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

17 Feb 2026: Costa Rica Birding Tour (Group 2)
Birding Tour Costa Rica Boca Tapada La Selva San Gerardo Carara Nicoya
11 NIGHTS FROM:
$2,900
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7RYE11S
• Birding Tour, Costa Rica
• Tarcoles River
• Carara National Park
• San Gerardo de Doto
• Central Highlands
• Caribbean Lowlands
• Braulio Carrillo
• La Selva
• Boca Tapada
• Arenal Voalcano

Enquire about this small group birding tour in Costa Rica, visiting Boca Tapada and the rainforests of the Caribbean Lowlands, San Gerardo de Doto in the cloud forests of the Central Highlands and the Tarcoles River and Carara National Park on the Pacific Coast. 4 departures in February & March each year. Maximum 12 people. All meals included (but not alcohol).

Days 1 To 2
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.
Day 3
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 4
This morning we drive 3.5-hours from Tarcoles 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). Lunch is included today.
 
Along the way we stop at the Miriam Restaurant Feeders. Before reaching our lodge, also 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 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. Late arrival at our lodge.
Day 5
Today enjoy an early morning walk along the Savegre River looking for the American dipper, Torrent tyralnulet, Black phoebe and White-lined hummingbird, we return to our lodge for breakfast. We then depart to a higher area in the mountains to spend the morning looking for mountain endemics.
 
After an included lunch we continue birding in the highlands. We can also visit the Melvin Feeders and drive to the top of the Cerro de la Muerte (11,000 ft / 3,350 m), the second highest peak in Costa Rica, to search for rare species such as the Volcano junco and Fire-throated hummingbird.
 
Note: As you are at a fairly high altitude (7,000 ft / 2,400 m), remember not to exert yourself.
Days 6 To 7
We start today with an early morning Quetzal Walk with a local guide.
 
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.
 
Afterwards we drive 3-hours to Braulio Carrillo National Park in the Caribbean Lowlands, surrounded by tropical rainforest.
 
Note: As you are at a fairly high altitude for your quetzal walk (7,000 ft / 2,400 m), remember not to exert yourself.
Days 8 To 9
This morning enjoy birding at the La Selva Biological Station.
 
La Selva Biological Station is situated in a protected lowland tropical rainforest with nearly 10 miles (15 km) of forest trails with different micro-habitats. 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.
 
Afterwards we leave Braulio Carrillo and drive 2-hours to Boca Tapada, which is situated near the San Carlos River and the Nicaraguan border. With a bird count of over 350 different species, it has a wide diversity of rainforest birdlife - as well as an incredible variety of fauna and flora. These forests are one of the best spots for hummingbirds and middle elevation birds, as well as some endemic mountain species.not seen anywhere else in the world. Every day hummingbirds found here include the small endemic Coppery-headed emerald, Black bellied hummingbird, White-bellied mountaingem, Purple-throated mountaingem, Brown violetear and Green hermit.
 
You can also see the Ochraceous wren, Crimson-collared tanager, Emerald tanager, Silver-throated tanager, White hawk, Prong-billed barbet, Red-headed barbet, American dipper, Silvery-fronted tapaculo, Paltry tyrannulet, Golden-bellied flycatcher, Golden-browed chlorophonia, Tawny-capped euphonia, Sooty-faced finch, Collared whitestart, Scarlet-thighed dacnis, Slaty flowerpiercer, Spangle-cheeked tanager and Torrent tyrannulet. This is also the best place to see the Emerald toucanet. On arrival we enjoy birding in the 1,250 acres of virgin tropical rainforest surrounding our lodge.
Day 10
We leave Boca Tapada early this morning and drive 1.5-hours 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.
 
Along the way we stop at the Cinchona Hummingbird Gallery and Feeders, which attract a wealth of local specialties and a host of tanagers, warblers and orioles. It is one of the best spots for hummingbirds and other middle elevation birds, with some endemic mountain species not seen anywhere else in the world. Every day hummingbirds found here include the Black bellied hummingbird, White-bellied mountaingem, Brown violetear and Green hermit. You can also hope to see the Violet sabre-wing, Green-crowned brilliant and Green thorntail.
 
From here you can also enjoy wonderful views of the active Poas Volcano. The crater of this enormous stratovolcano measures over 1-mile (1.6 km) wide and over 1,000 ft (300 m) deep, making it the largest open volcano in the world. You can also hope to see the Ochraceous wren, Crimson-collared tanager, Emerald tanager, Silver-throated tanager, White hawk, Prong-billed barbet, Red-headed barbet, American dipper, Silvery-fronted tapaculo, Paltry tyrannulet, Golden-bellied flycatcher, Golden-browed chlorophonia, Tawny-capped euphonia, Sooty-faced finch, Collared whitestart, Scarlet-thighed dacnis, Slaty flowerpiercer, Spangle-cheeked tanager, Black guan, Torrent tyrannulet and Emerald toucanet.
 
We then continue to La Fortuna, where you can relax surrounded by rainforests, waterfalls and thermal hot springs.
Day 11
Rise early to enjoy a morning of birding on the Mistico Hanging Bridges - a series of ten fixed and six suspension bridges, located in a natural corridor followed by migratory birds travelling between North and South America and offering wonderful views of the lake and volcano.
 
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. The 2-mile (3-km) hanging bridges trail will allow you to enjoy the great diversity of flora and fauna found inside this mountainous zone, as well as outstanding bird watching. Looking for birds from this height also give us the opportunity of finding raptors like the Swallow-tailed kite, Double-toothed kite, Tiny hawk, Bicoloured hawk and Grey hawk.
 
Birds that are regularly seen 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.
 
In the afternoon we explore the Boragin Trail which offers more excellent rainforest birding, with the opportunity to see colourful toucans, sloths and a variety of small frogs, insects and reptiles.
 
Later there is the option to relax at one of the many Hot Springs in the area (pay entrance fee locally).
 
Note: The hanging bridges trail is not suitable if you have a fear of heights.
Day 12
Today transfer 3.5-hours to San Jose Airport for your flight home.