Costa Rica | Post-trip Extension: Birding in Savegre

Say goodbye to the main group at the airport and continue on to the Savegre Valley. Stop at La Georgina en route. Birding at the lodge before dinner, if time permits.

Early birding before breakfast, then visit the private biological reserve at nearby Savegre Lodge, located in a small community in the Talamanca Mountains. This high-elevation habitat of mostly oak and highland cloud forest attracts a huge variety of avifauna. The large centennial oaks that cover the forest are laden with lichens and mosses that contrast with the colorful bromeliads. The forest is rich with insects, mammals, amphibians, and 170-plus bird species. Travel by 4x4 to the upper reserve and spend the morning looking for Spotted Wood-Quail, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Collared Trogon, Barred Becard, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. Head to Los Lagos in the afternoon in search of the Resplendent Quetzal. Dinner is followed by a guided night walk.

After breakfast, depart for Cerro Buena Vista, an area at the top of Cordillera de Talamanca that is famous for its diversity of endemic wildlife. Consisting of temperate forest and páramo habitats, the natural vegetation attracts species such as the rare Red-fronted Parrotlet, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Dusky Nightjar, Fiery-throated, Volcano, and Scintillant Hummingbirds, White-throated Mountaingem, Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Ochraceous Pewee, Silverythroated Jay, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Wrenthrush, and Resplendent Quetzal. Stop for lunch and birding at Paraiso Quetzal before heading to San Jose. Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Travel to the airport for flights home.