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 birdwatching 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 departure 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 Woodcreeper, 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:

Depart towards the lowlands of Sarapiquí where lodging will be at Selva Verde Lodge for the next 3 nights. On our way we will take some time to explore 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.

Possible bird sightings in Quebrada Gonzalez include: Lattice-tailed Trogon, Slate-coloured Grosbeak, Olive Tanager, Tawny-crested Tanager, Tawny-capped Euphonia, White-vented Euphonia, Bay-headed Tanager, Speckled Tanager, Common Bush-Tanager, Black and Yellow Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Blue and Gold Tanager, Tawny-faced Gnat wren, Rufous Motmot, Broad-billed Motmot, White-whiskered Puffbird, Olive-backed Quail-Dove, Brown-billed Scythe bill, Green Honeycreeper, Streak-crowned Ant vireo, Dull-mantled Ant bird, Bicoloured Ant bird, Black-crowned Antpitta, White-crowned Manikin, Scale-crested Pigmy-Tyrant, King Vulture, Nightingale Wren, Green Hermit, Snowcap, Brown Violet-ear, Purple-crowned Fairy, Violet-crowned Wood nymph, and even chances for large raptors like Ornate Hawk-Eagle, White Hawk, Great Black Hawk, and King Vulture.

Arrive to Selva Verde and begin birding the hotel grounds and the Sarapiquí River side.

Possible species are Sunbittern, Collared Aracari, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, and Keel-billed Toucans, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Violaceous Trogonure.

Day 5:

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. La Selva is also one of the best locations to see the endangered Great Green Macaw.

Day 6 and 7:

Travel to the Arenal Volcano area. Stay for two nights 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. The lodge offers stunning views of the volcano. 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. On our way to Arenal we will take a little detour and 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.

Day 8:

Leave Arenal and travel towards the Central Pacific area. We will pass through dry forest life zones where we might spot White-throated Magpie-Jays, Rufous-naped Wrens, Lesser Ground-Cuckoos, or even Turquoise-browed Motmots before reaching your next destination: Carara Biological Reserve. The reserve 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, Royal Flycatchers, and Orange-collared Manakins -- as just a sample of the hundreds of possible species. Your lodging for the next two nights will be at the Hotel Villa Lapas, situated in a narrow valley along a rippling stream just minutes from the reserve.

Day 9:

Full day to explore Carara National Park and surrounding areas. This preserve and some roadsides near the hotel can be very productive and entertaining with good chances for Violaceous Trogon, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Rufous-capped Warbler, Dusky Ant bird, Long-tailed Manikin, Blue-throated Golden tail, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Ferruginous Pigmy-Owl, Collared Forest-Falcon, White Hawk, and more.

Day 10:

After breakfast we will 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. Big American Crocodiles can be observed along the riverbanks. We will come back for lunch to Villa Lapas and right after check out to return to San José where we will stay at Bougainvillea Hotel.

Day 11:

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to return home.

This birding adventure includes:
- 10 nights of lodging
- All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 11 (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.