Costa Rica Birdwatching

Itinerary

ARRIVAL TO SAN JOSE (15km – 30min)

Welcome to Costa Rica! A representative will greet you and assist you at the airport. Private transfer from the airport to the hotel in San Jose city. Upon arrival, check-in and enjoy leisure time to refresh, relax and get comfortable at your hotel room. 

Overnight at San Jose.

SAN JOSE – SARAPIQUI (91km – 2hrs)

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and around 10 am a representative will pick you up at the lobby and take you on a private transfer to your next destination: the always verdant Sarapiqui region. Around 2:00 pm you will join an expert guide to take a naturalist hike through the rainforest. Experience first-hand the wonder of exploring a tropical rainforest. Learn more than just the names of rainforest plants and animals, discover their secret lives and fascinating natural histories. Be on the lookout for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans, and poison dart frogs, and remember to bring your camera! Savour dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight in Sarapiqui.

SARAPIQUI – ARENAL (68km – 1hr)

Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy free time to relax at the pool surrounded by nature and a delightful lunch at the Lodge. After lunch (included), around 12:00 pm a representative will pick you up at the lobby and take you in a private transfer to your next destination: La Fortuna de San Carlos, home of the wonderful Arenal Volcano. Upon arrival, admire the natural beauty of Arenal region; explore the area y your own or simply relax at the hotel. 

Overnight in Arenal.

ARENAL – MUNDO AVENTURA NATURAL PARK – ARENAL VOLCANO – TABACON HOTSPRINGS – ARENAL (30km – 1hr / 1km – 1hr hike)

Early start around 5:15 am, to hop on the transfer to Mundo Aventura Natural Park. Arrive by 5:30 am, and ends around 9:30 am, after a delicious light breakfast of fresh fruit, juice, and coffee. With an expert naturalist guide, you will explore the incredible birdlife of the rainforest. The circuit trail combines tree plantations, a gallery forest alongside one of the important rivers of the area, a regenerating forest with open grasslands and pastures, and small brooks which permit the observation of typical open area birds, in addition to aquatic and wooded area birds. Among the most common birds found here, we have Great Kiskadees, Tropical Kingbird Flycatchers, Montezuma Orioles, Variable Seedeater, Tropical Tyrants, Red-billed Pigeons, and Groove-billed Anis. The tour takes around 4 hours. Afterwards, return to the hotel. Around 2:00 pm hop on the transfer to El Silencio Private Reserve, to get as close to the base of the Arenal volcano as possible by vehicle. Next, you will walk approximately 1 kilometre along a volcanic stone path with a moderate degree of difficulty, until we reach the viewpoint, the closest point to volcano permitted to access. At the viewpoint, our guide will provide relevant information on the formation of the Arenal Volcano, it's periods of activity, as well as unpublished details of its first eruption in 1968. You can also enjoy the excellent views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. On the guide’s indication, begin the descent along the same trail. For a change of scenery, you will then enter the regenerating forest and onto the primary rainforest located along the outskirts of the Arenal Volcano. At the end of the tour, the driver will be waiting for you with a delicious snack of tropical fruit before continuing to the relaxing part of this experience: Tabacon Hot springs. At Tabacon, you will enjoy the thermal mineral waters for approximately three hours on your own. The Resort has pools and a river of thermal waters coming from the veins of the majestic Arenal Volcano. At the end of the night, enjoy a delightful dinner included at Tabacon. Around 8:30 pm, the transportation will pick you up to take you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Arenal.

ARENAL – DOTA (208km – 4.5hrs)

Recharge your energies with breakfast at the hotel and around 9:00 am check-out and departure on a private transfer to your next destination: Dota, near the Los Quetzales National Park. Sitting along the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain Range, Dota will charm you with its natural beauty. Travellers come here to hike through the pristine wilderness and view some of the region's most predominant flora and fauna. This quaint village is one of the best locations to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the area on your own or just relax at the Lodge facilities. 

Overnight in Dota.

DOTA (1.5km – 2hr hike)

Today, wake up early and around 5:30 am join one of our guides to explore the forest and see quetzals in their natural habitat. A gentle 1.5 km walk through the cloud forest will lead you to the Quetzal´s habitat. The hike will take approximately 2 hours, led by a professional guide equipped with a spotting scope and a bird guide. The guide will provide detailed explications along the way. Rest of the day at leisure to relax surrounded by pristine nature or take an optional experience in the area. 

Overnight in Dota.

DOTA – DEPARTURE SAN JOSE (92km – 2.5hrs)

Delight in one last breakfast at the hotel and at a convenient time, check-out and departure on a private transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport to take your flight back home.