ITINERARY 2024

 Ken Cross - Costa Rica

Birding and Nature Tour 2024

 Costa Rica is a birding destination that lives up to the hype! In this small central American nation there exists nearly 1000 bird species, of which we will see over half in our near four week visit. Hummingbirds, Toucans, Wrens, Flycatchers, Woodpeckers, Trogons, Motmots, Tanagers, Parrots [including Macaws] will be seen. Expect to see squirrels, monkeys, coatimundis and agoutis among other mammal species. We will also see fantastic herps, including Basilisk Lizards, Iguanas and we should see a variety of frogs, including some poison arrow frogs.

This will be a great trip that takes around nearly the entire country. 

Our local guide is Diego Quesada.

Day 1-Mar 2 [S]. Upon our [late] arrival in San Jose we will transfer to the Hotel Bougainvillea. The hotel is well located, very comfortable with a good restaurant and garden.   

Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea 

Day 2-Mar 3 [S]. Today is a rest day to recover from our long trip, however we will enjoy the grounds of the hotel.  And birding in the hotel gardens is a good way to start getting familiarized with some of the common Costa Rican species. There is a pool for those who would like to cool off after the morning’s birding. Target species: Great Kiskadee, Social Flycatcher, Rufous-naped Wren, Melodious Blackbird and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. 

 In the afternoon / evening we will all meet with our local guide, Diego Quesada to talk about the logistics of the tour and to do our very first Costa Rica bird call!  

 Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea 

All meals included – Starting with dinner onwards all meals will be provided  

 Day 3-Mar 4 [M]. Today the birding starts proper! 

Birding on the gardens of Bougainvillea hotel and then to the slopes of Poas Volcano. Hummingbirds, Tanagers, Barbets and more species will be waiting for us in the forests that cover the volcano. 

We will be back to the Hotel late afternoon. Target species: Lesson’s Motmot, Purple-throated and White-bellied Mountain-Gems, Silver-throated Tanager and Emerald Toucanet.   

Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea  

 Day 4-Mar 5 [T]. Travel to Rancho Naturalista, enroute visit Tapanti National Park. 

Today we leave for the Valley of Turrialba, enroute we will make a stop at the Tapanti National Park. This is a middle elevation rainforest enclosed in a lush valley, and we will experience the beauty of this park and look for the many possible species of birds and wildlife in general. We will then drive to the highlands of Costa Rica. Target species: American Dipper, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Collared Trogon, Costa Rican Warbler.  

We will then go on towards our final destination at Rancho Naturalista. A well-known birding lodge with an amazing avian diversity.  

Accommodation: Rancho Naturalista 

Day 5-Mar 6 [W]. Birding Day at Rancho Naturalista and surroundings 

Today we will spend our day birding the grounds of Rancho Naturalista and surrounding areas, starting early in the morning at the moth light that attracts several species of birds that come at first light to feed on the moths. Then we will have breakfast while we enjoy the feeder’s activity. And from there bird the trails and gardens of the reserve. Some of the targets are Snowcap, Tawny-chested Flycatcher, Spotted Woodcreeper and White-breasted Wood-Wren.  

In the afternoon we will visit Valle del Rio Tuis, where we will look for the astonishing Sunbittern.   

Accommodation: Rancho Naturalista 

Day 6-Mar 7 [T]. Travel to San Gerardo de Dota, visit Paraiso de Quetzales.Today after an early breakfast we will make our way to the Highlands of Costa Rica.  

On our way we will stop at Paraiso de Quetzales where we will spend some time enjoying the hummingbird feeders and gardens where we will get several of the highland endemics such as Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Talamanca Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush.  Arrive to our lodge in the late afternoon.  

Accommodation: Sueños del Bosque   

Day 7-Mar 8 [F]. Birding Day at San Gerardo Valley, looking for Resplendent Quetzal. Today we will leave early to look for one of our biggest targets; Resplendent Quetzal. March is the beginning of the breeding season for this spectacular bird so we are hoping for great views of them. We will spend the rest of the day birding around the area looking for some of the highland species along the valley. Target species: Resplendent Quetzal, Flame-throated Warbler, Yellow-winged Vireo, Scintillant Hummingbird, and Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher. 

 Accommodation: Sueños del Bosque 

 Day 8-Mar 9 [S]. Birding at Savegre Valley and Providencia Road, drive towards San Gerardo de Rivas.  

We will spend the morning around the grounds of our lodge, the we will go up the mountain to Providencia Road within Quetzals National Park. Then we will be heading south down the Panamerican Road #2.  We will stop at the summit of the mountain to look for some of the special Paramo species before continuing with our drive in the Valley of San Isidro, we will arrive to our lodge in the late afternoon. We will target a variety of the highland endemics. Target species: Collared Redstart, Black-and-Yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Wrenthrush, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Volcano Junco, Volcano Hummingbird, Large-footed Finch, Red-tailed Hawk, Magnificent Hummingbird. 

 

 Accommodation: El Pelicano Lodge 

 

 Day 9-Mar 10 [M]. Birding at Cloud Bridge Reserve and Aracari Feeders. 

We will first spend time on the grounds of the lodge, enjoying their feeders that attract tanagers, honeycreepers and, of course, hummingbirds. We will then drive to a fantastic nature reserve located on the foot of the highest mountain in Costa Rica.  

We will get to see a great number of species, fast running rivers and lush vegetation at this location. We will then be visiting a feeding station where we will enjoy a great variety of birds up-close. Return in the afternoon to enjoy, again, the ground of the lodge. 

Target species: Black-faced Solitaire, Speckled Tanager, Cherri’s Tanager, Orange-billed Nightingale-thrush.  

 Accommodation: El Pelicano Lodge 

 

Day 10-Mar 11 [T]. Birding at Los Cusingos Nature Reserve, drive to San Vito.  After breakfast we will be heading to Los Cusingos Nature Reserve, this research station and reserve is the former home of Alexander Skutch, a famous Ornithologist that dedicated his life to the study of Neotropical species of birds.  

The reserve itself is a great area for birdwatching and many wonderful species await us here. After our visit we will head to our next destination; San Vito.  

Target species: Orange-collared Manakin, Turquoise Cotinga, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Common Potoo.  

Accommodation: Las Cruces Lodge 

 

Day 11-Mar 12 [W]. Birding San Vito area.  

Las Cruces Biological Station is run by the Organization for Tropical Studies and their reserve hosts a great number of bird species that can be found only in Southern Costa Rica. We will spend time both on the grounds of the reserve and in some nearby hotspots.  

Target species: Crested Oropendola, Masked Yellowthroat, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, Lance-tailed Manakin.  

 Accommodation: Las Cruces Lodge  

Day 12-Mar 13 [W]. Birding Coto 47 and Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. Today after breakfast we will start our drive north along the coastal road, birding at some of the best local sites. The road near Ciudad Neily Hospital is great for wetland species while other local specialties will be found on the roads along Coto 47. Then we will drive to our lodge in the area of La Palma, where we will aim to add Osa Peninsula specialties such as the true endemic Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. 

Target species: Brown-throated Parakeet, Saphire-throated Hummingbird, Smooth-billed Ani, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Wattled Jacana.  

 

Accommodation: Danta Corcovado Lodge 

Day 13- Mar 14 [T]. Early departure towards Rincon Bridge in the Osa Peninsula, then birding at Danta Corcovado Lodge. We will depart very early today, aiming to get to Rincon Bridge in the Osa Peninsula, we will be looking to see a number of regional endemics, in special the Yellow- billed Cotinga, a restricted and endangered species, which happens to be very local at this location. After birding at Rincon Bridge, we will return to Danta Corcovado Lodge, where we will have breakfast and explore the grounds for more of the regional endemics, including Squirrel Monkeys.  Target species: Charming Hummingbird, White-crested Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Baird’s Trogon, Marbled Wood-Quail.  

 

Accommodation: Danta Corcovado Lodge 

 

Day 14-Mar 15 [F]. Drive towards Central Pacific, with afternoon boat tour on Tarcoles River and mangroves. After breakfast we will head towards our next destination in the Central Pacific, the area of Carara.  

In the qfternoon we will have a boat tour on the Tarcoles river and Guacalillo Mangroves, where we will aim for a number of wetland and riparian species, including the true endemic Mangrove Hummingbird.  

Target species: Mangrove Hummingbird, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Magnificent 

Frigatebird, Scarlet Macaw,   

 Accommodation: Villa Lapas 

 

Day 15-Mar 16 [S]. Birding at Carara National Park, afternoon birding at Salt Pans in Cocorocas on the way to our next destination. After breakfast we will visit Carara National Park, one of the best birding locations in Costa Rica. This Park is located in the transition zone between the Lowland Humid Forest of the South Pacific and the Deciduous Dry Forest of the North Pacific, thus offering a unique and extremely diverse ecosystem the is home to a great number of endemics. 

On the way to our next hotel we will stop at Cocorocas Salt Pans, this place offers great opportunities to see gulls, terns, egrets, waders and shore birds.  

 Accommodation: Ensenada Lodge 

 

 Day 16-Mar 17 [S]. Birding at Ensenada Lodge and Chomes. Today we will spend the morning birding the surroundings of our lodge. Located on the mainland coast of the Gulf of Nicoya, La Ensenada is an active cattle ranch, ecolodge and national wildlife refuge all in one. The habitat is a combination of grazing pastures with scattered trees, second growth forest and some patches of mature forest which will produce a great variety of dry forest specialties. Later in the day we will drive to Chomes, this location offers a combination of shrimp ponds, mangroves and mudflats hosting some of the finest coastal birding in the country. 

Accommodation: Ensenada Lodge 

Day 17-Mar 18 [M]. Birding at Ensenada Lodge and drive to Rincon de la Vieja. After breakfast we will be heading towards Rincón de la Vieja, en route birding at Palo Verde National Park, a wetland habitat where many species of North American migrant waterfowl congregate, also a wonderful habitat for Jabiru Stork. After lunch we will make our way Northwest towards Rincon de la Vieja.  

Accommodation: Hacienda Guachipelin or similar 

 

Day 18-Mar 19 [T]. Birding at Rincon de la Vieja National Park. This beautiful park has is a got a wonderful transition between Tropical Dry Forest and Foothill Tropical Rain Forest, furthermore the park has an area on which secondary volcanic activity can be seen in the form of fumaroles, bubbling mud and small geysers. Some of the target species are Elegant Trogon, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Long-tailed Manakin, Nutting’s Flycatcher, Banded Wren and Tody Motmot. 

Accommodation: Hacienda Guachipelin or similar 

  

Day 19-Mar 20 [W]. Birding wetlands and rice fields near Liberia and drive towards Bijagua. After breakfast we will make our way over the Continental Divide towards the Caribbean Slope of the mountain range, the area of Bijagua. En route we will make some stops to pick up some targets such as Spotted Rail, Pearl Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Grasshopper Sparrow. Once we arrive to Bijagua and settle in at our lodge we will bird the grounds of the lodge.  

Accommodation: Heliconias Rainforest Lodge 

 

Day 20- Mar 21 [T]. Birding at Heliconia Lodge and Bijagua area. Today we will spend the morning birding the grounds of the hotel. Located in a low-pass between two major peaks on the lower slopes of the Tenorio Volcano, Las Heliconias offers an exciting combination of foothill birding with influence from both Pacific and Caribbean avifauna. In its 180 acres private reserve, the lodge maintains about 3 miles of forest trails including 3 hanging bridges that provide access to the canopy of the forest. After lunch we will explore some backroads in the vicinity of the lodge in search of some of the open area specialties of the area. 

Accommodation: Heliconias Rainforest Lodge 

  

Day 21-Mar 22 [F]. Visit Tapir Valley and drive to Caño Negro. This morning following breakfast we will be exploring Tapir Valley, famous for the recent discovery of a new species of frog. The birding and wildlife in general is amazing here. After lunch we will drive to the Caño Negro wetlands. 

Accommodation: Caño Negro Natural Lodge 

 

Day 22- Mar 23 [S]. Boat trip at Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and drive to Medio Queso for another boat trip, drive to Arenal. 

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a RAMSAR site that protects hundreds of hectares of wetland habitats. During the months of January to May large concentrations of migratory wetland species happen in the lagoons and along Rio Frio. Our early boat tour will bring many interesting target species, including the elusive Agami Heron, Royal Flycatcher, Jabiru and possibly the 6 species of Kingfishers present in the country. After lunch we will go drive to Medio Queso Wetlands, where we will also have the chance to add more species to the day, including Nicaragua Grackle, Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, Pinnated Bittern and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture.  In the afternoon we will drive to our next destination, Arenal.  

 Accommodation: Arenal Oasis 

 

Day 23- Mar 24 [S]. Birding day at Sky Adventures Hanging Bridges and Peninsula Road.  

Arenal presents a rich mixture of middle elevation habitats that make the area great for birding. We will spend the day at different birding destinations, including the hanging bridges of Sky Adventures, Arenal Observatory Lodge and the Peninsula Road at Arenal National Park. 

Some of the target species are: Keel-billed Motmot, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Ocellated Antbird, Spotted Antbird and Song Wren. 

 Accommodation: Arenal Oasis 

 

Day 24- Mar 25 [M]. Birding in Arenal Observatory Lodge  

We will spend the day birding the grounds of the lodge. A long network of trails in a variety of habitats make the perfect setting for a great day of birding the foothills of the Caribbean Slope.  

Some of the target species are: White-throated Shrike-Tanager, Bicolored Antbird, Lovely Cotinga, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Violet-headed Hummingbird.  

 

Accommodation: Arenal Oasis 

 

 

   

 Day 25-Mar 26 [T]. Drive towards Sarapiqui area, en route visit Bogarin Trail in La Fortuna.  Today we will spend some time birding the grounds of the lodge and also will visit another interesting nature reserve to enjoy the bird feeders and trails. Some of the target species for the morning are: Red Throated Ant-Tanager, Black-throated Wren, Uniform and White-throated Crakes, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and Black-crested Coquette. We will drive to our next destination in Sarapiqui area.  

 Accommodation: Selva Verde Lodge 

 

Day 26- Mar 27 [W]. Birding at La Selva Biological Station and surrounding areas. 

La Selva Biological Station is one the oldest research facilities for tropical studies in the world, hundreds of papers have been written based on studies conducted here. The Biodiversity of the area is impressive and we will spend the whole day walking the trails and discovering the wonderful species of birds present on the area.  Some of the target species are: Rufous Motmot, Snowy Cotinga, Keel-Billed Toucan, Pied Pufbird, Chestnut-backed Antbird, and Vermiculated Screech-Owl.  

 Accommodation: La Selva Biological Station 

 

Day 27- Mar 28 [W]. Visit Cope Arte and Braulio Carrillo National Park 

In our last full day, we will spend the morning visiting the feeding stations and surroundings of Cope Arte Reserve, target species will be White-necked Jacobin, Shining Honey Creeper, Thicket Antpitta and Spectacled Owl to name a few.  

Then we will head to Braulio Carrillo National Park, which happens to have also a great biodiversity of birds, including Emerald Tanager, Tawny-Capped Tanager and maybe if we are lucky, Yellow-eared Toucanet. After visiting this park, we will head out towards the hotel for the last night in the country. 

.  

Accommodation: Hotel El Robledal 

  

Day 28- Mar 29 [F]. Shuttle to international airport.