Costa Rica Escape Tour
January 2027/2028

We believe this expertly tailored Costa Rica birding tour is the perfect excuse to leave behind the daily stress of modern-day living to do some great birding in one of the most fantastic birdwatching destinations in all of the neotropics.

Resplendent Quetzal is one of the main targets on this trip.

Costa Rica offers perhaps the best birding in Central America, not only in terms of birds (the country holds 933 species) but also in terms of accommodation and tourist infrastructure. During this short tour we are staying at some of the most comfortable hotels available, perfect for birders and nature-lovers alike. The tour is suited for both first-time birders to the neotropics and those more experienced birders trying to get a high number of species in the shortest amount of time. Not only does this tour offer an impressive species list but it also offers you the opportunity to see a number of neotropical dream birds such as Keel-billed Toucan, Resplendent Quetzal and a plethora of gorgeous hummingbird species.

The large and brightly colored Keel-billed Toucan is always a popular sight.

Itinerary (9 days/8 nights) 

Day 1. Arrival at San José and transfer to Hotel Bougainvillea

You will arrive at the San José Airport to be met by your tour leader, and be transferred to the hotel. If time permits, we may do some birding around the beautiful grounds of the hotel, looking for Rufous-backed Wren, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Finsch’s Parakeet, Squirrel Cuckoo, Baltimore Oriole, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, American Yellow Warbler, Lesson’s Motmot, White-winged Dove, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Clay-colored Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Melodious Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, and with some luck, White-eared Ground Sparrow.

Overnight: Hotel Bougainvillea, San José

Day 2. La Paz Waterfalls, Cinchona Feeders, and transfer to La Quinta

We will spend some time birding the hotel grounds before breakfast to add any additional species to yesterday afternoon’s birding. After breakfast, we will leave the hotel and head to La Paz Waterfalls. Here we should get species such as Mountain Wren, Slaty Antwren, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Large-footed Finch, and a number of hummingbirds such as Violet Sabrewing, Green Hermit, Green-crowned Brilliant, the endemic Coppery-headed Emerald and with some luck Purple-crowned Fairy. We will of course spend some time admiring the impressive waterfalls of the area too!

We may find Violet Sabrewing at La Paz Waterfalls.

After lunch, we will visit the Cinchona feeders, where we can spend time watching and photographing birds such as Red-headed Barbet, Prong-billed Barbet, Blue-throated Toucanet, Silver-throated, Scarlet-rumped, Crimson-collared, Blue-grey, and Palm Tanagers, and with luck Black Guan and Buff-fronted Quail-Dove. After some great time at the feeders, we will transfer to Sarapiquí where we will look for iconic Caribbean foothills species such as Yellow-throated Toucan, Montezuma Oropendola, White-crowned Parrot, and Grey-headed Chachalaca.

Overnight:  Sarapiquí

Black Guan can be seen at the Cinchona feeders.

Day 3. La Selva Biological Station

We will have an early start to explore the famous La Selva Biological Station, where we have the chance to find Short-billed and Scaled Pigeons, Brown-hooded Parrot, Great Green Macaw, Snowy Cotinga, White-ringed Flycatcher, Fasciated Antshrike, White-collared Manakin, Crested Guan, Great Antshrike, Red-lored Amazon, and Chestnut-headed and Montezuma Oropendola. In addition, we’ll look for Semiplumbeous Hawk, Chestnut-sided and Buff-rumped Warblers, Great Tinamou, Vermiculated Screech Owl, Great Curassow, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Rufous-winged, Pale-billed, Chestnut-colored, and Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, Keel-billed Toucan, and perhaps even the secretive Slaty-breasted Tinamou.

Overnight:  Sarapiquí

Day 4. Cope Wildlife Reserve and Puerto Viejo

We will have a full morning visiting the famous Cope Wildlife Reserve where we will have excellent opportunities to photograph birds visiting its amazing feeders. Some of the species regularly visiting the feeders might include Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Crowned Woodnymph, White-necked Jacobin, Stripe-throated Hermit, White-tipped Sicklebill, Green Hermit, Montezuma and Chestnut-headed Oropendolas, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Red-legged, Shining and Green Honeycreepers, and Crimson-collared Tanager. We will also explore some nocturnal bird territories near the reserve to look for potential roosting trees for Crested Owl, Spectacled Owl, and Black-and-white Owl, as well as Great Potoo. The open fields are good for Tropical Mockingbird and Yellow Tyrannulet. We will also have good chances to enjoy some other iconic Costa Rican wildlife including frogs, lizards, and mammals.

Late in the afternoon, we will explore some areas around Puerto Viejo where Great Green Macaw is reliable and other birds such as Slaty Spinetail, Long-tailed Tyrant, Yellow Tyrannulet, Olive-throated Parakeet, Morelet’s and Variable Seedeaters, and Thick-billed Seed Finch may be seen.

Overnight:  Sarapiquí

Crested Owl is one of a number of owl species we hope to encounter on this tour.

Day 5. Puerto Viejo and transfer to San Gerardo de Dota

Today we will leave Sarapiquí and make our way to San Gerardo de Dota and will break the long drive with a pleasant birding stop along the Sarapiquí River where, with luck, we might find Scarlet Macaw and King Vulture. We also have chances for Mangrove and Southern Rough-winged Swallows, Grey-breasted Martin, Prothonotary Warbler, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, and Bare-throated Tiger Heron. We will then continue our drive to San Gerardo de Dota and, if time permits, enjoy some birding around Cerro de la Muerte, before reaching the lovely Savegre Lodge.

Overnight: San Gerardo de Dota valley

Day 6. Los Quetzales National Park and Paraiso Los Quetzales Lodge

Today we will drive to the high elevations of Los Quetzales National Park. Once on the high grounds of the park we will focus on the range-restricted Volcano Junco and Timberline Wren. Other species are likely to include Large-footed Finch, Volcano Hummingbird, Black-capped Flycatcher and Red-tailed Hawk. We will then explore the lower areas in search of Black-eared Warbler, the shy Peg-billed Finch, and with luck, Barred Parakeet.

After birding the national park we will visit Paraiso Los Quetzales Lodge where we will enjoy the hummingbird feeders, likely getting views of Fiery-throated, Talamanca, and Volcano Hummingbirds, Grey-tailed Mountaingem and Lesser Violetear. The lodge is also a good place to look for the Mountain Thrush, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Black-and-yellow Phainoptila, and with luck, Golden-browed Chlorophonia.

Lesser Violetear is one of the many hummingbird species we hope to see at the feeders at Paraiso Los Quetzales Lodge.

After lunch, we will explore the surroundings of the Cerro de La Muerte and spend the afternoon enjoying some coffee and hummingbirds at Miriam’s Restaurant where we should find Acorn and Hairy Woodpeckers, Sooty-capped Bush Tanager, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Flame-colored Tanager, Large-footed Finch, Sooty Thrush and perhaps Blue-throated Toucanet. We will leave for our lodge before dusk and try for Dusky Nightjar en route.

Overnight: San Gerardo de Dota valley

Day 7. Savegre Lodge birding

Today we will have an early start to look for Resplendent Quetzal, perhaps the most-wanted bird in Central America. We will visit the most reliable spot in the valley to secure this special sighting. After breakfast, we will spend the morning exploring the lush mountain forest above the lodge, looking for Spotted Wood Quail, Ruddy Treerunner, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Collared Whitestart, Black-capped Flycatcher, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, and Flame-throated Warbler. Mixed flocks might hold North American migratory warblers such as Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, and Wilson’s Warblers. In addition, we could find Sooty-capped Bush Tanager, Yellowish Flycatcher, Yellow-winged Vireo, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, and Black-faced Solitaire. We will spend the afternoon enjoying some easy birding around the lodge where we will keep an eye out for Finsch’s Parakeet, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Flame-colored Tanager, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, and Stripe-tailed and Scintillant Hummingbirds.

Overnight: San Gerardo de Dota valley

The fierce Ferruginous Pygmy Owl may be seen in San Jose.

Day 8. Birding Savegre and transfer back to San Jose

We will spend an extra morning around Savegre in case we need another chance to look for the Resplendent Quetzal, if we missed it on the previous day. We can explore the waterfalls road to look for Yellowish Flycatcher, Dark and Ochraceous Pewees, Black-faced Solitaire, and with some luck, American Dipper. After lunch we will be transferred to San Jose’s Hotel Robledal where it is possible to find Ferruginous Pygmy Owl and Jamaican Fruit-eating Bats in the hotel grounds.

Overnight Hotel Robledal, San Jose

Day 9. Transfer to the airport and departure

You will be transferred to San Jose Airport at a convenient time to connect with your international flight

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

COSTA RICA ESCAPE TOUR-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO ALL OUR COSTA RICA TOURS

Our Costa Rica Escape tour is a great, nine-day trip across one of the most exciting destinations in the neotropics. Our tour will start in San José and will take you to explore the Caribbean foothills in the north where we will have the chance to explore La Selva Biological Station and other famous birding sites. Here we hope to see iconic species such as Snowy Cotinga, Montezuma Oropendola, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari and Great Green Macaw. There are excellent chances for other wildlife sightings too, with Brown-throated Sloth, Honduran White Bat and Strawberry Poison-dart Frog, all possible. The birding is generally easy-going with ample opportunities to relax and enjoy bird feeding stations. We will spend quality time walking along exciting forest trails. Another part of our tour will take us to the San Gerardo de Dota to explore the cloudforest mountains looking for the incredible Resplendent Quetzal and other specials such as Wrenthrush, Dark Pewee, Spotted Wood Quail, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, and Blue-throated Toucanet, while staying at the comfortable Savegre Lodge as our base for three nights.

ARRIVAL INFORMATION

Please e-mail us ([email protected], or contact us in a different way, if preferred) before you book any flights, as the information shown here is just an initial guide. Our tour will start in the city of San José, at San José’s de Costa Rica Juan Santa María International Airport (SJO) which can be reached by flights from most major airports from the US, Europe and Panama City (Panama). You may wish to consult your travel agent to book your most convenient flight, although please contact us if you need any guidance. Your tour leader will be waiting for you at San José Airport with the Birding Ecotours logo displayed and will then transfer you to your nearby hotel. Please be aware that most international flights arrive in San José around midday. We don’t have any birding activities planned for the first afternoon but we can enjoy birding around the hotel grounds where we can get a nice set of birds. In case you arrive on an early flight, you will be transferred to the hotel but may have to wait until check-in is available (normally in the early afternoon, although you can easily pass the time wandering around the hotel grounds). For an early check-in, you might be charged extra directly by the hotel; this cost is not included in the Birding Ecotours tour price.

Please remember to keep your luggage tags, as they are required to exit the terminal at the San José Airport.

When filling out the customs declaration form, please use the hotel address below:

Hotel Bougainvillea Santo Tomás, Heredia, Santo Domingo, 40302, Costa Rica

DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Our tour will end in the city of San José after a wonderful nine days in Costa Rica. On the final morning you will be transferred to the San José Airport (SJO) from where you can catch your connecting flight.

DOMESTIC FLIGHT INFORMATION

There are no domestic flights needed on this birding tour.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND PACE

We grade this trip as easy, with most of the birding consisting of walking along roads, although some of them lead up and down hills. We will explore some forest trails in the cloudforest and Caribbean slope which have gentle undulations, and there may be muddy sections after rain. Nevertheless, Costa Rica does not require long, hard mountain walks as do some other Birding Ecotours destinations like Peru, Guatemala, or Ecuador. We will spend quality time sitting and enjoying hummingbird feeders and birding the lodge grounds at a number of destinations on this tour.

Keep in mind that (as is usual on most birding trips) we need to be awake very early in the mornings, and pre-dawn starts are required each day. We normally spend the whole morning birding in the field, before returning to the lodge for lunch, after which we often enjoy some downtime and then continue our birding in the late afternoon. Your guide will sometimes invite you to look for owls at night, however this is an optional activity that you can skip if you feel tired. Some people prefer to rest, skipping birding in the afternoon; this can be done at those lodges where we are staying more than one night. When we make birding stops while traveling from location to location, those who feel tired do not have to follow the group and can remain and rest in the vehicle.

We think this trip may be difficult for people with back, walking, and balance problems or for those who are not used to a birding trip with early morning starts.

ATM MACHINES

ATM machines are only available at San José Airport and we suggest drawing US dollars here (for personal expenses such as bar bills, laundry, phone calls, etc). We recommend drawing all the cash (US dollars) you expect to need on the tour at the airport, as ATM machines are not easily accessible elsewhere on the tour itinerary. Please note that although most destinations will accept credit cards, some of the more remote locations may not offer these facilities.

ALTITUDE

We will reach the highest elevation of the tour at Los Quetzales National Park at 10,170 feet (3,190 meters) above sea level. Please ask your doctor if you have any medical conditions that might be aggravated by high elevations. However, we will likely only spend 1-2 hours at this elevation, as we are only looking for two special targets here; Volcano Junco and Timberline Wren. Normally we find these birds fairly quickly and we have not had any problems with altitude sickness in the past.

WEATHER

We ask you to be ready for all kinds of weather during this trip. Areas such as Sarapiqui, El Tapir, Cope Wildlife Reserve and La Selva Biological Station in the Caribbean foothills are hot and humid with temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F). We suggest packing clothes in which you feel most comfortable for this kind of weather. We highly recommend using sunscreen and a light-colored hat or cap. We might also get some rain during our visit in the Caribbean tropical forest!

The weather in the cloudforest of San Gerardo de Dora, Savegre Lodge, Irazú Volcano and the Quetzales National Park can be sunny and humid around midday but cold in the early morning and night, with temperatures dropping to 8°C (46°F).

Please check here for a list of what we recommend bringing.

LAUNDRY

Laundry services are available at Hotel Bougainvillea, Savegre Lodge and La Quinta Sarapiquí Country Inn. Laundry fees are not included in the tour price.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is of a very good standard during the tour with rooms including en suite bathrooms, hot showers and air conditioning (in warmer areas only).

TRANSPORT

We will have a private van for the whole tour with plenty of room for everybody. We will require 4×4 vehicle transfers to reach a couple of birding spots above Savegre Lodge. The drive should only take a few minutes but participants should be fit enough to climb in and out of the 4×4 vehicles.

Costa Rica General Information

Download Costa Rica Escape Tour Information