Intro to Costa Rica Birdwatching Tour
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Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica | Arenal Observatory Lodge
Day 2-3: Caribbean Foothills| Arenal Observatory Lodge
Day 4-7: Guanacaste | Capitan Suizo
Day 8: Liberia| Time to Return Home
Pace: Easy
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
‘Intro to Costa Rica Birdwatching Tour’ Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive San Jose | Welcome to Costa Rica
Welcome to Costa Rica! We will meet you at the San Jose International Airport. Your private transfer will take you North (3.5 hours) to the spectacular Arenal Volcano area. You will leave the city behind and find yourselves traveling through small towns and rolling green hills, through the cloud forest of San Ramon, to the Caribbean Foothills of the Arenal Volcano region.
Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge
Day 2: Arenal Volcano Area | Arenal Observatory Lodge Private Reserve
The Arenal Observatory Lodge has a huge observation deck overlooking the Arenal Volcano and its expansive garden. There are a total of 870 acres of forest and an excellent trail system at the property. This is the premier birdwatching location in the Arenal area.
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 3: Arenal Volcano Area | Hanging Bridges
After breakfast at the Observatory Lodge you will spend the morning at the Arenal Hanging bridges this gives you a unique chance to see the canopy at eye level. The reserve is an ideal place for combining bird watching and a fun hike over a series of hanging bridges. Bird watching at the hanging bridges allows visitors to bird watch from the forest floor, to mid canopy and at times above the canopy. It’s interesting to have different views and observe birds from different vantage points.
The hanging bridges are interspersed among 3 kilometers of trails. There are 8 stationary bridges and 6 suspended bridges ranging from 8-98 meters in length and the highest bridge at 60 meters. The views of the Arenal Volcano are spectacular and the flora and fauna is rich and diverse.
Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge
Day 4: Guanacaste | Tamarindo Beaches
Today after breakfast, it’s time to move on to the incredible beaches of Guanacaste. You will have time for a leisurely breakfast and then your driver will arrive to transfer you (about 4 hours) to Tamarindo for check-in at your hotel. Tamarindo is well known for its gorgeous beaches, and fabulous sunsets. Guests can also enjoy many great dining options, shopping, and nightlife.
Hotel: Capitan Suizo
Day 5: Guanacaste | Day at Leisure for the Beach
Enjoy a day at leisure or plan for an optional tour. Be sure to explore the local restaurants. This area is well known for great food.
Hotel: Capitan Suizo
Day 6: Guanacaste | Morning Bird Watching Excursion
Today you will head out before sunrise to a private reserve to spot some of the area’s most prized species. In the early morning light, you will spend over 2 hours in the forests of Cartagena or Camaronal. Keep your eyes peeled and binoculars ready: you might be able to spot the Jabiru, a giant bird family of endangered storks with Guanacaste as only one of their remaining homes; the Elegant Trogon, Laughing Falcon; Squirrel Cuckoo, White-Throated Magpie Jay or the Cattle Egret. The cool temperatures of the morning will maximize your chances to view these species as this is when they are most active. Your experienced guide will lead you to ideal locations and use a guidebook to help you identify the many species that surround you.
Hotel: Capitan Suizo
Day 7: Guanacaste | Sunset Snorkel Sail
Enjoy your morning at leisure then plan for a sunset sailing tour. You can experience the best sunset on board a small catamaran sailing through the Pacific, around the small islands that dot the coast. You’ll stop at a quiet cove to enjoy snorkeling too. Enjoy the incredible views of Costa Rica’s golden sand beaches. With a tropical cocktail in hand just relax, but do keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, sea turtles, birds, and depending on the month, Whales!
Hotel: Capitan Suizo
Day 8: Liberia International Airport | Time to Return Home
Today it’s time to bid farewell to Paradise. Your driver will arrive to transfer you to the Liberia International Airport (1 hr. 15 mins.) for your flight home.
Intro to Costa Rica Birdwatching Tour Review:
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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