Caribbean at its Best December 11th-23nd, 2009 12 nights-13 days
Destinations
Pejjibaye’s Rainforest - Sarapiqui Lowlands - Arenal Volcano Ntl. Park- Bosque de Paz Preserve.
Why these destinations?
Pejibaye’s mid elevation rainforest is without doubts the best birding place in Costa Rica, it lies beneath the caribbean slope of Talamanca Mountains near Tapanti National Park, its unique geographical position benefits the area with an exuberant forest cover, intermountain valleys, river gorges and more importantly very little human presence. The lower forest near the lodge is a magnet for tanagers, orioles, shrike vireos, oropendulas, toucans, hummingbirds, etc. Its understory with an even vegetation is fantastic for manakins, spinetails, finches, wrens, sparrows and even tinamous. In a single mixed flock over 30 species are found songwrens, antthushes, antpittas are common on the understory darkness, meanwhile grosbeaks,17 species of tanagers, woodcreepers, woodpeckers, flycatchers, also the not often found yellow ear toucanets glide from branch to branch in the forest canopy. Pejibaye’s Rainforest is the best place to find Snowcaps anywhere!! The charm of the hotel staff and the unrivaled privacy of this lodge makes a supreme combination for birdwatching.
Sarapiqui is a real rainforest experience with vast areas to cover, primary rainforest, active and non active pasture fields, river edges, canopy bridges, thick understory, etc. Cotingas, macaws, oropendulas, guans, eagles, toucans are some of the many species to find. At Gavilan Lodge daily birds to spot are Green Ibis, Sunbittern, Jacamars, Tanagers, Orioles,Woodpeckers, Tityras, etc. Botanical gardens nearby offer great opportunities to spot a dozen or more species of hummingbirds and its adjacent forest always bring good surprises as Little Tinamou, Lattice tailed Trogon, Cinnamon Woodpecker, and much more. The Braulio Carrillo National Park is a real rainforest experience with the largest mixed flocks ever including favorites such as Sharpbills and Umbrellabirds.
Arenal Volcano Area is well known for its active summit, but little is talk about its great bird diversity and its always beautiful rainforest. Coming across Quail doves, mix flocks, soaring eagles, elusive antpittas are just another day in paradise. Bordering the lake forest is very rewarding, the complex vegetation of many different ages makes this piece of Costa Rica a must to visit for birdwatchers. Great Currasows in the middle of the paths, active Black throated Wrens on tangled vines, silently perched raptors on expose death tree trunks, hyperactive Coquettes going from flower to flower are just part of a daily birding.
Bosque de Paz if your idea of birding is endless trail opportunities, uncrowded forests, great food, breath taking vegetation, appealing lodging and over 350 species to target! Then, Bosque de Paz is your gateway. Or if your idea of birding is to watch hummingbirds everywhere, friendly trogons, singing wrens, rapid endemic jays, and the adore beauty of Resplendent Quetzals! Bosque de Paz is your destination.
Day by day Itinerary:
Day 1. December 11. Arrival to Costa Rica, Overnight at Hotel Las Orquideas Inn. No meals included. Pick up transfer and information meeting. Today, CRBJ staff will describe the day by day activities, the destinations, possible bird sightings, what to wear by destination and all other general information regarding the trip.
Day 2. December 12. Leisurely take a breakfast pack and get ready to intense birding at Pejibaye’s Rainforest. Copal Lodge. birding along roadside, farms, cattle fields, etc. Once at the lodge explore the surrounding forests, birdwatch on site. All meals at the lodge.
All meals included.
Day 3. December 13. Early rising, search for antbirds, leaftossers, woodcreepers return for breakfast and spend all day birding at the lodge grounds and nearby trails. All meals at the lodge. All meals included.
Day 4. December 14. Get up with the sounds of the forest, birdwatch from the lodge deck, breakfast & continue searching for birds inside the forest. All meals at the lodge. All meals included.
Day 5. December 15. Breakfast at the lodge and leisure departure to Sarapiqui Lowlands ( 3 hours ). Gavilan Lodge.
Traveling to the Braulio Carrillo is breath taken, its 95% of the forests has never been altered by human hands, dozens of small waterfalls, evergreen vegetation makes this little piece of jungle one of the best places in Costa Rica to visit. More than 350 species had even recorded within the park area & adjacent villages. Our first visit is a local’s farm in search for Spectacle Owl, Long tailed Tyrant, Great Potoo, the least goes on!! Lunch on a nearby restaurant and visit the national park to try to find Sharpbill, aracaries, mix flocks of tanagers, orioles, woodpeckers, barbets, woodquails, rare wrens, etc. All meals included.
Day 6. December 16. All day at the morning at the lodge grounds. At the lodge, the nearby riparian forests holds a good biodiversity of birds, such as Sunbittern, Green Ibis, Bright rumped Atila, Fasciated Antshrike, Rufous tailed Jacamar to mention few. We will also visit couple local spots for guans, toucans and more. All meals included.
Day 7. December 17. Early start to Tirimbina Rainforest Preserve. Gavilan Lodge.
A most to visit for birders of all levels. A complex net of canopy bridges, forested trails & nearby rivers are some of the great habitats to explore. Great place for Black crested Coquette, Yellow eard Toucanet, Great Tinamou, Keel billed Motmot among other good birds. Lunch at a local restaurant follow to some resting time to continue birding after on several open fields for Snowy Cotingas, Aracaries and more. All meals included.
Day 8. December 18. Breakfast at the lodge, follow to departure to La Fortuna. Arenal Lodge.
Upon arrival we are going to explore the hotel grounds, for a good number of honeycreepers, tanagers, oropendulas, some hummingbirds and many other forest birds such as trogons, pygmy tyrants on the hotel private preserve. The remaining part of the afternoon we will take a drive to the Arenal Lake area in hopes to find guans, parrots, motmots, toucans, etc. All meals included.
Day 9. December 19. Full day birding at the hotel grounds. Arenal Lodge.
Exploring its primary, secondary forests bordering the lodge private preserve. The hotel is place in front of the most active volcano in Central America its views are majestic and unrivaled. Upon request a visit to Baldi Hot Springs ( non included ) All meals included.
Day 10. December 20. Breakfast at the lodge, follow to departure to Bajos del Toro’s town. Bosque de Paz Lodge.
Early birding, breakfast and lets go to the “Forest of Peace”, fantastic destination for hummingbird lovers, quetzal seekers and much more. The lodge has dozen of trail systems to explore, we will spend all day at the lodge grounds. Bosque de Paz is an amazing place to find highland endemics such Azure hooded Jay, Prong billed Barbet, Gray breasted Woodwren, etc. All meals included.
Day 11. December 21. Full day birding at the hotel grounds. Bosque de Paz Lodge.
Exploring its primary, secondary forests and a short drive to the highest point of the area in search of Black Hawk Eagle, Ornate Hawk Eagle, Solitary Eagle, Great Black Hawk and several other great raptors. The rest of the day visit some local spots for new species and forested trails within the lodge property. All meals included.
Day 12. December 22. Early birding at the forest trails. Bosque de Paz Lodge.
Looking for Resplendent Quetzal, Red headed barbet, leaftossers, woodhunters, woodcreepers , highland tinamous, etc. After a well deserved breakfast we will travel few minutes down the road to another great hummingbird garden at Bajos del Toro’s waterfall. After exploring the forest trails and hummingbird gardens we will return to the lodge for more forest birds. All meals included.
Day 13. December 23. Relax breakfast and good bye paradise, transfer to the international airport!! Breakfast Included
Price per participant
4 to 6 participants US$2450 (double accommodation)
**Single supplement add US$250
Registration Fee: $200 deposit/person
PDF Print Itinerary
Included
- All lodging
- All meals except arrival day.
- All ground transportation
- All park fees
- All activities
- Pro-birder guiding the entire trip
- Costa Rica Bird Check lists
Non included
- Airfare
- Gratuities
- Travel Insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Optional hot spring visit
What to bring on your trip to Costa Rica
Clothing
Tennis shoes with good traction or Hiking boots with good ankle support (waterproof)
Comfortable sandals or flip flops
Swim wear
Underclothes and socks
Neutral colored clothing for rain forest hikes
Several cool long sleeve shirts and short sleeve shirts
Hat for sun protection (breathable)
2-3 pairs of light weight long pants for rain forest hikes
Lightweight rain jacket (neutral color only)
Casual beach clothing(t-shirts, shorts, sun dresses)
Long pants and a fast drying sweater for the city/mountains (temp. are cooler there)
Lightweight gloves for cooler areas
Rubber boots can be bought in Costa Rica for $12 us.
Gear
Small hiking backpack for day trips
Small first aid kit
Binoculars
Camera (optional)
Sunglasses
Sun block and Bug Spray (Avon’s Skin So Soft)
Several pencils
Daily journal
A passport purse (to carry money, credit cards, etc... wear it close to your body)
Any needed medications, anti-diarrhea, or any prescriptions
Flashlight
Alarm Clock
Money,credit cards, identification
About $50-200 in cash (not tears in bills, small bills are better)
Travelers checks (American Express or Visa)(can exchange some of them for Colones at the the local banks or hotel front desk)
Visa credit card widely accepted in Costa Rica, except rural towns(keep phone number of credit card company separate.)
Passports
Photo copies of passports and driver’s license(kept in a separate place) Use a credit card to call US from your hotel room or local phone.
For local calls in Costa Rica, purchase a phone card at pharmacies or supermarkets-use public phones (1000 colones)
You can also purchase a phone card here for international calls $9 for 12 minutes
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