Costa Rica with Wild Insights

After breakfast we set off for Cerro de la Muerte, stopping en route at Paraiso Quetzal for lunch. The feeders here attract a wide array of highland hummingbird species and along with a multitude of forest birds including the stunning Golden-browed Chlorophonia, both Long-tailed and Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatchers, Fiery-throated Hummingbird and the unusual Large-footed Finch, we may be lucky enough to encounter our first, aptly named, Resplendent Quetzal. Our next destination is the highest point we travel to, the paramo, where trees give way to low-growing vegetation. This is the top spot for the highly specialised Volcano Junco and possibly Timberline Wren. We then continue to the delightful Savegre Hotel where three nights are spent. Eighty-nine kilometres south of San Jose in a private natural reserve of 400 hectares and just 9 km from Los Quetzales National Park this is the perfect starting point for exploring Costa Rica’s magnificent tropical cloud forest. The rest of the afternoon is spent around the gardens and grounds where Resplendent Quetzals are regularly seen as well as an array of hummingbird species, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Sooty Robin and Sooty-capped Bush-tanager to name a few. Nicely appointed cabins and excellent food add to the enjoyment of our stay in the fresh mountain climate.

We spend the next two full day exploring the gardens, riparian highland habitats, and old growth tropical oak cloud forests surrounding the Savegre Hotel. Walking through the gardens and along the Savegre river, we can hope to see Flame-coloured and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, Collared Trogon, Torrent Tyrannulet, Volcano Hummingbird, White-throated Mountain Gem and Talamanca Hummingbird among many others.

After a relaxing evening, we spend the day further exploring the gardens. Some of the species we will be looking for include Black-faced Solitaire, Spotted Wood-Quail, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner and Ochraceous Wren.

We now travel to Hotel Villa Lapas, down on the Pacific coast, for the next three nights. Our route will initially take us south where we will be looking for Turquoise Cotinga, Pearl Kite and Fork-tailed Flycatcher which are on the northern edge of their range. We will take lunch en route. As close as it is possible to get to Carara National Park, Villa Lapas combines comfortable air-conditioned accommodation and tasty cuisine with stunning surroundings, packed with flora and fauna. Just by walking the beautiful flowing river which goes through the grounds of the hotel it is possible to see an amazing number of rainforest species. We will explore the bird-rich grounds, and hope to see Scarlet Macaws and Bare-throated Tiger Herons, Long-tailed Manakin, and Gartered Trogon. We will also visit the nearby Playa Azul and dry forest where some of the species we will look for are White-throated Magpie-Jay, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Melodious Blackbird, Pacific Screech-Owl, Spectacled Owl, Crane Hawk, Streaked Oriole and many species of shorebirds.

We spend the next two days in and around the Carara Biological Reserve, a unique climatological zone where the ecosystem of the humid southern coastal region joins the dry climate of the northern Pacific area, becoming a rich meeting ground for species from both regions. This is truly one of the highlights of the tour, where we hope to find the Orange Collared Manakin dancing in their lek. It is also great location to spot antbirds, up to five different species of Trogons, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, and Royal Flycatcher.

During our time here we will be taking a boat trip on the river Tarcoles which gives us close encounters with birds of the mangroves such as Mangrove and Prothonotary Warblers, Panama Flycatcher, potentially five species of kingfishers, Zone-tailed and Black Hawks plus an array of waders including Collared Plover.

After a relaxed start, we travel to Arenal Observatory for three nights, stopping for lunch en route. Set high on a ridge facing Costa Rica’s most active and spectacular volcano and the only lodge located within the Arenal Volcano National Park, travellers enjoy a high standard accommodation and a truly unique experience. The lodge itself is within 870 acres of land including 270 acres of primary rainforest fitted with well-marked trails and the feeding station at the Observatory is a magnet for a range of birds. This mid-elevation area also is an excellent spot for birds such as Crimson-collared, Bay-headed, Silver-throated, Emerald and Hepatic Tanagers, Red-legged and Green Honeycreepers, Spotted, Bicoloured and Ocellated Antbirds, Tropical Pewee, Black-thighed Grosbeak, Buff-rumped Warbler and a wide range of raptors including Ornate Hawk-eagle and White Hawk.

The extensive trails take us through a wide range of habitats, from more open pasture to dense rainforest and this provides an equally varied range of bird species.

We will also visit the nearby Bogarin Trail which are outstanding for a range of easily-viewed birds and feeders and provides very good chances to see Three-toed Sloths.

Today we travel, birdwatching along the way, to Selva Verde Lodge in the tropical lowlands of Sarapiqui where we spend the next three nights. Selva Verde is set in its own rainforest grounds which border the fast-flowing River Sarapiqui. It also adjoins La Selva Biological Research Station which has a truly amazing range of flora and fauna. The combination of tasty food and comfortable accommodation, makes this an ideal centre from which to explore the area. This lowland rain forest region at the base of the Caribbean slope is well-known for hosting the greatest diversity of tropical flora and fauna in the country. Here the Sunbittern, Black-faced Grosbeak, and Rufous-naped Wood-Rail are a few of the inhabitants of the area. This is the most likely spot on the trip to see the Great Green Macaw, an endangered species. Also lurking in the forest are two- and three-toed sloths, 3 different species of monkeys, and peccaries.

We spend the next two days in and around La Selva Biological Station run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), clearly a highlight of the tour. The station is among the four most famous tropical research facilities in the world and home to more than 420 bird species, 500 species of butterflies, 55 species of snakes, and 120 species of mammals.

A vast variety of different species of trees can be seen in the arboretum. There are also three species of Tinamou that inhabit La Selva. We will be looking for Rufous Motmot, Trogons, Caciques, Purple-throated Fruit Crow, and Snowy Cotinga, among many others. Animals here are not camera shy, so there will be ample photo opportunities. Peccaries (wild pigs), agoutis, coatis, sloths, and monkeys frequent the area. We will also be taking a boat ride on the river Sarapiqui with chances of Bay Wren, Bat Falcon and Green Ibis.

Our final morning will be spent at the nearby Pierella Gardens, a perfect place to see a wide range of Costa Rican butterflies as well as having bird-rich trails. After lunch we then call at a private reserved owned and run by the fine artist, Cope. He has set up a fantastic bird observation hide with feeders and time permitting we may be able to see some very special forest birds including Crested and Spectacles Owls. we return to San Jose for the final night at the wonderfully comfortable Bougainvillea Hotel which draws birdwatchers from far and wide, not only for the high standard of accommodation and food but also the 4 hectares of tropical gardens which provide another chance to see a range of central valley species. Only 45 minutes from the international airport it is ideally placed for a relaxed final stop.

After a relaxed morning, enjoying more birding in the grounds we have lunch and then transfer to San Jose Airport for a direct British Airways flight to London Gatwick departing at 18.30 hrs.

Arrive at London Gatwick at 10.50 hr.