Overview
This 10-day birding adventure is ideal for travelers who want a concentrated but deeply rewarding experience. The focus is on slow mornings at the feeders, long sessions in photography hides, and relaxed walks through forests rich with birdlife. Expect close encounters with vibrant hummingbirds, colorful tanagers, elegant trogons, playful manakins, and the impressive toucans. With luck, you may also capture the dazzling Resplendent Quetzal, one of Costa Rica’s most sought-after birds.
The rhythm of the trip is designed for comfort—no rushing, just time to truly enjoy each location and its bird activity. Between photographing species right at the lodge and exploring nearby trails, every day brings opportunities for new and exciting sightings. This program is perfect for birders and photographers with limited time who still want to experience the essence of Costa Rica’s avian diversity and return home with a rich portfolio of images.
Highlights
- Always be accompanied by a private guide
- Chance to see the Resplendent Quetzal
- Sightings of hummingbirds, tanagers, trogons, toucans, and manakins
- Comfortable pace: lodge sessions and short forest walks
Itinerary
After your international flight, your private guide will be waiting for you to begin your journey near San José, where you can relax in a hotel with tropical gardens. Surrounded by heliconias, orchids, and butterflies, this is the perfect place for a relaxing introduction to Costa Rica’s nature before venturing into more rugged regions.
A walk in the gardens provides a first taste of the country’s incredible biodiversity, setting the tone for the adventure ahead and allowing easy photography opportunities right on the lodge grounds.
Target species at the hotel’s garden: Lesson’s Motmot, Rufous-capped Warbler, White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Mottled Owl, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Great Kiskadee and Blue-gray Tanager.
Sarapiquí is one of the most accessible rainforests in Costa Rica, alive with sounds and colors at every turn. Walks through the forest reveal monkeys in the canopy, bright toucans and trogons, and colorful frogs among the leaves, while boat trips along the Sarapiquí River provide a different perspective on the region’s rich wildlife.
This is also a center for tropical research, where visitors can learn about conservation and scientific projects. With its mix of rivers, forests, and feeders, Sarapiquí is the perfect first deep immersion into the country’s biodiversity.
Target species in Sarapiquí: Great Green Macaw, White-collared Manakin, Snowy Cotinga, Sunbittern, plus toucans, trogons, parrots and woodcreepers. Mammals include howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, spider monkeys, sloths, and river otters. Reptiles and amphibians often seen are green iguanas, basilisks, poison dart frogs, glass frogs and eyelash vipers.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Arenal Volcano, this region combines excellent wildlife watching with spectacular scenery. Feeders in the gardens attract hummingbirds and oropendolas, while trails through rainforest reveal trogons, motmots, and monkeys. Suspension bridges allow a unique view from the canopy, perfect for photography.
The area is also renowned for its natural hot springs, offering a relaxing complement to wildlife exploration. Night walks add another dimension, with frogs, snakes, and nocturnal insects filling the forest with activity.Target species in La Fortuna: Emerald Tanager, Great Currasow, Black-crested Coquette, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Montezuma Oropendola, Crested Guan, antbirds, woodcreepers and euphonias. Mammals include howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, spider monkeys, coatis and sloths. Reptiles and amphibians highlights are green iguanas, emerald basilisks, red-eyed treefrogs, poison dart frogs and spectacled caimans.
The Tárcoles River is world famous for its massive crocodiles, easily seen on a boat tour. The journey also enters mangrove channels, a fascinating ecosystem home to specialized birds and countless aquatic creatures.
Nearby Carara National Park protects a transition forest where dry and wet habitats meet, resulting in extraordinary biodiversity. Walking its trails with a guide reveals monkeys, deer, and an impressive mix of forest birds. Combined with the hotel gardens and the proximity to the Pacific coast, this region offers one of the richest wildlife experiences in Costa Rica.
Target species in Tárcoles & Carara: American Crocodile, Mangrove Hummingbird, Scarlet Macaw, Black-headed Trogon, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Rufous-naped Wren, Streak-backed Oriole, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, herons, egrets, kingfishers, shorebirds, White-throated Capuchin Monkey, agouti and white-tailed deer.
High in the Talamanca mountains, this is one of the very best places in the world to see the Resplendent Quetzal. The cool cloud forest is home to numerous highland endemics, making it a dream for birders and photographers alike.
Visitors stay in specialized lodges surrounded by gardens and trails where hummingbirds, warblers, and silky-flycatchers are easy to observe. The mountain air, spectacular views, and abundance of rare species make this region an unforgettable highlight of any wildlife journey.
Target species in Cerro de la Muerte: Resplendent Quetzal, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Collared Redstart, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, Flame-throated Warbler, Volcano Hummingbird and Spangle-cheeked Tanager.
The final day is reserved for the return to San José and your international flight. Depending on your schedule, optional stops can be arranged along the way—whether a scenic viewpoint, a wildlife garden, or a local town visit.
This flexibility ensures a smooth conclusion to the adventure, with the chance for one last taste of Costa Rica’s landscapes and wildlife before departure.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Pick-up & drop-off service
- Private driver available throughout the trip
- Daily breakfast
- Comfortable accommodation
- All activities listed in the itinerary
- Expert wildlife guide on each activity
- Required permits and national park fees
Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
- Travel and medical insurance
FAQs
We suggest lightweight clothing, quick-dry fabrics, and a rain jacket. Comfortable shoes are essential, and a hat or cap helps with sun protection. If your trip includes cloud forests or higher elevations, pack a sweater for cooler evenings.
Binoculars are highly recommended for wildlife watching. For photography, we suggest bringing a camera with telephoto lenses for birds and animals. A tripod can be useful. If you’re unsure about your equipment, feel free to reach out—we’ll be happy to advise you personally.
Yes, single rooms can be arranged on request, subject to availability. A supplement may apply depending on the hotel or lodge.
Yes, in most parts of Costa Rica the water is drinkable. Your guide or the staff from your lodge will advise you in each location.
Most of the hotels and lodges we work with offer laundry service, either included or for a small fee. Your guide or the lodge staff will let you know the options available at each stop.
Yes. If you’d like to arrive earlier or stay longer, we can arrange additional nights of accommodation, activities and transfers. Just let us know your plans and we’ll adjust the itinerary accordingly.
That depends on the type of trip you choose:
If you book a private guided trip, we provide the vehicle and driver, so you don’t need to worry about renting a car or driving in Costa Rica. Everything is handled for you.
If you choose a self-drive road trip, you’ll drive your own rental car. Most travelers pick it up directly at the airport, and it can be reserved in advance. As with all of our itineraries, everything is personalized. If you’d like us to assist with the car rental, just let us know your needs and we’ll arrange it for you.
Price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single or group rates may vary. Contact us for a personalized quote.