Costa Rica’s Tropical Feathers - Small Group Tour
15 days / 14 nights, May 10 - May 24, 2008 

Our groups will not exceed 8 participants so that you will not be birding with a large group of people, meaning better chances to see the birds.

Day 1:

Arrive in San José where your guide will welcome you and transfer you to the Bougainvillea Hotel. If your arrival is early enough you might be able to do some bird watching in the hotel's gardens. Birds include Prevost's Ground-Sparrow, White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl, and Yellow-naped Parrot.

Day 2:

After enjoying breakfast we will depart towards San Gerardo de Dota. We will stay in Savegre Mountain Lodge. The lodge's private reserve is located in the environs of the Cerro de la Muerte in the Talamanca Mountain Range. It consists of Tropical Cloud Forest with elevations varying between 1,220 and 2,560 meters above sea level. Temperature varies between -2.2 and 26 centigrade degrees (28 to 82 Fahrenheit degrees).

Over 180 species of birds are found in this valley. The common sightings of Resplendent Quetzal and the great number of species endemic to this mountainous system are the two aspects that make this valley so special! A few birds from San Gerardo de Dota are Resplendent Quetzal, Collared Trogon, Black Guan, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager, Spangled-cheeked Tanager, Flame-coloured Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Yellow-thighed Finch, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Black-faced Solitaire, Ruddy Tree runner, Lineated Foliage-Gleaner, Spot-crowned Wood creeper, Black-cheeked Warbler, Collared Redstart, Black-thighed Grosbeak, Costa Rican Pigmy-Owl, Silver-throated Jay, Zeledonia (Wren thrush), and Silvery-fronted Tapaculo.

Day 3:

A full day to explore San Gerardo de Dota, walk the Cloud Forest, river and road sides, and the colourful gardens of the hotel for more fantastic birding.

Day 4:

Leave the Savegre Valley and travel towards the Central Pacific area. Descending from the cool, misty mountains of Cerro de La Muerte, we will pass interesting middle and low elevation life zones where we might spot Redheaded Barbet, Violet Sabrewing, Fiery-billed Aracari, Turquoise Cotinga, White-throated Shrike-Tanager, Black-stripe Woodcreeper, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Black Hawk-Eagle, before reaching your next destination: Carara National Park. This park marks the Northern limit of Pacific lowland wet forest in Costa Rica and is home to Scarlet Macaws, Baird's Trogons, Fiery-billed Aracaris, Yellow-billed Cotingas, Orange-collared Manakins, Turquoise-browed Motmots, Royal Flycatchers, Streaked-chested Antpitta -- as just a sample of the hundreds of possible species. Lodging for the next three nights will be at the Hotel Villa Lapas, situated in a narrow valley along a rippling stream just minutes from Carara..

Day 5:

Full day to explore Carara National Park and surrounding areas. Some roadsides near the hotel can be very productive and entertaining with good chances for Rufous-capped Warbler, Dusky Ant bird, Long-tailed Manikin, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl, White Hawk, and more.

Day 6:

Today we explore by boat the Tárcoles River's mud flats and mangroves for species like Mangrove Vireo, Mangrove Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, and more. Large American Crocodiles can be observed along the riverbanks. The rest of the day will be to explore some more trails of Carara National Park or adjacent areas.

Day 7 and 8:

Travel to the Arenal Volcano area. Stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge which sits in a private nature preserve with rich volcanic soil supporting primary and secondary rainforest. Waterfalls and crystalline rivers offer sparkling jungle refreshment. A good system of trails traverses the property and provides easy access to the breathtaking natural beauty of the diverse habitats surrounding the lodge which shelter nearly 370 species of birds. A few species include Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon, Ornate Hawl-Eagle, Crimson-collared Tanager, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Green Thorntail, Olive-throated Parakeet, Brown-hooded Parrot, Nightingale Wren and Bay Wren. One of the two nights here we will take a deserved trip to the hot springs.

Day 9:

Depart towards the lowlands of Sarapiquí. On the way visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens, enjoy one of the largest butterfly farms in the world and a great Hummingbird Garden, up to 16 species of hummingbirds have been reported here including Black-bellied Hummingbird, Brown Violet-ear, Violet Sabrewing, White-tailed Emerald, and Purple-throated Mountain-gem. Other birds include Prong-billed Barbet, Sooty-faced Finch, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, and Common Bush-Tanager. Spectacular trails expose five beautiful waterfalls that unfold before your eyes as the water flows down the rocky canyon covered by rain forest. Lunch will be enjoyed here at the gardens. After lunch continue travelling towards Sarapiquí, where lodging will be at Selva Verde Lodge for the next 3 nights. Spend the rest of the afternoon birding the lodge's grounds and the Sarapiquí River side. Possible species are Sun bittern, Collared Aracari, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, and Keel-billed Toucans.

Day 10:

Explore La Selva Biological Station of the Organization for Tropical Studies. La Selva, situated at the confluence of two major rivers, comprises 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) of tropical wet forests and disturbed lands. It averages 4 meters (over 13 feet) of rainfall that is spread rather evenly throughout the year. The Station is bordered on the south by Braulio Carrillo National Park, which contains 47,500 hectares (183 square miles ) of forestland and is the core conservation unit of the 91,000-hectare Cordillera Volcánica Central Biosphere Reserve. La Selva is home to more than 420 species of birds, more than 500 species of butterflies, 55 species of snakes, and 120 species of mammals. Some birds include: Oscillated Ant bird, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Snowy Cotinga, Yellow-margined Flycatcher, Bay Wren, Striped-breasted Wren, Song Wren, Black-faced Grosbeak, Black-cowled Oriole, Dusky-faced Tanager, Plain-coloured Tanager, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker, Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Great Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Crested Guan, Great Curassow, and Great Potoo. This is also one of the best locations to see the endangered Great Green Macaw.

Day 11:

Early breakfast and departure towards Braulio Carillo National Park. Many areas of the park remain unexplored. Other parts are easily accessible, and the short trails that have been developed give a fascinating window into tropical nature. In this 47,500 hectares / 117,300 acres park, there are at least 6,000 species of plants here, and preliminary studies have counted more than 400 species of birds including Resplendent Quetzals and Bare-necked Umbrella birds. Our exploration will take place in Quebrada Gonzalez Park Station, which offers interesting trails into the primary tropical rain forest.

Day 12 and 13:

Travel towards Tortuguero National Park where we will spend the next two nights at Laguna Lodge. We will board our boat in Caño Blanco. Depending on the tide observe the Roseate Spoonbills, Black-necked Stilts, and numerous sandpipers, herons and egrets as they feed in the mud flats on the Reventazón - Parismina River. Once in Tortuguero, we will begin our boat exploration of the canals. We will also do some birding along the beach.

Tortuguero is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western Hemisphere. Giant Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead turtles also nest here. The climate here is warm and humid. Daily temperatures average 26 C degrees (79 F) and annual average rainfall is over 5,000 mm (200+ inches). Warm days are tempered by trade winds and cool nights. Most of the park is low alluvial floodplain (sea level to 20m) which extends far inland, and is occasionally interrupted by isolated volcanic hills of 100-300 m. An intricate network of backwater canals and creeks dissect palm swamps and mixed rainforest throughout the region. The natural vegetation of the area progresses from the poorly drained swamp forests in the lowlands near the coast to tropical wet and pre-montane forests further inland at higher elevations. Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals, and over 50 species of freshwater fish. More than 300 species of birds have been reported. A few possible species are Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Green Heron, Tricoloured Heron, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Anhinga, Neotropical Cormorant, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Purple Gallinule, Northern Jacana, White Ibis, American Pigmy Kingfisher, Green and Rufous Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Great Curassow, Western Slaty Ant shrike, Great Potoo, Purple-throated Fruit crow, and Great Green Macaw.

Day 14:

Some early birding around the lodge before we begin our return towards San José. Once at Hotel Bouganvillea we will close our bird notes for the trip and enjoy a Farewell dinner.

Day 15:

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to return home.

This birding adventure includes:
- 14 nights of lodging
- All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 15 (alcoholic beverages are not included)
- All transportation in Costa Rica in an air conditioned van
- Private bilingual professional birding guide
- Entrance fees to national parks and preserves
- All taxes (except for US$26 airport departure tax)
- Tips are not included.

Important:
Our prices are always based on double occupancy. To stay in single occupancy please indicate this preference. There will be a single supplement charge and it will depend upon availability. On the other hand, if you are travelling on your own and want to share your room we will try to find another single participant to pair with you, otherwise a single supplement will be charged.