1
Arrival to San Jose and transfer to our hotel, birding on site.
2-3
Starting from San Jose we head north and stop at various spots at the Caribbean lowlands. Birding at the Valley of La Virgen de Socorro, La Paz Area, Sarapiqui River and La Selva Region. These places offer a wide variety of different bird families with species like Mountain Eleania, Slaty Flower-piercer, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager, Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Prevost's and White-eared Ground-sparrow, Green Ibis, egrets, kingfishers, Boat-billed Heron and many others from more than 400 possible species around.
Beside Scarlet Macaws we have a good chance for finding Green Macaws as well.
4-5
After a morning birding we travel to a valley between Irazu and Turrialba Volcanoes with various habitat zones from tropical rain forests through cloud forests to paramo forests. Just to name some of the species occuring: Black-chested Hawk, Palm, Passerini's and White-lined Tanagers, Little Tinamou, Collared Aracari, Green-breasted Mango, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, White-throated Crake and Green Thorn-tail. This area offers the first chance for Resplendent Quetzal as well.
6-7
We travel further south towards Cordillera de Talamanca, Cerro de la Muerte and Savegre Area crossing farmlands, tropical forests, cloud forests and paramo with species endemic to Costa Rican and Panamian hills: Coppery-headed Emerald, Volcano Hummingbird, Long-tailed Silky-FlyCatcher and Peg-billed Finch. This is again a great area for different trogons and Resplendent Quetzal.
8-9
Coming down from the hills we approach the Eastern edge of the country, close to the Panamanian border. Here we stay at the famous Wilson Botanical Garden which has great trails in primary and secondary forests, beside the amazing variety of trees and wildflowers in the garden itself. It is a perfect place to look for a wide variety of Tanagers, Flycatchers, Tinamus, Parrots and Parakeets, Woodpeckeres and Woodcreepers, plus several Hummingbird species and some endemics as well. We can observe raptors and canopy of the forest from a nearby lookout tower.
10-11
Discovering some of the most pristine beach areas in the country dotted with primary rainforests, farmlands and reforested areas. On one of the days we discover a unique forest with 1000-year old trees along the Los Ajos trail, on another day we will visit Manuel Antonio National Park with possible species like Fiery-billed Araçari, Chestnut-backed Antbird, White-necked Jacobin, Baird's Trogon, Orange-collared Manakin, Blue-throated Goldentail and Blue-black Grosbeak.
12-13
Most of the time will be spent at Carara National Park which boasts of pristine lowland tropical forests and some secondary forest, scrub, wetlands, mudflats and mangrove thickets, each of which has its own range of species including Great Curassow, Laughing Falcon, Yellow-headed Caracara, Collared Forest-Falcon, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher and Streak-backed Oriole. Our boat safari on the Tarcoles River visits the estuary which is one of the best locations to see endangered birds such as Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Hummingbird, Mangrove Vireo and Panama Flycatcher, and more common ones such as pelicans, Boat-billed Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, White Ibis, Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Black Skimmer, Magnificent Frigatebird, Mangrove Warbler, Mangrove Black-hawk and American Pygmy Kingfisher.
14
Finally we return to San Jose airport for our flight and arrive back home the next day.
Please note that we offer an extension possibility to the northern part of Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park famous for its abundance of wildlife, including many butterflies, birds and mammals.
15
Overnight flight, arrival home.
