Bird Watching in a Tropical Paradise

Day 1: Arrival in San Jose
Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting for you at the airport, for meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax, unwind and prepare for your adventure.

Day 2: San Jose | Tortuguero National Park
Begin your day with an early morning trip through Braulio Carrillo National Park and then you will stop for breakfast in Guapiles. After breakfast, you will continue to La Pavona dock where you will board a riverboat to your hotel in the Tortuguero National Park area. In the afternoon, tour the Tortuguero village, where you will visit the Turtle Museum and walk around town to learn about the relaxed way of life in the Caribbean part of Costa Rica.  (B,L,D)

Day 3: Tortuguero National Park
Boat tour with your local nature guide in Tortuguero National Park. The small boats go deep into the canals of the National Park, further beyond the depths that other boats can go reach. This gives you the opportunity to find the rarer species of wildlife, including river turtles, monkeys, caiman and dozens of species of birds. If you are lucky you might spot an endangered West Indian Manatee. After lunch at the lodge, enjoy a slow and relaxed walk along a private nature trail where you can find wildlife. The rest of the day is yours to relax at the swimming pool, enjoy a cocktail or stroll on the beach. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Tortuguero | Turrialba Volcano
Depart from the hotel in the morning to Turrialba. Stop in Guapiles again for a special Caribbean lunch. Then continue along a mountain road with amazing views of the Reventazon River Canyon and the Turrialba Volcano. This region is one of the richest regions of Costa Rica for the growth of plants and numerous species of birds. Your lodge is on the slopes of the Turrialba Volcano, at 5,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by a private reserve with miles of trails to explore, a true paradise for birdwatching and nature lovers. (B,L)

Day 5: Turialba Volcano
Morning birdwatching tour with an expert guide. The lush valley of Turrialba is a rich land covered with rainforest but also with large plantations of coffee and sugar cane. Many species of birds feed off the fruits and vegetables on various plantations, therefore, you can see them up close while they are perched on the fences of the farms. You will notice that this terrain and climate make it a perfect opportunity to admire many species of birds, not only in the forest but also in the open fields where the like to catch insects near the grass. The afternoon is yours to enjoy the hotel facilities or explore their private reserve.(B)

Day 6: Turrialba | San Gerado De Dota
Morning transfer to the city of Cartago, the old capital of the country, where you can view some historical churches and buildings. Then continue to the Cloud Forest of San Gerardo in the Talamanca mountain range. The area has a totally different type of forest as well as types of birds. Your lodge is right in the middle of the cloud forest reserve and you will be able to see hundreds of hummingbirds, bellbirds, mot-mots and trogons including the resplendent Quetzal. (B)

Day 7: San Gerado De Dota
Early in the morning, your guide will take you throughout the trails of the hotel’s private reserve along some dirt roads with the objective of finding quetzals, a very beautiful bird. In the afternoon, you can acquire an optional tour and embark on a 3-hour walk to two amazing waterfalls of the Savegre River deep within this cloud forest. The entrance fee to the private reserve is included. Horses are available with additional cost if you don’t want to walk too much. (B)

Day 8: San Gerado De Dota | Uvita
Early in the morning departure for the area of the rich Marino Ballena National Park. The change in temperature and vegetation is notable as you descend the mountains towards the south Pacific coast. You will see new species of birds and animals because of these changes. Your rainforest lodge is tucked away in a private reserve on over 600 acres of land, with spectacular Pacific Ocean views. The afternoon is yours to relax at the hotel, enjoy the tranquility of fresh ocean breezes and admire the breathtaking sunset. (B)

Day 9: Utiva
The day yours to explore the hotel’s private reserve on your own or book an optional tour.* You can also visit the nearby Marino Ballena National Park and enjoy white sand beaches surrounded by the dense rainforest and trails where you can look for wildlife. One of the most interesting things to do here is the (optional*) Humpback Whale Observation Tour by boat. This area is in the middle of the migration route of these mysterious animals. Other species that are visible on these tours are dolphins, stingrays and sea turtles. You can also enjoy snorkeling and see many species of coral reef and tropical fish. (B)

Note: Optional tours are not included in the program price.

Day 10: Utiva | Carara National Park
Transfer to Carara National Park. On route stop for a quick visit to beautiful beach towns on the Pacific Coast that seem to be 10 years behind in time. Once arriving in the national park, you can find one of the biggest and most astonishing birds of Costa Rica, the Scarlet Macaw. Bird-watching fans and pros from all over the world confirm that this is the best place to see these beautiful birds. Among the other species, you will find are the yellow-billed cotinga and black-hooded antshrike. (B)

Day 11: Carara National Park
Morning walk along a trail in Carara National Park, home to some 48% of Costa Rica’s avian species. One of the highlights of this tour is seeing macaws flying overhead or in trees. There is a huge population of crocodiles that live within the nearby Tárcoles River. After exploring the park, you can walk along a bridge that looks down onto the river and its amazing predators – a wonderful place to take postcard-quality pictures. The afternoon is yours at the hotel, to enjoy the swimming pool or other facilities it has to offer. (B)

Day 12: Carara | San Jose
Transfer to San Jose, where the day is yours to explore the city and visit museums or historical buildings. (B)

Day 13: Depart San Jose
Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)