Costa Rica II ........ 20th November to 3rd December 2010

Neotropical Paradise

With its amazing contrast of habitats, marvellous scenic locations, exquisite birdlife, friendly people and small size, it is not difficult to see why Costa Rica attracts birdwatchers from all over the world. Costa Rica has a democratic government, no army and the highest literacy level in the region, making it a prosperous and stable country. There is a very positive attitude to national parks and wildlife reserves, with the highest percentage of land area devoted to these, of any country in the world. Rainforests, cloud forests, volcanoes, palm-fringed beaches, mangroves and estuaries hold such avian jewels as Scarlet Macaw, Resplendent Quetzal, Rufous Motmot, Sunbittern, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Lanceolated Monklet, Turquoise Cotinga, Northern Royal Flycatcher, Green Honeycreeper, Boat-billed Heron and Magnificent Frigatebird. Costa Rica is a real gem - and in relation to its size, has the highest avian diversity on earth. With all these attributes it is a must for birdwatchers, whatever their level of expertise! Our fabulous itineraries cover the prime sites and venues – the very best of Costa Rica.

Day 1: Depart UK to San José arriving in the evening. We will then transfer to our hotel.
Overnight - San José.

Day 2: Today we will visit the Cerro de la Muerte Highlands and the San Gerardo Valley in the Talamanca Mountains looking for high zone species including Large-footed Finch, Flame-throated Warbler, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Junco and the fabulous Resplendent Quetzal.
Overnight - San Gerardo Valley, Talamanca Mts.

Days 3 - 5: On Day 3 we transfer to Rancho Naturalista, a delightful lodge situated in the pre-montane rainforest zone of the Caribbean Slope. Here the gardens and trails simply abound with birdlife. Pre-breakfast birding from the balcony can be superb with feeders attracting Grey-headed Chachalaca, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Snowcap, White-necked Jacobin, Buff-throated Saltator, Passerini’s & Crimson-collared Tanagers and Montezuma’s Oropendola amongst many other species. The Rio Tuis Trail is home to Sunbittern, Lanceolated Monklet, American Dipper and Torrent Tyrannulet. There will also be an excursion to Tapanti National Park, excellent for more highland specialities such as: Scaled Antpitta, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Prong-billed & Red-headed Barbets, Spotted Barbtail, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Slate-throated Whitestart and Tawny-capped Euphonia.
Overnights - Rancho Naturalista.

Days 6 - 8: We transfer to Selva Verde Lodge in the Caribbean Lowlands and en route visit Braulio Carrillo, a beautiful rainforest with an extremely rich avifauna – over 300 species, which includes: Yellow-eared Toucanet, Spotted & Immaculate Antbirds, Lattice-tailed Trogon, White-throated Shrike Tanager, Emerald & Tawny-crested Tanagers and Russet Antshrike. During our stay at Selva Verde we will explore the lodge grounds and have excursions to middle elevation Caribbean Rainforest at Virgen del Socorro and also to La Selva Biological Reserve – a protected area of 1600 hectares of pre-montane wet tropical forest. This research station is operated by the organisation of Tropical Studies and the reserve is one of the best-studied areas of rainforest on Earth. It's fantastic diversity of wildlife includes 420 bird species, 500 species of butterflies and 400 species of ants! The fantastic array of avifauna and other wildlife species includes White-throated Crake, Red-lored Parrot, Squirrel Cuckoo, Black-throated Trogon, Broad-billed Motmot, Fasciated Antshrike, Keel-billed Toucan, Cinnamon Becard, Blue-and-Gold & Crimson-collared Tanagers, Orange-billed Sparrow, Spider & White-faced Monkeys, Tayra and River Otters.
Overnights - Selva Verde.

Day 9: Travel to Arenal Lodge for one night to experience the wondrous volcano and also some good birding.
Overnight - Arenal Observatory Lodge.

Days 10 - 12: On Day 10 we’ll head for the Pacific Coast, with emphasis on the wonderful Carara National Park and the Tarcoles Estuary. Carara reserve is an area of Pacific Coast lowland rainforest and is particularly famed for its population of Scarlet Macaws, but there are many more much sought-after species. These include Boat-billed Heron, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Spectacled Owl, Baird’s & Violaceous Trogons, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Dot-winged Antwren, Black-faced Antthrush, Streak-chested Antpitta, Red-capped & Orange-collared Manakins and Red-legged Honeycreeper. The Tarcoles Estuary is superb for herons, waders, terns, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Black Skimmers as well as a number of mangrove specialities.
Overnights - Carara.

Day 13: Early morning birding around the lodge, before returning to San José for our flight to the UK, where we arrive on Day 14.

Tour Ref: 1032-02

Cost: £2,990
Deposit: £400
Single Room Supplement: £300

Leaders: Peter Dedicoat & Local Guides

Max. Group: 12 plus Leaders

Includes:
Economy class scheduled return flights (UK-San José-UK), accommodation based on twin occupancy, all meals, ground transportation in Costa Rica, entrance fees and services of leader and guides.

Excludes:
Travel insurance, drinks, departure tax and items of a personal nature.