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Birding Tours, Costa Rica - Caribbean to Pacific: Arenal Volcano + Carara + San Gerardo Highlands

Costa Rica Birding Tour 2: Small Group Tour
Birding Tours Costa Rica Caribbean Pacific Arenal Carara San Gerardo
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$2,867
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
7RYB12S
• Costa Rica Birding Tour
• Arenal Volcano
• Caribbean Lowlands
• Sarapiqui
• La Selva
• Pacific Coast
• Carara National Park
• Manuel Antonio
• Central Highlands
• San Gerardo de Dota

Our guided small group birding tours to Costa Rica travel  from the Caribbean Lowlands to the Pacific Coast. Visit the Arenal Volcano rainforests, Sarapiqui and La Selva, Carara National Park, Tarcoles, Manuel Antonio and San Gerardo de Dota, which is the best place to see various endemics and the resplendent quetzel. Tours departs in February & March each year. Group size: min 2 / max 6.

Day 1
You will be met at San Jose Airport and transferred to your hotel situated near the airport.
 
This capital city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains and the volcanoes of Poas, Irazu and Turrialba.
Day 2
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.
 
Along the way we stop for birding, looking out for the Purple-throated mountain gem, the small endemic Coppery-headed emerald and Volcano hummimgbird in particular.
 
We then stop for an included lunch 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
We continue to La Fortuna, where you can relax surrounded by rainforests, waterfalls and thermal hot springs.
Day 3
Rise early today for birding along the many trails found around the foot of the magnificent Arenal Volcano. Birding is also productive along the local roads and around Arenal Lake.
 
With nearly 500 species, another productive day of birding is assured. We can hope to see the Rufous motmot, Broad-billed motmot, Keel-billed motmot and amazing opportunities for the Black-crested coquette. Also look out for the Lovely cotinga, Bare-necked umbrella bird, Dull-mantled antbird, Keel-billed toucan, Yellow-throated toucan, Collared aracari, Great curassow and Emerald tanager. You should also see a lot of rainforest wildlife.
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
Today we travel 3.5-hours from Sarapiqui to the small town of Tarcoles situated on the Gulf of Nicoya, near Carara National Park.
 
Along the way we visit the property of a well-known local artist and environmentalist named Cope, who has turned his property into an amazing nature reserve and viewing gallery. With fruit and nectar feeders and well placed natural perches, this is a photographer's and birder's dream. The list of special birds we can hope to see at the Cope Feeders include the American pygmy kingfisher, White-tipped sicklebill, Bronze-tailed plumeleteer, Spectacled owl, Crested owl and Great potoo. Mammals you can hope to see include the Honduran white bat, three-toed sloth, two-toed sloth, howler monkey, white-faced monkey, Peccari and River Otter, as well as various frogs.
 
We continue to the Central Pacific coast, which 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.
 
This is an interesting drive to the coast, with some stops along the way to get the Lesser ground cuckoo, Long-tailed manakin, Olive sparrow and shorebirds like the American oystercatcher and Black skimmer. Our sunset will be illuminated by flocks of Scarlett macaws flying by.
Day 7
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 8
After some early morning birding, 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.
 
Afterwards we continue 2-hours to Manuel Antonio, a busy tourist town known for its sandy Pacific beaches surrounded by lush coastal rainforest. On arrival check into your hotel and relax in your verdant surroundings.
Day 9
Today is devoted to birding in the Pacific Lowlands around Manuel Antonio.
 
We visit the Esquipulas area, where there is a good chance of seeing several species of trogons, including the regional endemic Baird's trogon. This area is also great for raptors including the King vulture, Black hawk eagle and White hawk.
 
You can also hope to see great birds such as rge Orange-collared manakin, Turquoise cotinga, Riverside wren, Black-hooded antshrike, Black-bellied wren and Fiery-billed aracari.
Day 10
This morning we drive 4-hours from Manuel Antonio 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 11
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 12
Today we enjoy more birding in the Savegre Valley, which is an excellent place to spot all the speciality birds of the region.
 
Afterwards we travel 3-hours back to San Jose hoping to see Timberland wren, Buff-fronted quail doves, Black-and-yellow silky-flycatchers, Golden-browed chlorophonia and more.
 
On arrival in San Jose, your afternoon is free for your own activities.
Day 13
Transfer to San Jose Airport for your flight home.