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Tailor Made Birding Holiday, Costa Rica: Arenal + Sarapiqui + Quetzal + Antonio

Birding Costa Rica: Caribbean + Highlands (Lodges)
Tailor Made Birding Holiday Costa Rica Arenal Sarapiqui Quetzal Antonio
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,579
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7RRA12S
• Tailor Made Birding Holiday
• Costa Rica Birds & Guides
• Heredia
• Sarapiqui Rainforest
• La Selva Biological Station
• Turrialba
• San Gerardo de Dota
• Cloud Forests
• Resplendent Quetzal
• Birding Holiday, Costa Rica

This tailor made birding holiday visits Costa Rica, a small but beautiful country that is home to over 850 colourful tropical bird species. Visit the Sarapiqui lowland rainforest, La Selva Biological Station, Turrialba and the cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota in the Central Highlands, home to the iconic resplendent quetzal. All transfers & specified resort-based birding included. Private tours also available on request.

Day 1
You will be met at San Jose Airport and transferred 30-minutes to Heredia - the 'City of Flowers' situated north of the capital, in the foothills of the extinct Brava Volcano.
 
This historic colonial city has many beautiful gardens and is home to Costa Rica's national university.
Day 2
This morning transfer 2-hours from Heridita to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, situated in the rainforests of the Caribbean Lowlands.
 
Sarapiqui is renowned for its high bird diversity, number of national parks, private protected forests and bird sanctuaries. There is also a huge raptor and hawk migration that passes through here every year. Target birds in Sarapiqui are the highly endangered Great green macaw and the Sunbittern. Along the Sarapiqui River you can also hope to find the Little blue heron, Bare-throated tiger heron, Fasciated tiger heron, Green ibis, Keel-billed toucan, Yellow-throated toucan and many more species.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 3
An early start today to enjoy a 2-hour private birding walk through the lush lowland rainforests of Sarapiqui, accompanied by a lodge guide.
 
More than 54% of all bird species found in Costa Rica can be seen in this region. We walk along the river bank and through primary and secondary forests in search of a variety of tanagers, honeycreepers, herons and much more. Some sought-after species include the highly endangered Great green macaw, Keel-billed toucan, Sunbittern, Snowy cotinga, White-fronted nunbird, Wood thrush, Grey-necked wood rail, Violet-crowned woodnymph and Black-crested coquette.
 
In the afternoon enjoy another 2-hour private birding walk.
 
Note: Wear rubber boots or closed shoes. Bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.
Day 4
This morning enjoy a shared half day guided hike to La Selva Biological Station, which is situated in a protected lowland tropical rainforest with nearly 10 miles (15 km) of forest trails. La Selva offers a great number of trails with different micro-habitats and to hear the chorus of birds calling from the forest is an amazing experience.
 
Owned and managed by the Organisation for Tropical Studies, a consortium of universities dedicated to rainforest research, each year hundreds of scientists visit this internationally renowned research station bordering Braulio Carrillo National Park, to study its tropical ecology. With over 435 species of birds, more than 1,900 species of plants and over 330 tree species, its diversity is spectacular.
 
La Selva is great for 'big birds' and we have the chance of seeing species such as Great currasow, Grey-headed chachalaca, Semiplumbeous hawk, Tiny hawk, White-crowned parrot, Red-lored parrot and Mealy parrot. Toucans, hummingbirds and trogons are also frequently seen - as well as sloths, monkeys, peccaries, agoutis and coatis. Also many species of rainforest butterflies and frogs.
Day 5
This morning enjoy a relaxed boat ride down the Sarapiqui River. As we cruise down the river, be on the lookout for wildlife in the water and on the land, as it is possible to see monkeys, iguana, sloths, crocodiles, alligators, otters and a variety of bird life.
 
After returning to your lodge around midday, there is time for a siesta. Then in the late afternoon transfer to the Tirimbina Reserve. After an included dinner at the reserve, we set out on a guided night walk to see nocturnal species such as porcupines, frogs, possums and kinkajous (also called 'honey bears').
 
Note: Wear good walking shoes & take rain gear, insect repellent and a headlamp for the night walk, which has a maximum of 10 per guide.
Day 6
This morning you will be collected from your Sarapiqui hotel and transfer 3.5-hours to Turrialba in the cental valley region of Cartago - the gateway to Turrialba Volcano National Park.
 
Check into your hotel in this beautiful but lesser known region of Costa Rica.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Days 7 To 8
Rise early for a shared morning birding walk around your Turrialba lodge accompanied by a lodge guide.
 
With over 450 different species of birds having been recorded in this forest reserve, you will have many opportunities for excellent sightings - including hummingbirds, trogons, toucans, hawks, motmots, cuckoos, woodpeckers, migratory tanagers, collared redstarts and possibly the yellow throated brush finch.
 
In the afternoon enjoy another shared birding walk.
 
Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.
Day 9
This morning transfer 3-hours from Turrialba to San Gerardo de Dota, nestled in a pristine steeply walled mountain valley high in the Talamanca Mountains at 7,200 ft (2,200 m).
 
The cloud forests of Los Quetzales National Park and Savegre Reserve are filled with massive oaks and other native highland species and this is the best birding spot in the country for regional endemics, with more that 50 found in these central highlands. This area is also part of the Los Santos Forest Reserve, a biological corridor for a large number of wildlife - some in danger of extinction. It is a haven for both bird watchers and walkers.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Days 10 To 11
Rise early for a private morning birding walk with a guide from your lodge.
 
This region is famous for its large population of Resplendent Quetzal - a bird that is sacred to the indigenous people and is one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas. We start the day looking for this bird, but over 175 other birds have also been identified in this small town.
 
While seeing a quetzal will be our main goal, this valley is also an excellent place to see all the specialty birds of the region. Some of the regional highland endemics we are likely to see include the Highland tinamou, Red-tailed hawk, Black guan, Sulphur-winged parakeet, Ruddy treerunner, Silvery-fronted tapaculo, Sooty robin, Ruddy pigeon, Scintillant hummingbird, White-throated mountaingem, Purple-throated mountaingem, Emerald toucanet and many flycatchers, trogons, tanagers, sparrows and hummingbirds such as the White-throated mountaingem, Scintillant hummingbird and Purple-throated mountaingem.
 
In the afternoon enjoy another 2-hour private birding walk.
 
Note: As you are at a fairly high altitude (7,000 ft / 2,400 m), remember not to exert yourself. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.
Day 12
This morning leave San Gerardo and transfer 3-hours to the city of San Jose.
 
You will be dropped off at your hotel in Heredia, which is within easy reach of the airport.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.
Day 13
Transfer 30-minutes to San Jose Airport for your flight home.
 
Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.