Even though Costa Rica is relatively small, it is impossible to cover all of it in a fortnight. We visit some of its most biologically rich areas on this two-week-long tour.
The national park system covers around 12 percent of the total land surface and, together with private reserves, over a quarter of Costa Rica is protected. A chain of volcanic peaks rising to over 3,500 metres in altitude divides the country into separate ecological zones, each with its own characteristic fauna and flora. As a consequence, Costa Rica is remarkably biodiverse for a country of its size, with more bird species per square kilometre than any other.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to San José
Fly from London to San José, arriving this evening, and transfer to our overnight hotel just outside the capital.
Accommodation: Hotel near San José, 1-night
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Days 2-3
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Drive to Sarapiquí via La Paz Waterfall Gardens
We have a short drive north to La Paz Waterfall Gardens in the scenic La Virgen del Socorro area, home to some endemic species not seen elsewhere. This privately owned wildlife sanctuary has five waterfalls, a mix of cloud forest and rainforest, a butterfly observatory and garden, all of which are host to a great variety of middle-elevation bird species. A haven for hummingbirds, it attracts some 26 of the 47 species reported in Costa Rica.
We drive east from the central valley across the active volcanic zone, and down into the forests of the Caribbean lowlands where we spend the afternoon birdwatching in the mountains and lowlands before heading to our lodge.
The next morning we go for a walk in La Selva Biological Reserve. La Selva covers an expanse of lowland rainforest on the Caribbean slope of the north-western region, and is a fabulous birding destination – over 400 species have been recorded in the area. La Selva also offers a chance to see mammals such as mantled howler monkey, collared peccary, Central American agouti and brown-throated three-toed sloth.
We spend the afternoon walking trails around the lodge where birds we may see and hear include little and great tinamous, great curassow, collared aracari, keel-billed toucan and bare-necked umbrellabird.
Accommodation: Selva Verde Lodge, 2-nights
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Days 4-5
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Boat across San Carlos River; drive to Arenal Volcano
This morning we take a boat trip on the San Carlos River to see its wildlife before continuing west along the lower slopes of the volcanic mountain range, onto the Caribbean-slope forests around Lake Arenal. In the afternoon we enjoy a nature walk in search of birds and wildlife in the surroundings of the lodge.
The next day we visit Arenal’s Hanging Bridges Park, where we walk the three-kilometre-long trail that crosses 16 fixed and suspension bridges, designed to provide a unique perspective of the rainforest at heights of up to 45 metres above the forest floor.
Accommodation: Arenal Observatory Lodge, 2-nights
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Days 6-7
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Journey to the Gulf of Nicoya
We continue in a westward direction to the Gulf of Nicoya on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, where we can enjoy birding around our lodge and on the Tempisque River. Among the array of birds and other wildlife that we may see are roseate spoonbill, little blue heron, bare-throated tiger heron, American crocodile, green and black iguanas, white-faced capuchin and mantled howler monkey.
The next morning we take a boat trip on the Bebedero River into Palo Verde National Park to look for raptors and other birds including northern crested caracara, common black hawk, peregrine falcon, osprey, laughing falcon, and mangrove swallow.
In the afternoon we visit the 11,000-hectare Hacienda Solimar, a birding paradise where we can expect to see a wide variety of wetland birds, including the mighty jabiru.
Accommodation: Ensenada Lodge, 2-nights
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Days 8-9
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Drive to Carara; boat trip along the Tarcoles River
We now head south along the Pacific coast, watching birds en route. During our stay we visit the road bridge that crosses the Tarcoles River with the aim of seeing scarlet macaws as they return to their roost in the mangroves just before dusk.
In the afternoon, we take a boat trip along the Tarcoles River and into the Guacalillo Estuary, whose mangroves host the largest population of American crocodiles in Central America, and offer great opportunities to see freshwater birds, waders and shorebirds. At this time of the year, we are likely to see some wintering waders from North America, as well as terns and black skimmers, while magnificent frigatebirds fly overhead.
The following day we visit Carara National Park for another opportunity to see the macaws.
Accommodation: Macaw Lodge, 2-nights
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Days 10-11
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Drive to Cerro de la Muerte & Los Quetzales National Park
Today we drive up into the highlands of the Cerro de la Muerte, to Los Quetzales National Park, which nestles in the pristine Talamanca Mountains. The cloud forest here is composed of massive oaks and other highland native trees. We stay in an idyllic mountain-side lodge with stunning views of the surrounding forested slopes. Collared whitestart, magnificent and fiery-throated hummingbirds are among the gems of this area and can be seen from the balcony of our lodge.
However, one of the most sought-after bird species on any trip to Costa Rica is the resplendent quetzal, sometimes right beside the lodge! Over the next two days, we spend time exploring the cloud forest of Los Quetzales National Park in search of various birds in addition to quetzal, such as emerald toucanet, white-winged tanagers and ornate hawk-eagle.
Accommodation: Suria Hotel de Montana, 2-nights
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Day 12:
Drive to San José
This morning we visit Tapanti National Park on our way back to the Central Valley and San José, where we end the day with a farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea, 1-night
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Day 13:
Depart for the UK
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Day 14:
Arrive UK
