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A Costa Rica Birding Tour

in the Summer

To a varied assortment of habitats.
In each, to places uncrowded, off the "beaten path".
Thus, with more birds and nature to be enjoyed.

This tour mostly to places in Northern Costa Rica,
including Laguna del Lagarto and Arenal,
Guanacaste, Carara & the Talamanca Mountains

June 24 – July 6, 2008

(tour: FON/CR–2 ’08)

Tour to be led by Armas Hill,
who has birded in Costa Rica numerous times since 1978.

Tue: Jun 24, '08 Arrival in Costa Rica. Birding, this day, as time permits. Overnight in San Jose.

Wed: Jun 25 After an early morning departure from the hotel, some excellent Caribbean Slope birding at the Canyon Virgen del Socorro, a particularly good place for an assortment of tanagers and other colorful birds, including the Red-headed Barbet. In the afternoon, travel to Laguna del Lagarto in the Caribbean lowlands with overnight accommodation there. Laguna del Lagarto has become one of the prime attractions of our Northern Costa Rica Birding Tour. The next paragraph tells you why.

Thu & Fri: Jun 26 & 27 Two full days of birding in the area of Laguna del Lagarto. Many species of birds will be seen. Among the highlights here during our tours: Agami Heron, Ocellated Antbird, Snowy Cotinga, White-fronted Nunbirds, and Great Green Macaw. There are excellent trails in the lowland rainforest. There will also be a boat-ride, with fine birding, along the Rio San Carlos, toward the Nicaraguan border. In that area, the largest remaining tract of lowland rain forest in Central America. Scarlet Macaw, King Vulture, and some interesting raptors are possible. Overnights at Laguna del Lagarto.

Sat: Jun 28  A final morning of birding at Laguna del Lagarto.
In the afternoon, travel to the town of Fortuna de San Carlos near Arenal Volcano. Overnight in Fortuna.

Sun: Jun 29  An excellent morning boat-ride along the River Cano Negro toward an area of marsh near the Nicaraguan border, the only haunt in Costa Rica for the Nicaraguan Grackle. A fine assortment of long-legged waders is likely, including this time of year, the Jabiru. During this ride previously we've found Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron, and Great Potoo.
In the afternoon, transfer to the Arenal Observatory Lodge or Arenal Vista Lodge for the night.

Mon: Jun 30  A morning of birding in the area of the Arenal Observatory Lodge, but even the most ardent birders can be distracted if the Arenal Volcano is active. It can be spectacular. Even though a safe distance away, it can be exciting by day, and after dark, a thrill. Regarding the birds in the area, there's an excellent variety, and that ardent birder could have yet another thrill with a sighting of a spectacular male Bare-necked Umbrellabird, as we have here during one of our tours in the past. Also notable during our previous tours: were as many as 30 Scarlet-thighed Dacnis in one tree, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, and Hermit Warbler.
In the afternoon, travel to the dry region of northwestern Costa Rica known as Guanacaste. In this area, there are a number of bird specialties not found in other parts of the country, such the White-throated Magpie-Jay, Yellow-naped Parrot, Black-headed Trogon, Streak-backed Oriole, and Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (just to name a few.) We've found one of the specialties of the region, the Thicket Tinamou, to be easier to see, than otherwise, in July. Overnight near the town of Liberia.

Long-tailed Manakin

Tuo: Jul 1  An early morning visit to the Lomas Barbudal Reserve, an area of excellent deciduous forest, for our final Guanacaste birding. A top attraction for us, each time there, has been the Long-tailed Manakin, and we've seen Collared Forest-Falcon on a number of our visits. A number of other birds of the "gallery forest" also occur.
In the afternoon, a boat-ride at a place that can be very good for birds: an area of waterways in coastal mangroves near Tamarindo. Here, in the past, in July, we've found Zone-tailed Hawk and Plumbeous Kite. Once, previously, Reddish Egret among a group of egrets and herons coming to an evening roost. A number of other birds fly into the area, at day's end, as well, notably parrots. This night, again, near Liberia.

Wed: Jul 2 After some birding, travel south to another place, with another assortment of birds, these, more "southerly": the Carara Biological Reserve, one of the best places remaining in Central America to see Scarlet Macaws. Their evening flight from the forest to the mangroves can be a delightful experience. Overnight at a nearby nice hotel, with attractive grounds, Villa Lapas.

Thu: Jul 3  Much of the day with birding in and around the Carara Biological Reserve. Whereas the woodlands to the north in Guanacaste were tropical dry forest, here we'll be in tropical rain forest, with birds including: Fiery-billed Aracari, Crested Guan, and Royal Flycatcher.
Travel in the afternoon, to higher ground, notably higher, the mountains known as the Cordillera de Talamanca, south of San Jose. Easily reached by the Pan-American Highway, these highlands provide excellent birding, with yet another assortment of species. Our destination will be one of the most beautiful of the valleys in the mountains, where the Rio Savergre flows between the forested slopes. Our hotel, there, the Albergue de Montana, at an elevation of 6500 feet above sea level.

Green Violetear

Fri: Jul 4  A full-day of birding in the beautiful, comfortable valley, and the nearby mountains. In the forests, by the Rio Savergre, among the birds, there's one considered by many to be among the most beautiful of all, the Resplendent Quetzal. A rare bird, with the tail of the male flowing two feet behind it. Our opportunity for enjoying quetzals should be excellent. Other birds in the forest, as well, will range from the striking Emerald Toucanet to the warbler known as the Collared Redstart. To "Ticos", or Costa Ricans, it's also known as the "amigo de hombre", or "friend of man". Besides being attractive, it's tame and inquisitive. What should also be close at hand will be hummingbirds, coming to the feeders around the hotel dining room. Our overnight, again, the Albergue de Montana.

Sat: Jul 5  More highland birding, in the morning, at various places, heights and habitats, along the Pan American Highway. The road reaches a height of about 10,000 feet, the highest altitude along the entire highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
Bird specialties include: the Peg-billed, and Large-footed Finches, Timberline Wren, Volcano and Fiery-throated Hummingbirds, Flame-throated Warbler, and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher.
Our last overnight of the tour in San Jose.

Sun: Jul 6 Transfer to the airport. Departure from Costa Rica.

Price: $2,895, per person, based upon double-occupancy. Single supplement (when applicable): $325  

Includes: 
All overnight accommodations.
All meals June 24- July 4.
Transportation within Costa Rica.
A FONT or Costa Rican birding guide familiar with the birds and localities.