Birdwatching in Costa Rica
Costa Rica boasts incredible biologically diversity and is a paradise for birders. This amazing value, all-inclusive bird-watching guided your of Costa Rica takes you off the beaten track to a selection of the country’s best birdwatching sites exploring tranquil cloud forest, lowland rainforest, wetlands and the Pacific coast. An experienced local guide will lead your birdwatching excursions, helping your to spot and identify endemic species, and you’ll stay in hand-picked hotels and lodges, each with an array of amenities to enjoy on your days at leisure. Have your binoculars at the ready to spy colourful hummingbirds and toucans, secretive tinamou and woodcreepers, and abundant tanagers and flycatchers on this relaxed holiday designed for bird enthusiasts.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
Return flights and transfers
Included travel insurance
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
ACCOMMODATION
14 nights in hotels and 1 in flight
Hotel porterage
Expert Guide
EXPERIENCES
Orisi Valley
Carara National Park
Five birdwatching sessions
La Paz waterfall gardens
FOOD & DRINK
Hosted welcome drinks reception
42 meals: 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 14 dinners
Day 1 UK-San José
After VIP door-to-door travel service to the airport, depart in the morning for your daytime flight to San José.
Stay two nights at the locally rated 4-star Barceló San José (3Q). The hotel's free bar is open from 10am to 10pm.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2 San José
This morning journey into the Orosi Valley to the south east of the capital, an area noted for its lush vegetation and coffee plantations surrounding the San Carlos river. Your local guide will be on hand to help you spot and identify endemic bird species such as the silver-throated tanager, resplendent quetzal and sooty robin.
This afternoon, look forward to a welcome talk from your host, before dinner at the hotel this evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 3 San José-Tárcoles
This morning offers the chance to join an optional birdwatching excursion in the Costa Rican cloud forest. Alternatively, enjoy the morning at leisure, before travelling to the Pacific coast this afternoon.
Spend four nights at the locally rated 3 star Hotel Villa Lapas (3Q) in a private reserve on the River Tarcolitos, staying in basic, bungalow-style lodges. The free bar is open from 10am to 10pm daily.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 4 Tárcoles
An optional excursion visits one of Costa Rica's most beautiful reserves where turquoise waters lap white beaches fringed by lush rainforest. You may see sloths, iguanas, howler and white-faced monkeys.
This afternoon enjoy a birdwatching session in the hotel grounds with your local guide. The hotel grounds are home to over 230 species of bird, including the scarlet macaw, which gives the hotel its name. Keep your eyes peeled for crested owls, mangrove cuckoos, white-winged doves and the Costa Rican swift.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 5 Tárcoles
Today, join an included excursion to one of the finest birdwatching sites in Costa Rica, the Carara National Park. Over 400 species of bird have been identified in the 5,000 hectare park, including Baird’s trogon, yellow-throated toucan, forest falcon and fiery-billed aracari.
Perhaps join an optional aerial tram ride in the afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6 Tárcoles
Today is free to spend at leisure, with an optional river safari excursion available this morning.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 7 Tárcoles-Muelle de San Carlos
You can join an optional excursion returning to the Carara National Park this morning.
After lunch, travel north to the locally rated 4-star Tilajari Resort Hotel (3Q+) for a seven-night stay. It lies in the San Carlos region which is acclaimed for its breathtaking rainforests, rivers, hot springs caused by geothermal activity, and the mighty Arenal Volcano. The hotel is set in 35 acres of gardens with orchids and a butterfly garden dome. The free bar here is open from 10am to 10pm daily.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 8 Muelle de San Carlos
After breakfast, head into the grounds of the hotel for a birdwatching session with your guide. Tanagers, toucans and parakeets can all be found visiting the gardens. You can then choose to spend the rest of the day relaxing at your hotel or perhaps join an optional excursion to La Fortuna in search of sloths.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 9 Muelle de San Carlos
You have the option of joining an excursion to Arenal National Park this morning.
This afternoon, discover the local trails and resident bird species surrounding Guapote Lodge with your experienced local guide.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 10 Muelle de San Carlos
Today is free to spend at leisure, or you may like to join an optional excursion to the Arenal Hanging Bridges.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 11 Muelle de San Carlos
Enjoy another day at leisure, or you may like to join an optional excursion to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 12 Muelle de San Carlos
This morning offers the chance to explore the region of Sarapiqui on an optional excursion. The remainder of the day is free to spend at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 13 Muelle de San Carlos
See how a Costa Rican family grows pineapples, papayas and medicinal plants on an optional excursion this morning. Then, this afternoon, head out to explore the local trails with your experienced guide in search of more bird species.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 14 Muelle de San Carlos-San José
Return to San José and the Barceló San José (3Q) where you stay overnight. En route there will be an included tour of La Paz waterfall gardens.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 15 San José-UK
Travel to the airport for your return overnight flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast | Lunch
Day 16 UK
Arrive in the UK for your included VIP door-to-door travel service home.
