Costa Rica a birdwatchers’ paradise
Los Santos – Turrialba – San José
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose and travel to Los Santos Area in locally owned Quetzal paradise Lodge.
Lodging at Quetzal Paradise (-/-/D)
Day 2: Early morning birding tour to see the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal. In the afternoon, go birding in the extensive oak forests of Los Quetzales National Park.
Lodging at Quetzal Paradise (B/L/D)
Day 3: Travel to El Copal Reserve near Turrialba and Tapantí National Park. After a hearty campesino lunch, go birding in the El Copal Reserve. At dinner, learn about El Copal’s conservation association.
Lodging at El Copal Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 4: After a tall canopy forest hike with your guide, you’ll have breakfast prepared by Dona Patricia and continue birding in the areas surrounding the restaurant. Lunch at midday and back into the forest.
- Optional trip: that afternoon head to Guayabo National Monument, site of small pre-Columbian ruins (entrance fee not included).
Lodging at El Copal Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 5: Travel day to Laguna Madre de Dios, one of the only Costa Rican nesting sites of the Agamia Agami, a beautiful heron. Continue on to Casa Calateas on the Caribbean coast, where you might be able to observe the spring raptor migration (October – December).
Lodging in Casa Calateas Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 6: Birding and wildlife observation in Cahuita National Park. Also, enjoy the beach and if you are up for it, take a snorkeling tour.
Lodging in Casa Calateas Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 7: Travel back to San Jose and take a stroll around the capital. For our goodbye dinner, we’ll try some of the specialties of REGIONES, which specializes in authentic regional Costa Rican dishes (dinner in Regiones based on availability).
Lodging in the Hotel Rosa del Paseo or similar (B/-/D)
Day 8
Heading Home
This program includes:
- Meet & greet upon arrival
- Accommodation as detailed
- Ground Transfers
- Tours as described
- Meals as specified (B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner)
- All taxes
- Does not include optional activities
Day 1
Welcome to Costa Rica!
Your Camino Travel expert birding guide and your driver will meet you at the International Airport in San José and take you to the locally-owned Quetzal Paradise Lodge in the mountains of the Los Santos region, surrounded by abundant cloud forest and enormous, ancient oaks – making this the best place in the country to see the Resplendent Quetzal, with its iridescent green wings and glowing red chest..
Lodging at Quetzal Paradise (-/-/D)
Read about: birdwatching.
Day 2
Quetzal Sighting
Take an early morning birding tour to see the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal, considered to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world. These birds nest in the nearby cloud forest, where they can be seen year-round, but are more frequently sighted April-May. In addition to the Quetzal, woodpeckers, hummingbirds and many other species can be seen here, making this area famous for bird watching. In the afternoon, go birding in the extensive oak forests of Los Quetzales National Park.
Lodging at Quetzal Paradise (B/L/D)
Day 3
El Copal Reserve
Your guide and driver will take you to El Copal Reserve near Turrialba and Tapantí National Park. According to the Ornithologist Association, this is truly one of the best spots in the country for birdwatching! Over 380 bird species have been identified in the forest of El Copal Reserve, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. It is part of a biological corridor between Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park and La Amistad International Park. The community shares their traditional activities like sugar cane cultivation, cattle raising and making “tapa de dulce”, the native hard brown sugar. After a hearty campesino lunch, go birding in the El Copal Reserve. Amazingly beautiful and rare species are frequently spotted in this area, such as Snowcap, Lovely Cotinga, Scale Antpitta, White-collared Manakin. At dinner, learn about El Copal’s conservation association.
Lodging at El Copal Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 4
El Copal Reserve
The sun is out by 5:00am and some birds are active even earlier. After a tall canopy forest hike with your guide, you’ll have breakfast prepared by Dona Patricia and continue birding in the areas surrounding the restaurant. Lunch at midday and back into the forest. Breakfast & lunch included. Optional trip: that afternoon head to Guayabo National Monument, site of small pre-Columbian ruins (entrance fee not included).
Lodging at El Copal Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 5
Heading to the southern Caribbean
Your guide and driver will take you to Laguna Madre de Dios, one of the only Costa Rican nesting sites of the Agami Agami, a beautiful heron. Continue on to Casa Calateas on the Caribbean coast, where you might be able to observe the spring raptor migration (October – December).
Lodging in Casa Calateas Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 6
The Birds of Talamanca
Birding and wildlife observation in Cahuita National Park. This visit also allows you the chance to get to know some of Talamanca’s favorite birds: Toucans, parrots, hawks, mannequins, tanagers, hummingbirds, magpies, woodpeckers, as well as birds endemic to Talamanca and so much more. Also, enjoy the beach and if you are up for it, take a snorkeling tour.
Lodging in Casa Calateas Rural Inn (B/L/D)
Day 7
Heading to the southern Caribbean
In the early morning head out to the Casa Calateas Reserve before heading back to San Jose and take a stroll around the capital. For our goodbye dinner, we’ll try some of the specialties of “Regiones”, which specializes in authentic regional Costa Rican dishes (dinner in Regiones based on availability).
Lodging in the Hotel Rosa del Paseo or similar (B/-/D)
Read about: Raptors.
Day 8
Heading Home
Whenever it’s convenient, you’ll be taken to the Juan Santamaria International Airport to catch your flight back home, having experienced some of the best Costa Rica has to offer and enjoyed some incredible bird sightings across the country!
Highlights of the program
- Los Santos Area: Flame-colored Tanager, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Collared Redstar, Large-footed Finch, Black-cheeked Warbler, Black-faced Solitaire.
- Turrialba Targets: Snowcap, Lovely Cotinga, Scale Antpitta, White-collared Manakin, Green-breasted Mango, Brown Violet-ear, Green-crowned Brilliant, White-necked Jacobin, Green Hermit, and Bronzed-tailed Plumeleteer.
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*Private Transfers Alternative: A private driver will pick up the clients directly at the hotel and will take them to the next destination. The schedules can be flexible (unless they have to connect with other transfers or be in a certain place at a specific moment) and they do not have to wait for other clients, since this is a private service.
**Rental Car Alternative: Renting a car is a convenient way to move around the country as it gives you the freedom to explore at will. Our preferred car rental companies offer a complete list of services, including a modern fleet of vehicles and pick-up and drop-off services in San José as well as in the main tourist destinations. We would recommend a 4WD whenever possible and depending on the places you wish to visit, as they are more robust vehicles and a more reliable option for difficult roads. The rate provided does not include the Mandatory Insurance (USD 19.00 per day of rent). Clients will pick up the vehicle a SUV Intermediate on Day 05 and return it on Day 11.
HOW WE WORK
We have been in business since 1991; we have the knowledge, the experience and a experts team on site to take your stress away and enjoy your vacation.
We take the time to hear your ideas, your dreams, interests, and wishes, and then we will bring our expertise to them to design a perfect trip for you and your loved ones.
We realize that you do not want to be in your vacation worried about planning and services coordination. When you reserve your Costa Rica Vacation with Camino Travel, you will have a 24/7 expert team at your back and call.
How do we do it?
It totally depends on your needs, dreams, and interests. Camino Travel Expert Team will serve family groups, senior travelers, adventurers, groups of friends, solo women or specialized travelers.
We will give you a wide array of choices, from waterfall rappelling to sunbathing on rainforest surrounded beaches. Depending on what you like your Camino Travel Consultant will give you the choices for you to decide. We are Costa Ricans. However we are also travelers, and we have stayed in the hotels and done the tours.
On top of this, we have personal and direct contact with our suppliers; we have a sterling payment reputation in Costa Rica, and relations with hotels and operators is great. This allows you to have treats no other guests or passengers have.
Support in Costa Rica
When you book a vacation yourself, you may end stranded in the middle of nowhere if a local situation affects the area where you are. You may also end in a hotel room without a window, and none to call for a change. When you reserve with Camino Travel, you know that whatever comes up during your holidays, there are a whole group of experts ready to advise, to support and to handle any situation.
Our Operations Team has managed all sorts of emergencies and situations in a successful and prompt way. Emergencies like lost passports or closed airports due to volcanic eruptions, we are a phone call away, and we know what to do. You may want to go for a special dinner, or you may have a last minute emergency, our expert’s team will be at your back and call 24/
