Grand Costa Rica Bird Watching Tour
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Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica | Hotel Bougainvillea
Day 2-3: San Gerardo de Dota | Savegre Lodge
Day 4-5: Caribbean Slope | Rancho Naturalista
Day 6-7: Caribbean Lowlands | La Selva Biological Station
Day 8-9: Caribbean Foothills | Arenal Observatory Lodge
Day 10-11: Monteverde | Hotel de Montana Monteverde
Day 12-13: Central Pacific | Cerro Lodge
Day 14: San Jose | Depart for home
Independent Tour with Local Guides
On an independent tour, you will use private transfers to move between locations. At each location, you will enjoy accommodations designed for bird watching and nature viewing on your own. We will include half or full-day birding excursions with different naturalist birding guides offered by the different parks or hotels. Since you are not covering the cost of a private guide's meals and accommodation, this is a more affordable option.- Private ‘Meet & Greet’ at the Airport
- Airport pick up
- Private guiding services from your Naturalist Guide, a birding expert
- Birding and nature observation limited to listed options with local birding guides. No stops on travel days or impromptu visits to local sites
- Private transportation in air-conditioned minivan
- All accommodations
- All tours & activities as described, with local birding guides
- Breakfast daily
- Official birding checklist for the Birds of Costa Rica
- Daily species recap with your guide
- 24/7 in-country assistance
Privately Guided Tour
On a 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, off the beaten track locations, 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.- Private ‘Meet & Greet’ at the airport
- Airport pick up
- Private guiding services from your Naturalist Guide, a birding expert
- Unlimited birding and nature observation with your guide. Includes stops on travel days and impromptu visits to local sites
- Private transportation provided either by your guide or a private driver
- All accommodations
- All tours, activities, admissions as listed
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
- Official birding checklist for the Birds of Costa Rica
- Daily species recap with your guide
- 24/7 in country assistance
‘Grand Costa Rica Bird Watching Tour’ Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive San Jose | Welcome to Costa Rica
Arrive in San Jose, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Your Costa Rica birding tour begins with an afternoon walk through the exquisite gardens of the Hotel Bougainvillea. The gardens stretch over 10-acres with pathways, benches, and viewing areas. There are 50 species of bromeliad, native trees, orchids, herbs, cactus and much more. The gardens are a haven for several hard to see bird species including the white-eared ground sparrow and the Prevost Ground sparrow. The hotel is decorated with local pottery and hosts an impressive collection of rocks and minerals found throughout Costa Rica. Dine tonight at the hotel restaurant.
Hotel: Hotel Bougainvillea
Day 2: San Gerardo de Dota | Paramo
Depart after breakfast for San Gerardo de Dota. The towering Talamanca Mountains are not only home to the highest peak in Costa Rica (Chirripo) but also unique areas of sub alpine paramo and lush white oak forests. Have your binoculars handy as this area is rich with almost 200 bird species. The Resplendent Quetzal, Flame-throated Warbler, Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher, Volcano Junco and the Silvery-throated Jays are just a few of the many birds that inhabit the area. Enjoy the cool temperatures, clear mountain streams and the magnificent forests of San Gerardo de Dota.
Hotel: Savegre Lodge
Day 3: San Gerardo de Dota | Talamanca Highlands, Quetzal Country
A full day of birding at the private reserve of Savegre Lodge. You will walk the trails and be entranced by the beautiful white oaks, and golden moss of this stunning forest. The array of bird species is astounding. In the afternoon, stroll along the river looking for dippers and phoebes and relax in the gardens surrounded by hummingbirds as the sunsets.
Hotel: Savegre Lodge
Day 4: Caribbean Slope | Birdwatch from the balcony
Today after breakfast you will take a lovely scenic route north to the Caribbean slope. You will stop above the tree-line, looking for the timberline wren and peg-billed finch (among others) and then through Tapanti National Park. The irregular topography creates fabulous vistas and chances to stop and bird along the way. You will stop along the way for a tasty lunch. The drive is only about 2 hours but plan on stopping often to search for the species you need in the area and enjoy the gorgeous views.
Hotel: Rancho Naturalista
Day 5: Caribbean Slope | Hummingbirds
Rancho Naturalista is one of Costa Rica’s premier birding lodges. From the warm homey feel, the expansive balcony for bird watching right from the lodge, to the wide expanse of trails every detail at Rancho is designed to give guests an amazing experience. Over 450 species of birds have been recorded in the private forest reserve. Have your binoculars handy at all times, you are going to need them!
Hotel: Rancho Naturalista
Day 6: Caribbean Lowlands | Lush rainforest
You will finish your stay at Rancho with lunch and then make the 2-hour drive to La Selva, arriving in time to bird the grounds of the station. La Selva is also home to many species of mammals, reptiles, and insects, so keep your eyes peeled as you maneuver the trails. La Selva is incredible bird watching with over 400 species seen in the area. The rustic accommodations are comfortable and clean. The surrounding forest and trails are a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers.
Day 7: Caribbean Lowlands | Exploring La Selva
Today it is an early breakfast and then off to the forest trails of the La Selva Biological Station. La Selva is comprised of 3900 acres of tropical forest nestled between two rivers. (Rio Puerto Viejo and Rio Sarapiqui) La Selva was established in 1954 as a farm dedicated to natural resource management. In 1968, it became a private reserve and research station owned and operated by the O.T.S. More than 250 scientific papers are published yearly with research and study done and completed at La Selva. You will enjoy the entire morning at La Selva. Enjoy a break for lunch and a rest during the heat of the day. That afternoon you will continue to explore the trails around the reserve.
Hotel: La Selva Biological Station
Day 8: Caribbean Foothills | Arenal Volcano region
Enjoy the morning at La Selva, have lunch and then depart for the Arenal Volcano area. The drive is only about 2.5 hours and you’ll bird along the way as you pass through fields, farms, and rolling hills. You’ll arrive at the lovely Arenal Observatory lodge with time for birding the grounds. The Observatory Lodge has a huge observation deck overlooking the Arenal Volcano and an expansive garden. There is a total of 870 acres of forest and an excellent trail system. This is the premier birdwatching location in the Arenal area.
Day 9: Caribbean Foothills| Arenal Volcano Region
Today you will spend the full day around the trails at the Observatory Lodge. More than 500 species have been registered on the grounds and forest of the lodge. Keep watch for the black-crested coquette, yellow-eared toucanet, great curassow and many more. The diverse habitat provides a true paradise for bird watchers.
Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge
Day 10: Monteverde | Cloud Forest
After breakfast at the Observatory Lodge you will make a stop at the trails of Sky Walk. This is a great stop for birders as it gives you a chance to see the canopy at eye level. Look for the Blue and Gold Tanager, and large mixed flocks. After the Sky Walk trails, travel around Lake Arenal to the lush cloud forests of Monteverde.
Hotel: Hotel de Montana Monteverde
Day 11: Monteverde | Cloud Forest
You will spend the day today in the rich, exuberant Cloud Forest at the Monteverde Reserve. Monteverde is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. 10% of its flora is endemic. A wonderful network of trails covers more than 13-kilometers. Marvel at the huge tree ferns, bromeliads, and orchids. The reserve is home to the three-wattled bell bird, quetzals, tawny-throated leaf-tosser, lineated foliage-gleaner, and many more fantastic species.
Hotel: Hotel Montana de Verde
Day 12: Central Pacific | Transitional Forest
Time to move from the cool mountains of Monteverde to the warmth of the Pacific Coast. Enroute, stop for a birding safari floating on the Tarcoles River. This trip is a great place to see mangrove birds, marsh species, and of course the gigantic Central American Crocodiles. You will arrive at your hotel late afternoon for check-in.
Hotel: Cerro Lodge
Day 13: Central Pacific | Carara National Park
2 Weeks Costa Rica Bird Watching Tour slowly comes to the end, but not without a bang—few places in Costa Rica boast the diversity and grandeur of Carara National Park. It is a key location as a wildlife corridor between northern and southern Costa Rica. This important location creates a sanctuary for a huge variety of animals and birds. More than 400 species are possible in this region. With a rich habitat and an excellent trail system, guests will enjoy birding in this gem of the Costa Rica National Park system.
Hotel: Cerro Lodge
About Costa Rica Focus
Costa Rica Focus is a birding tour company that offers customized Costa Rica birdwatching tours for individuals or groups of people and guided by a knowledgeable birding expert who will help you spot and learn about the beauty of the birds of Costa Rica. Let’s talk about your Costa Rica birding vacation!
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