Wings of the Wild: Costa Rica Birding Experience
Embark on a thrilling birdwatching journey designed for nature enthusiasts and avid bird lovers alike.
This itinerary takes you through diverse habitats, from lush forests to serene wetlands, offering ample
opportunities to spot rare and vibrant bird species in their natural environments. Whether you're a
seasoned birder or a beginner, this adventure promises unforgettable sightings and a deeper
connection to the natural world. With expert guides and carefully selected locations, get ready to
immerse yourself in the beauty of avian life and discover the secrets of the skies.
Itinerary
Welcome to Costa Rica! For your added comfort, our representative will be waiting for you just outside the airport doors, holding a sign with your name. After clearing immigration and customs, you’ll be greeted and escorted by your private transfer, ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride to your hotel in Heredia.
Accommodation: Bougainvillea Hotel (1 Night).
Nestled in the heart of Costa Rica’s tropical lowlands, Sarapiquí is a hidden gem for birdwatchers. With its rich biodiversity and lush landscapes, this region is a sanctuary for an astonishing variety of bird species, making it one of the most exciting destinations for birding in Central America.
Sarapiquí’s diverse ecosystems, from rainforests to wetlands, create the perfect habitat for both resident and migratory birds. Birdwatchers can spot a wide array of species, including the striking Resplendent Quetzal, vibrant toucans, and countless species of hummingbirds. The region’s lush vegetation provides shelter for rare birds, while its rivers and wetlands attract an abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Accommodation: Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve (2 Nights)
Grab your binoculars and join our guide for an early morning bird walk at Selva Verde. Mornings are when birds are most active, offering great opportunities to spot tropical species. Each morning brings something new and exciting! With a keen eye and high-powered scope, your guide will help you spot birds you might otherwise miss. Binoculars are available for rent at reception.
The most common species seen on the property include the Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, Emerald Toucanet, Crested Caracara, Crested Guan, as well as numerous species of hummingbirds and many other fascinating birds.
Included: Guide
.
Nestled in the lush Caribbean foothills of Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains, Rancho Naturalista is considered one of the top birding lodges in the country—and for good reason. With over 450 bird species recorded in the area, it offers an unparalleled experience for bird enthusiasts of all levels.
What makes Rancho Naturalista truly special is the combination of its unique location, experienced local guides, and carefully maintained trails and feeders that make birdwatching easy and rewarding. Whether you’re enjoying a coffee on the veranda or hiking through the surrounding forest, you’ll be surrounded by incredible birdlife.
Some of the iconic species commonly seen at Rancho include: Snowcap, White-collared Manakin, Keel-billed Toucan, Golden-hooded Tanager, Rufous Motmot, Black-crested Coquette, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Blue-crowned Motmot, Tawny-chested Flycatcher, Sunbittern.
Accommodation: Rancho Naturalista (2 Nights)
Spend the day unwinding at your hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
San Gerardo de Dota is a hidden gem in the remote mountains south of Costa Rica’s capital, San José.
Nestled in a valley and surrounded by the towering Talamanca mountains, it offers a peaceful retreat. The area is rich in wildlife, home to the famous Resplendent Quetzal and many hummingbird species. While slowly gaining recognition for its excellent birdwatching, San Gerardo de Dota remains a quiet destination with just a few eco-lodges and restaurants. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, perfect for hiking, exploring waterfalls, and discovering primary forests. The cool, wet climate and the cloud forest ecosystem make it a unique stop before returning to the airport.
Accommodation: Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa (2 Nights)
At Savegre Hotel, you have the best opportunity to find and observe this spectacular bird. The Aztecs believed that the Resplendent Quetzal was the representation of Quetzalcoatl, their supreme god. One of our guides will take you to the places where the quetzal feeds on aguacatillos, its favorite fruit. A few seconds of observation of the quetzal is enough to appreciate why it is considered the most beautiful species of the American continent.
Included:
Transportation and Guide.
Esquinas Rainforest Lodge is located in the biologically rich Piedras Blancas National Park, part of the Osa Conservation Area in southern Costa Rica. This region is renowned for its exceptional avian biodiversity, offering birdwatchers the opportunity to observe over 300 recorded bird species.
Some of the notable species frequently observed in the vicinity of the lodge include the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii), Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager (Habia atrimaxillaris)—an endemic and endangered species found only in this region—Fiery-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus frantzii), and a wide range of hummingbirds, tanagers, trogons, and manakins.
Due to its location within primary and secondary rainforest, Esquinas offers ideal conditions for observing both lowland and mid-elevation species.
Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge (2 Nights)
Spend the day unwinding at your hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
Carara National Park, located in the Central Pacific, is home to a unique transition forest where dry and humid forest species converge. Covering 4,700 hectares, it protects diverse habitats, including the Tárcoles River basin, primary and secondary forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Famous for its large Scarlet Macaw population, Carara is a haven for birds, from the north and south pacific lands for instance, the toucans, momots, crested caracara, woodpecker, kingfisher and other beatuful species
The park offers two major trails and features a universal access trail, making it accessible for all visitors to enjoy the rainforest’s beauty.
Accommodation: Macaw Lodge (2 Nights)
Macaw Lodge lies between two different forests: rainforest and wet forest. The varied climates, ecologies and terrains support a richness of birdlife that easily exceeds 350 species of migratory and resident birds—including our namesake Scarlet Macaw as well as the Fiery-Billed Aracari, Yellow-throated Toucan, Orange-Collared Manaquin and Amazon Kingfisher among many others. The birding hike introduces guests to the world of ornithology. A professional guide takes you along paths and trails, helping you locate and identify bird species and shares information about the natural balance of birds in nature.
Included: Guide
Enjoy your last night in the country and take some time to relax as you prepare for your departure tomorrow.
Accommodation: Xandari Resort & Spa (1 Night)
What´s Included
Accommodation Services:
- 1 Night at Bougainvillea Hotel, Breakfast Included
- 2 Nights at Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve, Breakfast Included
- 2 Nights at Rancho Naturalista, Full Board Included
- 2 Nights at Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa, Breakfast Included
- 2 Nights at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Full Board Included
- 2 Nights at Macaw Lodge, Full Board Included
- 1 Night at Xandari Resort & Spa, Continental Breakfast Included
Car Rental
- 11 Days Car Rental MIDSIZE 4X4 (Suzuki Vitara Automatic or Similar)
Transfers services:
- Private Transfer from International Airport to Heredia
- Private Transfer from Alajuela to International Airport
Excursions:
- Shared Excursion | Early Morning Bird Walks at Selva Verde
- Shared Excursion | Quetzales Tour
- Shared Excursion | Birdwatching Tour at Macaw lodge
- Early Morning Bird Walks at Selva Verde. Included: Bilingual Guide and entrance fee.
- Canoeing Caño Negro (3hrs). Included: Bilingual Guide and entrance fee.
- Birdwatching Tour-Bosque de Paz. Included: Bilingual Guide and entrance fee.
- Birdwatching Tour at Carara National Park. Included: Bilingual Guide and entrance fee.
International flights
A Basic Bird-Watching Equipment Checklist
Binoculars
Perhaps the most useful piece of equipment a birder should have is a pair of binoculars. Without binoculars, a beautiful bird sitting high in a tree could remain nothing more than a small speck in the distance. To avoid such frustration, it’s important to invest in a quality pair of binoculars with magnification capabilities. Bring WATERPROOF binoculars. With the wonderful advent of a variety of quality, mid-priced binocs, most birders coming to Costa Rica have optics that are waterproof and therefore will not fog up in humid conditions.
Journal and pen
If you’re an avid bird-watcher, you may want to document your findings. Keeping a journal will help you remember what birds looked like, the noises they made, and other important details so that you can identify them when you get back from your birding expedition.
Smart phone
Smart phones have revolutionized birdwatching. It’s like having a field guide in your phone, except it’s better. Like a field guide, it provides illustrations and range maps. Plus, some birding apps have programs that allow you to filter characteristics to help you identify your bird.
Spotting scope
Binoculars may help you get a better view of birds in your general area, but if you’re trying to see a bird that’s extremely far off in the distance, you’ll likely need the aid of a spotting scope. In addition, spotting scopes are useful for getting a more detailed look at birds so that you can better identify them.
Camera
Many birders enjoy bringing cameras along with them on their bird-watching excursions. Snapping a few photos of the birds can be beneficial for identifying them later. Plus, you’ll likely end up with some incredible photographs due to the artistic and graceful nature of birds.
Zip lock bags
Use those ziplock bags as an extra measure of security for the stuff we would rather keep dry such as cameras, ipods, digital recorders, batteries, medicine, socks, and other articles of clothing.
Clothing
Earth-toned clothing is best. Birds have a highly-developed sensitivity to color, as evidenced by females choosing brightly-colored mates. This means that brightly-colored clothes are visible to birds. Shoes should be comfortable, closed-toed, and waterproof depending on your conditions.
Field guide
Looking at beautiful birds in their natural habitat is fun on its own, but having the ability to identify the different birds can enrich your experience. By bringing a field guide with you, you’ll be able to classify birds based on the guide’s illustrations and descriptions. Garrigues and Dean is perfectly sized for travel and is an excellent field guide for Costa Rica. The classic Stiles and Skutch tome is also a great guide and is chock full of information but its size is somewhat prohibitive for travel.
The Birds of Costa Rica, written by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean
Price From US$ 2,165.00
Price Per Person, based on double Occupancy.