day 4: Journey to Tortuguero

      Depart Cartago and travel to La Pavona, where a boat transfer will take you through the winding Tortuguero canals, offering birding opportunities along the water. Arrive at your lodge and enjoy an afternoon in Tortuguero Town, then bird the hotel grounds with your private guide.  Enjoy immersing yourself in one of Costa Rica’s most unique ecosystems.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Evergreen Lodge Trails & Gardens

    • Explore

      Tortuguero

    • Day 5: Exploring Tortuguero by Boat

      Spend the day birdwatching along the waterways of Tortuguero, an area often called the “Little Amazon” for its network of canals, lagoons, and dense rainforest. With your private guide, navigate this rich ecosystem, spotting a variety of species that thrive in the lowland wetlands.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Tortuguero

    • Day 6: Cope’s Gardens & Arenal Birding

      After breakfast, return by boat to La Pavona, then continue with your guide toward Arenal, stopping in Guápiles along the way. Visit Cope’s Gardens, a private garden featuring forest trails, feeders, and gardens. Arrive at Arenal Observatory Lodge in the afternoon and enjoy a guided birding session on the lodge grounds.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Cope’s Gardens

    • Explore

      Arenal Observatory Lodge Reserve

    • Day 7: Birding at Arenal & Relaxing Hot Springs

      Spend the morning birding the trails, gardens, and forests surrounding Arenal Observatory Lodge. This area offers a mix of primary forest, open areas, and excellent volcano views. In the evening, unwind at EcoTermales Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a natural thermal soak followed by dinner.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Arenal Observatory Lodge Reserve

    • Explore

      EcoTermales Hot Springs

    • Day 8: San Luis Birding & Return to San José

      Depart Arenal and head back to San José, stopping for a birdwatching session in San Luis, a well-known area for observing colorful forest species. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy one last birding walk in the gardens before the journey comes to a close.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Villa San Ignacio Trails

    • Explore

      San Luis Tanagers

    • Day 9: Departure

      Private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight home. Farewell, and thank you for joining this unforgettable bird watching 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.

        From the very onset, it was a pleasure working with our contact Jess. She always promptly addressed any questions or concerns we had and tailored the vacation to suit our needs and requests. The entire vacation from pick up to drop off was flawless and the various locations gave us a wonderful opportunity to experience the diversity of birds, plants and other wildlife in Costa Rica. …

        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.  Many before we even asked the question. His main concern always was that we had the best experience in every respect.

        Without hesitation we highly recommend Costa Rica Focus.

        Richard and Donna,
        San Diego, California.

        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 owe a more detailed explanation to those who want to keep up reading, to explain. I’ve been a Norwegian birder for well over 40 years, but my wife doesn’t share this hobby with me. She likes nature but is more interested in the culture part new places. With the possible conflicting interests in mind, I contacted Costa Rica Focus just to get some advice for a Costa Rica-tour we had talked about since even before we got married 27 years ago. We had an idea of which sites we were going to visit and just had a few questions of which order we should do the sites, and how to best move from between the places.

        Costa Roca Focus quickly responded, and gave us a few options, one of which was to set up a 12-days schedule. I silently asked for the 12-days-tour, and to my complete surprise, my wife accepted on the condition of getting a week on the beach after the Costa Rica Focus journey. I probably won the jackpot.
        This turned out to be the best decision we’ve made in a long time. 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 a moderate to 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.

      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.
      • 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.
      • Caribbean Lowlands: Daytime temperatures will range from the high 80s to low 90s °F. Evening temperatures will be in the high 70s – low 80s °F. Expect high humidity.

      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.