Tracking the Trogons

10-Night, 11-Day Trip

Birding Trogons in Costa Rica

About This Birdwatching Group Tour

Focus: Birdwatching

Scheduled Dates

Jun 10 - Jun 20, 2025
Jan 7 - Jan 17, 2026
Jun 10 - Jun 20, 2026
Dec 8 - Dec 18, 2026
Jan 7 - Jan 17, 2027

Maximum number of guests

10 Guests

Pace

Intermediate

Tour Highlights

Target: 9 species of Trogons + iconic birds of Costa Rica.
Privately guided by professional Costa Rican birding expert
Strategic multi-habitats - maximizing species diversity across 6 distinct ecosystems
Varied viewing locations including primary forest, secondary forest, gardens, and feeding stations.
Birding by boat at the Tarcoles River Estuary

Trip Overview

Day 1:

Arrive San Jose

Days 2-3:

Caribbean Lowlands

Days 4-5:

Caribbean Foothills

Days 6-7:

Cloud Forest

Days 8-9:

Central Pacific

Day 10:

San Jose

Day 11:

Return to SJO Airport

Embark on an extraordinary 11-day private birding expedition through Costa Rica, specifically designed for the ultimate Trogon enthusiast. Join our expert guide on a comprehensive journey to spot all 9 species of Trogons across Costa Rica's diverse ecosystems, from Caribbean Lowlands to misty cloud forests. Trogons are not the only targets though, this tour provides excellent opportunities for the most iconic and sought after birds in the country.
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What's Included in Your 10-Night, 11-Day Tracking the Trogons 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

    • Tracking the Trogons Itinerary Details

      Day 1: Arrival in San José - Meet Your Guide and Group

      Day 2: Caribbean Lowlands - Braulio Carrillo National Park

      After an early breakfast, you’ll leave the Central Valley behind and journey to the lush Caribbean Lowlands. Along the way, stop at Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of Costa Rica’s largest protected areas, covering over 50,000 hectares of pristine rainforest. Accompanied by your expert guide, explore the trails and keep an eye out for the vibrant and elusive trogons, along with a host of other fascinating primary forest species.

      Day 3: Caribbean Lowlands - La Selva Biological Station & Cope’s Gardens

      Start your day with an early birding session at La Selva Biological Station, a world-renowned hub for tropical ecology research and home to extraordinary biodiversity. Following breakfast, explore its extensive trails, searching for unique forest species, including some of Costa Rica’s rarest birds. In the afternoon, visit Cope’s Gardens, a tranquil haven offering excellent opportunities to observe hummingbirds, frogs, bats, and potentially owls in a unique family property.

      Day 4: Caribbean Foothills - Cinchona Feeders & Arenal Observatory Reserve

      Continue your adventure with a stop at the iconic Cinchona Feeders, where you can marvel at the close-up views of tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucans. From there, head to the Arenal Observatory Lodge, located at the edge of Arenal Volcano National Park. Renowned for its birding opportunities, the lodge features a mix of forest trails, gardens, and feeders, offering unparalleled access to some of the region’s most remarkable bird species.

      Day 5: Caribbean Foothills - Arenal Observatory Reserve

      Spend a full day birding at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, exploring its diverse habitats that attract species from lowland, mid-elevation, and even highland zones. With over 400 bird species recorded on its grounds, this location is a paradise for bird enthusiasts and an excellent spot for bird watching.

      Day 6: Cloud Forest - Journey to Monteverde

      Depart Arenal and travel along the picturesque route around Lake Arenal, with stops at key birding spots en route. Arrive in Monteverde, a misty cloud forest region famous for its unique birdlife, including the Resplendent Quetzal. The transition to higher elevations will introduce you to new habitats and species.

      Day 7: Cloud Forest - Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve & Curi-Cancha

      Experience the richness of Monteverde with visits to two exceptional reserves. Start at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, known for its stunning highland species and lush, moss-draped trees. In the afternoon, explore Curi-Cancha Reserve, a mix of old-growth and secondary forest offering diverse birding opportunities. Both reserves are prime locations for spotting the Resplendent Quetzal.

      Day 8: Central Pacific - En Route Birding

      Leave the cool, misty cloud forests of Monteverde and head toward the warm Central Pacific Coast. Along the way, your guide will take you to selected birding sites that showcase the transition from cloud forest to coastal ecosystems. These stops offer a chance to spot species unique to this changing habitat.

      Day 9: Central Pacific - Carara National Park

      Explore Carara National Park, a vital transitional forest that bridges dry tropical forest and lush rainforest. This biodiversity hotspot is home to Scarlet Macaws, antbirds, trogons, hummingbirds, and much more. Carara is also part of an important wildlife corridor, so keep an eye out for elusive mammals like margays, ocelots, and jaguarundi.

      Day 10: Central Pacific - Tarcoles River Estuary

      Before returning to the Central Valley, take a guided boat tour of the Tarcoles River Estuary, one of the best birding and photography spots in Central America. This unique habitat is home to over 300 bird species, along with American Crocodiles, monkeys, and iguanas. Glide through the mangroves as you search for waterfowl, shorebirds, and tropical species.

      Day 11: Tour Concludes - Transfer to San José Airport

      Your birding adventure comes to a close today. Transfer to San José Airport with memories of incredible species, stunning landscapes, and an unforgettable journey through Costa Rica’s birding paradise.

        "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

      Birding Trogons in Costa Rica

      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.

      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.

      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.
      • 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.
      • 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.
      • Highlands (Monteverde): Cooler conditions prevail here, with daytime temperatures in the mid to high 70s or low 80s °F. Evenings can drop to the 50s °F, so pack appropriately to stay comfortable throughout your journey. We recommend layers and a fleece or jacket. 
      • 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.

      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.