Birdwatching Safari
9 Days & 8 Nights Escorted Tour
Costa Rica is one of the best destinations for birders worldwide. More than 850 species are found in a variety of habitats. Our master guide will lead you to some of the world's most beautiful birds and natural habitats.
Day 01 Arrival - San Jose
Arrival to the Juan Santamaría Airport. A representative from Costa Rican Trails will meet you at the airport to take you to the Rodeo Hotel.
Overnight at the El Rodeo, Superior room. Breakfast is included.
Day 02 San Jose – Arenal
This morning we will depart towards the Arenal volcano and the San Carlos Valley. During the journey you will be able to watch different species of birds including the toucans.
Overnight at Tilajari Resort, standard room. Breakfast is included.
Day 03 Caño Negro
Today, we will drive to the town of Los Chiles where you will board a launch to navigate along the Río Frío River to reach the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The country’s largest colony of Neotropical olivaceous cormorants is found here, and it’s a good place to see roseate spoonbills, wood storks, species of ducks, snowy egrets, 5 species of kingfishers and green-back herons. Jabiru storks sometimes visit. Other animals live at Caño Negro as well: 3 species of monkeys, sloths, river otters, peccaries, white-tailed deer, silky anteaters, bats and tayras. Endangered mammal and reptile species include the tapir, jaguar, ocelot, cougar and crocodile. Box lunch included. Return early afternoon to the hotel.
Overnight at Tilajari Resort, standard room. Breakfast is included.
Day 04 Arenal - Carara
Breakfast at hotel. Morning departure towards the Central Pacific Coast and the Carara Biological Reserve. This 4700 hectare reserve is at the mouth of the Tárcoles River. The reserve is surrounded by pasture and agricultural land and forms an oasis for wildlife from a large surrounding area. Check in at the Villa Lapas Lodge located at nearby Carara National Park. During the afternoon you will be able to explore the surroundings.
Overnight at Villa Lapas Lodge, standard room. Breakfast is included
Day 05 Carara National Park & Jungle Crocodile Safari
Early breakfast and departure to the Carara Biological Reserve where you will be able to spot the brilliantly patterned scarlet macaw. Other birds to watch for include guans, trogons, toucans, mot-mots and many other forest species. Monkeys, squirrels, sloths and agoutis are among the more common mammals present.
During the afternoon, we will navigate along the Tárcoles River one of the favorite places to spot big crocodiles. This river adventure will provide a great understanding of the life cycle of the mangrove and its species. This mangrove forest is one of the most important in the mid Pacific Coast for the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw. Endangered species of birds such as the mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Hummingbird, Mangrove Vireo, Panama Flycatcher, Egrets and many Herons spend most of the day in the forest, they roost in the mangroves.
Overnight at Villa Lapas Lodge, standard room. Breakfast is included
Day 06 Carara - San Gerardo de Dota
After breakfast departure towards the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota located near the Cerro de la Muerte, one of Costa Rica’s highest peak. On route we will stop for lunch at Mirador de Quetzales for a typical lunch and look out for the famous Quetzal bird. Check in at Trogon Lodge, located at 7,000 feet above sea level. Free afternoon to explore the area. (B,L)
Day 07 San Gerardo de Dota
Early morning exploration. This small and spread-out little farming community on the western slopes of Cerro de la Muerte is famous for excellent high-land birding, home of the quetzal. A walk on the Trails may allow glimpses of the acorn woodpecker, Baird’s and elegant trogons, black guan, emerald toucanet, or flame –colored tanager. In the afternoon you may take any optional tours or explore the area on your own.
Overnight at Trogon Lodge, Standard room, Breakfast is included.
Day 08 San Gerardo de Dota - San Jose
After breakfast return to San José. On the way you will be able to search some of the birds that live in the Páramo habitat, such as the sooty robin, volcano junco and two species of silky flycatchers. We will arrive at the town of Moravia for lunch and we will have time to buy some souvenirs to take back home. Check in at Hotel El Rodeo or similar. (B-L)
Day 09 Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or extend your stay in Costa Rica.
Day 01 Arrival - San Jose
Arrival to the Juan Santamaría Airport. A representative from Costa Rican Trails will meet you at the airport to take you to the Rodeo Hotel.
Overnight at the El Rodeo, Superior room. Breakfast is included.
Day 02 San Jose – Arenal
This morning we will depart towards the Arenal volcano and the San Carlos Valley. During the journey you will be able to watch different species of birds including the toucans.
Overnight at Tilajari Resort, standard room. Breakfast is included.
Day 03 Caño Negro
Today, we will drive to the town of Los Chiles where you will board a launch to navigate along the Río Frío River to reach the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The country’s largest colony of Neotropical olivaceous cormorants is found here, and it’s a good place to see roseate spoonbills, wood storks, species of ducks, snowy egrets, 5 species of kingfishers and green-back herons. Jabiru storks sometimes visit. Other animals live at Caño Negro as well: 3 species of monkeys, sloths, river otters, peccaries, white-tailed deer, silky anteaters, bats and tayras. Endangered mammal and reptile species include the tapir, jaguar, ocelot, cougar and crocodile. Box lunch included. Return early afternoon to the hotel.
Overnight at Tilajari Resort, standard room. Breakfast is included.
Day 04 Arenal - Carara
Breakfast at hotel. Morning departure towards the Central Pacific Coast and the Carara Biological Reserve. This 4700 hectare reserve is at the mouth of the Tárcoles River. The reserve is surrounded by pasture and agricultural land and forms an oasis for wildlife from a large surrounding area. Check in at the Villa Lapas Lodge located at nearby Carara National Park. During the afternoon you will be able to explore the surroundings.
Overnight at Villa Lapas Lodge, standard room. Breakfast is included
Day 05 Carara National Park & Jungle Crocodile Safari
Early breakfast and departure to the Carara Biological Reserve where you will be able to spot the brilliantly patterned scarlet macaw. Other birds to watch for include guans, trogons, toucans, mot-mots and many other forest species. Monkeys, squirrels, sloths and agoutis are among the more common mammals present.
During the afternoon, we will navigate along the Tárcoles River one of the favorite places to spot big crocodiles. This river adventure will provide a great understanding of the life cycle of the mangrove and its species. This mangrove forest is one of the most important in the mid Pacific Coast for the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw. Endangered species of birds such as the mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Hummingbird, Mangrove Vireo, Panama Flycatcher, Egrets and many Herons spend most of the day in the forest, they roost in the mangroves.
Overnight at Villa Lapas Lodge, standard room. Breakfast is included
Day 06 Carara - San Gerardo de Dota
After breakfast departure towards the cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota located near the Cerro de la Muerte, one of Costa Rica’s highest peak. On route we will stop for lunch at Mirador de Quetzales for a typical lunch and look out for the famous Quetzal bird. Check in at Trogon Lodge, located at 7,000 feet above sea level. Free afternoon to explore the area. (B,L)
Day 07 San Gerardo de Dota
Early morning exploration. This small and spread-out little farming community on the western slopes of Cerro de la Muerte is famous for excellent high-land birding, home of the quetzal. A walk on the Trails may allow glimpses of the acorn woodpecker, Baird’s and elegant trogons, black guan, emerald toucanet, or flame –colored tanager. In the afternoon you may take any optional tours or explore the area on your own.
Overnight at Trogon Lodge, Standard room, Breakfast is included.
Day 08 San Gerardo de Dota - San Jose
After breakfast return to San José. On the way you will be able to search some of the birds that live in the Páramo habitat, such as the sooty robin, volcano junco and two species of silky flycatchers. We will arrive at the town of Moravia for lunch and we will have time to buy some souvenirs to take back home. Check in at Hotel El Rodeo or similar. (B-L)
Day 09 Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or extend your stay in Costa Rica.
- Meet and greet at the airport.
- Bilingual naturalist guide throughout the whole itinerary.
- 2 nts / Rodeo Hotel / Superior room / B.
- 2 nts/ Tilajari Hotel/ Standard room / B
- 2 nts/ Villa Lapas Hotel/ standard room / B
- 2 nts / Trogon Lodge /standard room / B
- Caño Negro Tour
- Carara National Park
- Jungle Crocodile Safari
- All taxes and service charges.
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