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Birding Tour, Costa Rica: Boca Tapada + La Selva + San Gerardo + Carara + Nicoya Peninsula

Costa Rica Birding Tour 1: Small Group Tour

11 NIGHTS FROM:

$2,747

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

7RYE11S

• Birding Tour, Costa Rica

• Caribbean Lowlands

• Braulio Carrillo

• La Selva, Sarapiqui

• Pacific Coast

• Gulf of Nicoya

• Carara National Park

• Central Highlands

• San Gerardo de Doto

• Hummingbirds

Enquire about this small group birding tour in Costa Rica, visiting the rainforests of the Arenal Volcano, La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui in the Caribbean lowlands, San Gerardo de Doto in the cloud forests of the Central Highlands, Abangaritos in the dry forests of the Pacific, Tarcoles and Carara National Park. 4 departures: Jan, Feb, March each year. Maximum 12 people. All meals included (but not alcohol).

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at San Jose Airport and transferred to your hotel. This capital city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains and the volcanoes of Poas, Irazu and Turrialba.

Depending on your arrival time, we may be able to do some birding in the hotel grounds this afternoon.

Days 2 To 3

This morning you will be collected from your San Jose hotel for your small group birding tour, travelling 3.5-hours northwards through beautiful Costa Rican mountain scenery towards the Arenal Volcano. This is one of the most active in Central America, with a perfect cone that on a clear day is visible from almost anywhere in the area.

Nearly 450 different species (i.e. half of all the birds found in Costa Rica) have been recorded in and around Arenal National Park, whose diverse habitats include tropical lowland rainforest, pre-montane forest of the Caribbean foothills and agricultural pastures.

On arrival in La Fortuna enjoy birding from roads around Arenal Volcano and the lake, as well as along trails in the national park. We also stop at two well-known feeders and visit a private reserve, which is home to many sloths. Birds that are regularly seen here include the Purple gallinule, Red-billed pigeon, Short-billed pigeon, Blue ground dove, Olive-throated parakeet, White-crowned parrot, Striped cuckoo, Great Potoo, Bronzy hermit, White-necked jacobin, Green-breaster mango and Orange-bellied trogon. You can also hope to see the Yellow-throated toucan, Crested guan, Grey-headed chachalaca, Baltimore oriole, Clay-coloured thrush, Red-throated ant tanager, Lovely cotinga, Black-crested coquette, Yellow-eared toucanet, Bare-necked umbrellabird, Emerald tanager, Great curassow, Thicket antpitta, Ornate hawk-eagle and Fasciated tiger heron.

Other birds commonly reported in these forests include the Buff-fronted quail dove, Chiriqui quail dove, Band-tailed barbthroat, White-throated crake, Uniform crake, Spectacled owl, Rufous-winged woodpecker, Mealy amazon, Checker-throated antwren, Bicolored antbird, Spotted antbird, Chestnut-backed antbird, Dull-mantled antbird, Rufous piha, Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Olive-striped flycatcher, Paltry tyrannulet, White-ringed flycatcher, Stripe-breasted wren, Song wren, Black-faced solitaire, Tawny-capped euphonia and Sootycapped bush tanager amongst others. Also keep an eye out for howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, coati, racoons and other rainforest wildlife.

Later there is the option to relax at one of the many Hot Springs in the area (pay entrance fee locally).

Note: Accommodation and itineraries on group tours are sometimes subject to change for operational reasons. The hanging bridges trail is not suitable if you have a fear of heights.

Day 4

Today we leave La Fortuna and drive 2-hours to the lowland tropical rainforests of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.

This region 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 Sunbittern. Along the Sarapiqui River we also hope to find the Little blue heron, Bare-throated tiger heron, Fasciated tiger heron, Green ibis, Collared aracari toucan, Keel-billed toucan, Yellow-throated toucan and several species of egrets, motmots, trogons, parrots, parakeets and hummingbirds.

Day 5

We spend today birding in the vicinty of La Selva Biological Station, as this will be the best chance on our trip of seeing the endangered Great green macaw, as well as the near endemic Nicaraguan seed finch and Snowy cotinga. With over 435 species of birds, more than 1,900 species of plants and over 330 tree species, the diversity here is spectacular.

In the afternoon we do birding around our lodge and along nearby trails, including Great Green macaw nesting sites. Targets include the Rufous-tailed jacamar, Slaty-breasted tinamou, Fasciated antshrike, Black-crowned antshrike, Red-throated ant tanager, Golden-hooded tanager, Bay-headed tanager, Sunbittern, Montezuma oropendula and Chestnut-backed antbird. Other birds you can hope to find here include the Great tinamou, Scaled pigeon, Common potoo, Bronzy hermit, Black-crested coquette, Band-tailed barbthroat, Blue-throated goldentail, Green ibis, Pied puffbird, Rufous-winged woodpecker, Mealy amazon, Crimson-fronted parakeet, Bicolored antbird, Spotted antbird, Black-faced antthrush, Rufous piha, Snowy cotinga, Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Black-capped pygmy tyrant, Paltry tyrannulet, White-ringed flycatcher, Black-throated wren, Stripe-breasted wren, Canebrake wren, Song wren, Golden-browed chlorophonia and Shining honeycreeper.

This area is also great for 'big birds' and we have the chance of seeing species such as the 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. You can also see sloths, howler and capuchin monkeys, peccaries, agoutis, coatis and many species of rainforest butterflies and frogs.

Day 6

This morning we drive 4-hours from Sarapiqui 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).

Before reaching our lodge, enjoy birding along the road. This is your first opportunity to identify a some of the regional endemics found in these mountains, including fancy species such as the Volcano hummingbird, Long-tailed silky-flycatcher, Black-billed nightingale-thrush, Yellow-thighed finch and Large-footed finch. The elusive endemic Sulfur-winged parakeet is common here.

We continue to the cloud forests of Los Quetzales National Park and the Savegre Reserve, which are filled with massive oaks and other native highland species. 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.

Day 7

Enjoy a full day of birding today in the highlands of San Gerardo de Doto.

This region is famous for its large population of Resplendent quetzals - a bird that is sacred to the indigenous people and is one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas. While seeing a quetzal will be our main goal, this valley is an excellent place to see other speciality birds too, with over 175 species having been identified in this small town.

Over 50% of the bird species found here are near endemics, as the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama are separated from similar elevations to the north and south by sizeable geographic gaps. So there are species found here from three different bio-geographic origins: North America, montane areas of Mexico and northern Central America, and the Andes.

Regional highland endemics we can hope 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.

Note: As you are at a fairly high altitude (7,000 ft / 2,400 m), remember to not to exert yourself.

Day 8

Today we leave San Gerardo de Dota and travel 5-hours to Abangaritos on the northwest Pacific Coast, with birding stops along the way.

This region contains some of the last remnants of endangered tropical lowland dry forest. Its large salt pans offer birding opportunities for shore birds, locals and migrants - with target birds including the handsome Three-wattled bellbird.

This is our chance to spot rare endemics and local dry forest specialties, especially birds that are not readily seen further south such as the Spot-bellied bobwhite, Lesser ground cuckoo, Spotted-breasted oriole, Streak-backed oriole, Snail kite, Roseate spoonbill, Double-striped thick-knee, Yellow-naped parrot, Mangrove hummingbird, Banded wren, White-lored gnatcatcher, Limpkin (crying bird), Scrub euphonia and White-throated magpie-jay.

Day 9

We spend the full day birding around the lodge and along the many trails found near the Gulf of Nicoya. The birding in this area is well regarded and it is easy to build a good-sized list. Most of the habitat within the reserve is patchy forest and cow pasture, which will produce most of the dry forest species.

The large salt pans found in this region offer birding opportunities for shore birds, locals and migrants. The open areas are good for Snail kite, Yellow-crowned night heron, Marbled godwit, Short-billed dowitcher and Yellow-naped parrot.

Around the mangroves of the Nicoya Peninsula we can look out for semi-pelagic birds such as terns, gulls and skimmers. Also look out for the endemic Mangrove hummingbird, the elusive Rufous-necked woodrail, Clapper rail and Mangrove cuckoo. Navigating through this habitat, we may see an American crocodile or perhaps a Mangrove boa. You can also look out for the Cinnamon hummingbird, watch Mangrove swallows flying over the fields and hear Lesser ground cuckoo calling from the dense forest edge. At night the Common Pauraque, Ferruginous pygmy owl and Pacific screech owl can be heard in the area.

Day 10

Today we travel 2-hours from Abangaritos to the small town of Tarcoles situated on the Gulf of Nicoya, near Carara National Park.

The Central Pacific coast consists of transitional lowland forest, with the more humid forests of the southern Pacific blending and overlapping with the drier forests of the northern Pacific. The result is a unique zone of overlap, where both northern and southern species can be seen in the same place.

In the afternoon we take a boat ride along the Tarcoles River to the Guacalillo Mangrove Estuary at the mouth of the river, which has the largest population of American crocodiles in Central America - some up to fifteen feet long. You will see many of them sunning themselves on the sandbanks, as well as Jesus Christ lizards.

This is also a great opportunity to spot resident and migrant freshwater birds, waterfowl, waders and shorebirds, as well as the rare Scarlet macaw. Among the many herons and egrets are the Boatbill and Bare-throated tiger heron. The mangroves are home to Mangrove vireo, Mangrove cuckoo, Panama flycatcher and American pygmy kingfisher, to mention just a few.

Day 11

We spend all day birding in Carara National Park, which marks the northernmost limit of the Pacific Rainforest. It is also here that the Tropical Dry Forest finds its southernmost reach, making this wonderful phenomenon of merging of habitats one of the best birding locations in Costa Rica, with incredible biodiversity (over 400 species). Carara and Tarcoles also contain wonderful examples of wet tropical Pacific habitat.

Carara National Park is famous for its population of Scarlet macaws and we are certain to see many here, particularly at dusk. The excellent birdlife includes up to five different species of trogons, the Rufous-tailed jacamar, Royal flycatcher, King vulture. Grey-necked wood rail, Elegant tern, Tawny-winged woodcreeper, Smooth-billed ani, Scaled pigeon, Costa Rican swift, Panama flycatcher and some rarities like the endemic Mangrove hummingbird.

There are great opportunity for raptors and scavengers such as the Yellow-headed caracara, Hook-billed kite, Laughing falcon, Ferruginous pygmy owl, Striped owl and Northern crested caracara. You can also hope to see the Mangrove vireo, Mangrove warbler, Rufous-necked wood rail, Great tinamou, Bronzy hermit, Band-tailed barbthroat, Blue-throated goldentail, Baird’s trogon, Fiery-billed aracari, Hoffmann’s woodpecker, Yellow-naped amazon, Mealy amazon, Blackhooded antshrike, Chestnut-backed antbird, Streak-chested antpitta, Black-faced antthrush, Orange-collared manakin, Rufous piha, Yellow-billed cotinga, Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Black-tailed flycatcher and Riverside wren.

You can also hope to see iguanas, monkeys, sloths and other rainforest wildlife.

Day 12

Enjoy a final early morning birding walk along one of the lodge trails this morning.

Afterwards transfer 2-hours to San Jose Airport for your flight home.

Note: One airport transfer per group is offered. If you would like to be transfreed earlier or later, you will need to pay for an additional private transfer.

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