Costa Rica has more than 900 speciesof birds concentrated in a very small area. This condition has allowed it to beone of the world powers for bird watching. One of the reasons for theextraordinary abundance of birds in Costa Rica is the great variety ofhabitats: rainforests, cloud and dry forests, beaches, rivers, mangroves. Andthese different ecosystems, with their own bird species, are generally veryclose to each other. Among the most outstanding places for bird watching wehave San Gerardo de Dota and in general the whole area of Los Santos, wherethe most emblematic bird is the Quetzal with its wonderful song. Therainforests of the lowlands of the Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park,the Marino Ballena National Park and the Carara Biological Reserve offerprotection to endangered species such as the fascinating Red Scarlet Macaw. TheGreat Green Macaw can be admired in the area of Boca Tapada in San Carloswhere we can also observe toucans, tanagers and oropendolas. Sarapiquí, on theother hand, is one of the most famous areas for bird watching. The existence ofmultiple habitats and protected areas such as Selva Verde, provides what isnecessary for birds to develop their vital activities to survive. Its forestsare home to more than 500 different species, including hummingbirds, macaws,toucans, oropendolas, woodpeckers, quetzals and many others. So, do not thinktwice and join us on this journey in search of the beautiful birds of CostaRica!
Places to visit:
➣ Heredia
➣ San Gerardo de Dota
➣ Corcovado
➣ Uvita
➣ Carara
➣ Boca Tapada
➣ Sarapiquí
Main attractions:
➣ Lots of wildlife (flora and fauna)
➣ Birdwatching
➣ Savegre Reserve
➣ Corcovado
➣ Marino Ballena National Park
➣ Carara National Park
➣ Boca Tapada, San Carlos
➣ Sarapiqui
Price US $1,777 per person. Could change depending on seasons.
✓ Airport transfer - hotel and assistance
✓ 1 night at Heredia hotel
✓ 2 nights at San Gerardo de Dota hotel
✓ 2 nights at Carate hotel
✓ 2 nights at Uvita hotel
✓ 2 nights at Carara hotel
✓ 2 nights at Boca Tapada hotel
✓ 2 nights at Sarapiqui hotel
✓ 1 night at Heredia hotel
✓ Daily breakfast
✓ Suzuki Jimmy car rental
✓ Bird watching Tour in all lodging sites
✓ Service and hotel taxes
✓ Price from US $ 1,777 per person. Could change depending on seasons.
➣ Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
➣ Optional Tours
➣ Local and international calls
➣ Personal medical expenses
➣ Departure taxes (US$29 per person)
➣ Air tickets to and from Costa Rica
➣ Car rental insurance
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO COSTA RICA
Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Heredia. Accommodation.
DAY 2: HEREDIA – SAN GERARDO DE DOTA
Breakfast. Departure to Savegre. Accommodation.
San Gerardo de Dota is one of the most attractive regions in Costa Rica for bird lovers. It is the region where there are more opportunities to see the Quetzal. The cloud forests, paramos and montane forests of San Gerardo de Dota Valley, the Savegre River, the Cerro de la Muerte, create a unique habitat for birds such as the quetzal, the trogons, a variety of hummingbirds, owls and raptors, among many more species.
DAY 3: BIRD WATCHING MORNING TOUR
San Gerardo de Dota is one of the best places in Costa Rica for bird watching, in fact it is the only destination in Costa Rica mentioned in the book: Fifty places to see birds before dying: the experts share the best destinations of the world. The song of the birds in the morning announces the beginning of an unforgettable experience in the cloud forest. During breakfast, the hummingbirds give you an idea of what your trip will be like. After meeting with your guide at the hotel reception, your walk begins. The list of birds provided at the hotel has more than 170 species and some are endemic to the area. Along the trails, you will find the most elusive and difficult to detect species, real trophies for bird watchers who wish to increase their life list. The tour consists of short walks around the hotel or in the private reserve. The mornings, just after sunrise, are the best time to see most of the species. Accommodation.
DAY 4: SAN GERARDO DE DOTA – CARATE, CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast. Departure to Carate in the Corcovado National Park area. Accommodation.
Corcovado National Park serves as a habitat for 400 species of birds, almost the quantity of all the bird species that exist in Canada and the United States combined. It is worth noting the presence of the Scarlet Macaw, a red bird with some blue and yellow feathers, on the wing and tail, of diurnal habits, which tend to be indifferent in the presence of human beings. But there are also abundant toucans, tanagers, hummingbirds, hawks, flycatchers, trogons, cotingas and kingfishers, among the most visible birds that can be seen. Accommodation.
DAY 5: BIRD WATCHING MORNING TOUR
Departure in the morning, at dawn is the perfect time for bird watching along the beach. The Tour consists of a walk along the beach, inside the La Leona property, as well as along the La Leona stream in Corcovado National Park. During the tour we can see species such as toucans, scarlet macaws, trogons, kingfishers, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, herons and hawks.
DAY 6: CARATE – UVITA
Breakfast. Departure to Marino Ballena area. Accommodation.
The South Pacific region of Costa Rica is filled with an extraordinary number of tropical birds, including toucans, trogons, manakins, chachalacas and many more. In a 3-hour walk, it is possible to see and hear more than 50 different species. Near the beautiful beaches, in the area of Uvita, the most frequently found are red macaws, blue egrets, frigates, kingfishers of different colors and sizes, cormorants, parrots, caracaras and hummingbirds.
DAY 7: BIRD WATCHING MORNING TOUR
Toucans, aracaris, trogons and other tropical birds can be found in Uvita and its surroundings. The South Pacific region of Costa Rica is filled with an extraordinary number of tropical birds, including toucans, trogons, manakins, chachalacas and many more. On the property of the hotel you can observe birds from your balcony, from the pool and in several other places nearby, it is a hot point well recognized among birdwatchers. During the tour you will have the most important information about the animals and plants of this region of Costa Rica, besides being able to observe many species of birds. We can discover, with a little luck, monkeys, squirrels, coatis, lazy and bright blue butterflies, among other wild animals. Accommodation.
DAY 8: UVITA – CARARA
Breakfast. Departure to Carara National Park area. Accommodation.
Carara area and Carara National Park are world-renowned ornithological destinations because they have a very diverse avifauna, where the Red Macaw stands out, a species that is endengered, being the second largest species of Psittacids in Costa Rica. It is undoubtedly one of the main sites in the country for bird watching. 420 bird species have been reported, that is, 47% of the 893 species reported in the country, and is therefore considered one of the most important sites in Costa Rica for bird watching in its natural state.
DAY 9: BIRD WATCHING MORNING TOUR
The Tour is done in the surrounding area of the hotel. There are two different forests: rain forest and humid forest. This variety of climates, ecologies and terrains offer a wealth of birds that easily exceeds the 350 species of migratory and resident birds, including the scarlet macaw, as well as the fiery-billed aracari, yellow-throated toucan, orange-collared peccary and the Amazon kingfisher between much others. The birdwatching walk will take us to the magical world of ornithology. The professional guide will take us on trails to locate and identify bird species more easily. Accommodation.
DAY 10: CARARA – BOCA TAPADA
Breakfast. Departure to northern side in San Carlos. Accommodation.
Boca Tapada Costa Rica is located in the northern lowlands, near the mouth of the San Carlos River, which forms the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It is home to a rich biodiversity of plants and animals. Boca Tapada is one of the few remaining nesting sites of the Great Green Macaw in danger of extinction. It is one of the areas of Costa Rica that offers an authentic contact with nature. Lush paths within the tropical rainforest facilitate direct access to nature. 150 species of trees, monkeys, alligators, coatis, red frogs and the symphony of 350 species of birds - the dream of bird watchers and photographers - are part of this enchanting experience.
DAY 11: BIRD WATCHING MORNING TOUR
Boca Tapada is one of the ideal places for bird lovers. It has positioned itself as one of the main "hotspots" for bird watching and photography in Costa Rica. In its tropical rainforest, more than 350 different species of birds have been reported, including some migratory species. We start the tour at 5:30 am when most of the birds start their activity, our naturalist guide will take you through gardens and lagoons until we have enough light to enter the forest path, nesting place of many bird species. Some of the species that we can find are: great green macaw (endangered), scarlet macaw, toucans, oropendolas, honeycreepers, tanagers, euphonias and jacamar. In addition, we can observe other species such as insects, reptiles and amphibians. Bring unique memories of the Costa Rican fauna in its natural state. Accommodation.
DAY 12: BOCA TAPADA – SARAPIQUI
Breakfast. Departure to Sarapiqui area. Accommodation.
Sarapiqui is a recognized destination for birding lovers. Its forests are home to more than 500 different species, including hummingbirds, macaws, toucans, orioles, woodpeckers, quetzals and many others. There are a lot of observation points from where you can admire these wonderful birds. The iris-spotted toucans, the great green macaws, thrushes, the gray-necked wood-rails, the sun herons and the blue-crowned hummingbirds are just some of the birds that inhabit the Selva Verde reserve. For decades it has been a birdwatching spot - captivating for beginners and experts alike.
DAY 13: BIRD WATCHING MORNING TOUR
Selva Verde is in a privileged location in Sarapiquí, where the main bird’s migration takes place. The reserve where we will make tour is formed by secondary and primary forest, the Sarapiquí River, gardens with plants and specific native trees that produce fruits and flowers that are considered as natural bird feeders. These conditions, and the experience and enthusiasm of the guide will make our birdwatching tour magical and unforgettable. We will go to one of the most sought-after places to observe birds. The two-hour hike will take place at the hot spots suggested by the guide and will show us most of the birds with the help of a high-definition telescope to enjoy the beautiful details and colors of the birds that we will see. Among the species we can observe and discover are trogons, cotingas, toucans, the scarlet macaw and the green macaw, motmots, among many others. Accommodation.
DAY 14: SARAPIQUI – HEREDIA
Breakfast. Departure back to the city hotel. Accommodation.
DAY 15: RETURN
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Juan Santamaria International Airport.
** This trip can be modified with more or less travel days according to your need.
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