This 19-day tour visits lowland wet forest, middle elevation rainforest, cloud forest, sub-alpine paramo, lowland dry forest, rivers, lakes, estuaries and marshes. Each habitat contains a number of specialist species and on this tour we will visit the top birding locations within the country where we will focus our attention on the 3 mainland endemics, Coppery-headed Emerald, Mangrove Hummingbird and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager and the huge number of range-restricted species present within the country. This tour is timed to coincide with the presence of the many Nearctic migrants that over-winter in the region, thus adding to the many resident species likely to be seen. This tour should connect with approximately 60 species with a very restricted range, generally referred to as Chiriqui Endemics. These highlights will include Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Lattice-tailed and Baird’s Trogon, Fiery-billed Aracari, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Silvery-throated Jay, Long-tailed and Black-and-Yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and Volcano Junco. Other highlights will without doubt include Resplendent Quetzal, Great Green and Scarlet Macaw, Sunbittern, Snowcap, Jaribu Stork, Great Curassow, Great Potoo and Agami Heron. Costa Rica’s bird list currently stands at approximately 880 species and whilst we will be manoeuvring around the country we may make some stops to add some of the rarer, recently discovered national species to our tally such as Red-breasted Blackbird, Southern Lapwing, Brown-throated Parakeet, Pearl Kite and Rusty-margined Flycatcher, species that have all colonised from Panama.
Throughout this tour we will fully immerse ourselves in the many families of the Neotropics and we will be likely to observe 14 or 15 members of the Psittacidae family, 9 of the Trogonidae, over 40 of the Trochilidae, over 50 of the Tyrannidae, over 15 of the Troglodytidae, over 20 of the Formicariidae and over 35 of the Thraupidae family. After this tour you will totally appreciate the immense diversity of Costa Rica.
Other than the wonderful birds we will also see a number of interesting mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects with the highlights including American Crocodile, Green Iguana, Mantled Howler, Capuchin and Spider Monkey, Sloths, and Anteaters. We will also see numerous butterflies (such as Blue Morpho) and moths throughout the country that will be just as interesting as the other wildlife, all in such splendid scenery. For 4-6 Participants (+ Leader, Local guides where required and Driver). Leader: Andy Walker. Expect: 500 species (winter only;400 possible other times of the year).
Tour Itinerary:
Costa Rica is well renowned as one of the most accessible and safe birding destinations in Central America. For a very small country (approximately the size of West Virginia) it may be surprising to find out that over 800 species have been recorded here. The key to Costa Rica’s rich bird life is diversity. The country is made up of many complex habitats such as lowland wet forests on the Caribbean and south Pacific coasts, lowland dry forests on the north Pacific coast, middle and high elevation rainforest, cloud forest and sub-alpine paramo. The crucial aspect when visiting Costa Rica in search of birds is to visit as many habitats as possible; this tour does just that and the species recorded are testament to it. The tour also offers many excellent photographic opportunities to take home a reminder of what will truly be a great Neotropical experience.
1 night Heredia (Bougainvillea)
2 nights Cerro de la Muerte area (Rancho Chacons, Savegre)
2 nights Golfito area (Buena Vista Cabinas)
3 nights Carara area (Villa Lapas)
2 nights Palo Verde (Palo Verde)
2 nights Monteverde area (Trapp Family Lodge)
3 nights La Selva area (Ara Ambigua)
2 nights Rancho Naturalista area (Rancho Naturalista)
1 night Heredia (Bougainvillea)
1 night Plane
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Includes:
- Accommodations
- All meals
- Private transportation
- Bilingual naturalist guide (specialized on birdwatching)
- All entrance fees.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Costa Rica
Birdwatching
Rainforest
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