Birdwatching in Costa Rica
CostaRicanNature carefully designs your bird watching tours to the most famous and beautiful birding destinations throughout Costa Rica. We offer custom tours and guided group tours, using our knowledge and local experience to create the perfect Costa Rica bird watching tour for you. Here’s an example of an incredible birding trip in Costa Rica.
Itinerary
Day 01
Arrival - San Jose
Arrival. A representative from CostaRicanNature will meet you at the airport and provide your transfer to the hotel.
Day 02
Bosque de Paz
Today the day starts with a scenic drive to Bosque de Paz, the Peace Forest. This 988 acre private reserve serves as a corridor between two National Parks: Poas and Juan Castro Blanco. This rain and cloud forest is a bird sanctuary where the Resplendent Quetzal and the Emerald Toucanet are frequently seen. Bosque de Paz is where you will stay for two nights.
Day 03
Hiking and bird watching
This morning explore the surrounding flora and fauna with your full time dedicated guide. You will experience the wonders of nature, including the outstanding birds, and wildlife at Bosque de Paz using the trails through the forest. This reserve was established in July 1997 with trails ranging in length from 1 kilometer to 7.5 kilometers, with a total of 22 kilometers of trails passing through old growth and second growth forest, that conserves more than 331 species of birds, including abundant hummingbirds, the Resplendent Quetzal, Scaled Antpitta, Black Guan, Emerald Toucanet, Three Wattled Bellbird, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Zeledonia, and Silvery-fronted, Tapaculo, Black--faced Solitaire, American Dipper, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and many others.
Day 04 & 05
Observatory Lodge
This morning we continue our trip towards the northern plains, Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa is nestled in the heart of the Arenal Volcano National Park, and is a gateway to the birdlife of Costa Rica at the Arenal and La Fortuna Birding Hotspot. Half of the birds of Costa Rica, more than 500 species have been recorded in the surrounding forests, such as the Lovely Cotinga, Black-crested Coquette, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Bare-necked Umbrella bird, Emerald Tanager, Great Curassow, Thicket Antpitta, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and the Fasciated Tiger-Heron.
Day 06
Sarapiqui
After breakfast we continue to the Sarapiqui area. Located on the banks of the Puerto Viejo River, 42 miles north of San Jose and next to the Braulio Carrillo National Park, Sarapiqui is one of the richest areas for bird watching. Selva Verde Lodge is located on the Sarapiqui River and offers excellent birding in the surrounding gardens and forest. Frequently seen birds, include Violaceous Trogon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, White-necked Puffbird, Snowy Cotinga, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Northern Barred-Woodcreeper, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Sunbittern, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Buff-rumped Warbler, and Gray-cowled Wood-Rail. Overnight at Selva Verde Lodge, Standard River Room. Breakfast included.
Day 07
Sarapiqui
Grab your binoculars and join our naturalist guide for an early morning bird walk on the grounds of Selva Verde. Morning is a very active time for birds, when you can count on seeing multiple stunning tropical species that inhabit Selva Verde. Every morning is different, but all are exciting! Your guide has a keen eye and a high-powered spotting scope, to provide close up views of birds you might not otherwise notice. After breakfast we visit the Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Research Station for a half day tour. Your guide will introduce you to the leading-edge research conducted at La Selva and the natural history of the tropical rain forest. La Selva is a 1,614 hectares (3,988 acres) preserve consisting of old growth and regenerated tropical wet forest. Species diversity is spectacular, including more than 1,850 species of plants, 350 species of trees, 448 species of birds, and approximately 500 species of ants.
Day 08
Boca Tapada, San Carlos
We continue north to the Maquenque Eco-lodge, located north of Boca Tapada, on the San Carlos River, in the newly created 60.000 hectare, Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge. The Lodge is surrounded by tropical rainforest and has quickly become famous for its outstanding wildlife observation and birding. Frequently viewed species include the Green Macaw, Agami Heron Muscovy Duck Great Curassow, Jabiru, Roseate Spoonbill, Green Ibis, Sunbittern, and much more
Day 09
Safari
Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Rio San Carlos and observe the rich flora and fauna of this region. At the start of the tour your guide will give you paddling instruction to prepare you for the relaxing and amazing floating trip on the river. You can focus on nature and enjoy the unique and relaxed surrounding as you slowly float on the river. You will discover a lot of different water birds and river animals. Just take your time! In the afternoon the adventure continues with a walk on the trails on the hotel property.
Day 10
Return to San Jose
After breakfast we return to San Jose, during the scenic drive we can stop at an excellent bird watching site. Overnight at hotel in Alajuela, standard room. Breakfast is included.
Day 11
Departure
Transfer will be provided to the International airport.
