Destinations

1. San Gerardo ( 2 nights ) Savegre Lodge
2. Tapanti ( 3 nights ) Kiri Lodge
3. Pejibaye( 3 nights ) Copal Lodge
4. Carara ( 3 nights ) Flamboyant Hotel

Daily Activities.
Day 1. December 3. Arrival to San Jose. Greeting and Information Meeting. Hotel in San Jose.

Day 2. December 4. San Gerardo, Savegre Lodge.
Early departure after breakfast to the Highlands of Talamanca Range. Stop along the way to search for Highland Endemics. We will spend under a couple of hours to find species not often located at Savegre's Valley; then continue our birding journey to the lodge, as birders we know that nature is the one how decides the speed to go on but, approximated lunch time is our arrival. Our lodge is world known for its Quetzals and Hummingbirds but no one really mentions the food, aloud me to tell you; its simply wonderful. Check in, lunch and hummers until 2-3 pm and explore hotel grounds for Torrent Tyrannulet, Yellow silky Flycatcher, Flame colored Tanager, Brown capped Nightingale Thrush, etc... This afternoon we are only going to take easy and let you catch up.

Day 3. December 5. San Gerardo, Savegre Lodge.
In search ot the Quetzal, up by 5:00 am; into the river trail, which is an mild walk with semiopen fields and gallery forest, good chances to spot a good amount of birds such as Tufted Flycather, Acorn Woodpecker, White throated Robin, etc. A good 3 hour hike and return to the lodge for breakfast as our high speed friends fight over at perch. We will continue on birding along the road side for more birds before and after lunch.

Day 4. December 6. Tapanti Nt.. Park. Kiri Lodge
Although Savegre and Tapanti are not that far from each other, but the species differ a lot. Tapanti is located at 1400 meters from sea level on the caribbean slope and can be subdivide on 7 habitats quite opposite or with some similarities. On the drive to the park there are several important sites such as Cachi's Hydroelectric Dam, for Bat Falcon, Swallow tailed Kite, Oropendulas, Grebes, etc. Also coffee plantations for Giant Cowbirds, Orioles, Tanagers, Flycathers and many more. A must stop is the Rio Grande de Orosi's Bridge. Great birding spot. Lunch/Dinner at Kiri Lodge.

Day 5. December 7. Tapanti, Kiri Lodge.
A early start in search for ground birds such as Timanous, bobwhites, antpittas and often ignore ground doves. It also a day for Eagles a in the early evening owls.

Day 6. December 8. Tapanti, Kiri Lodge.
Full day at the park, return for breakfast and lunch to the lodge (do not worry great birding can de done from the tables at the Restaurant). Such as Prong billed Barbets, 8 species of Tanagers, Warblers, the list goes on. Or visit the area of Rio Grande de Orosi, coffee farms and open fields.

Day 7. December 9. La Selva de Pejibaye, Copal Lodge.
Enjoy breakfast and get ready to go to Caribbean rainforest. Pejibaye has been for long time an agricultural area with open spaces, small forest patches and seasonal swamps that can increases the species numbers. Simply, there is not place in the all Costa Rica as rich as Copal Lodge to birwatch. In all my previous visits, i have not come back home overwhelm and fascinated by this small family own property. Amazing beautiful and rarities are combine on this area, thing such as Snowcap, Lovely Cotinga, Scale Antpitta, White collared Manakin and 21 species of tanagers are not uncommon here. All meals included.

Day 8. December 10. La Selva de Pejibaye, Copal Lodge.
On this region, the sun is out by 5:00 am and some birds are active a beat earlier; therefore a dense forest hike will have high possibilities. Tall canopy forest hike follow by breakfast and continue on river tour, lunch at midday and back in the forest. All meals included.

Day 9. December 11. La Selva de Pejibaye, Copal Lodge.
Full day at the lodge area. All meals Included.

Day 10. December 12. Central Pacific. Flamboyant Hotel.
Departure to Central Pacific Coast in which Macaws, Manakins, Tinamous await for us. Today is going to be a more or less long drive, we will take easy. Breakfast on the go and lunch on a local restaurant. Stop by Orotina for Black and White Owl, and continue to the hotel, check in and get back on birding. Dinner in town. No meals included.

Day 11. December 13. Central Pacific. Flamboyant Hotel.
A breakfast to go should do it! The day starts a Meandrica's Trail at Carara National Park, maybe the best birding in Costa Rica due the balance weather, the 5 microecosystems and the 4 forest strata. Many species occur here, but the real beauty of Carara's birding is the abundance of life, from common Black hooded Antshrike to Yellow billed Cotinga. A must to take hike for every birder visiting my country. Lunch in a near by restaurant, follow to a hike into the 150 ft canopy forest. Manakins, Wrens, Flycathcers, Antbirds and how knows maybe a Violaceous Quail Dove. No meals included.

Day 12. December 14. Mangrove Boat tour.
Today the order of activities might change. Early start to the mangrove on a private boat to see the area specialties such Mangrove Hummingbirds, vireos, cuckoos, egrets, herons and even rare wood rails.

Day 13. December 15. Juan Castro Blanco, Bosque de Paz Lodge.
Early breakfast and now it is time to get a taste of the caribbean mid-elevations to a wonderful place call Bosque de Paz ( Forest of Peace) and lot of birds to such as Black Guan, Chesnut capped Brush Finch, Crested Eagles, Collared Trogon, American Dipper, and many new hummingbirds, etc. All of us are here for the birds but this place is wonderful, the staff, the food and the views of the Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Little after lunch a short hike to the forest will enrich our experiences and personal lists.

Day 14. December 16. Bosque de Paz Lodge.
All day at the lodge area. All meal included.

Day 15. December 17. Departure to San Jose. International Flight Day.
Departure home, travel day to International Airport. Please do not forget to pay the departure taxes, also verify that all your important personal belongings are with yourselves.

Trip Includes 15 days of birding in four excellent locales Trip Leader, Randall Ortega Most meals Deluxe Shuttle Van or 4x4 and boat- All transportation Comfortable, clean, hotel rooms & bath accommodations All Entrance Fees to parks Detailed Trip Manual; including bird lists by location Checklist of Costa Rica birds by Assoc. of Ornithology of CR