Arrive in San José and transfer to the Hotel Bougainvillea. Dinner is on own tonight in the hotel restuarant. Early arrivals will have a chance to explore and bird the 10-acre gardens this afternoon. Hotel check in time is 3:00 p.m. Elevation is 3,100 feet.
This morning, meet for breakfast in the hotel restaurant, followed by a Welcome Orientation and an introductory presentation on tropical birding from a local expert. Check out of the hotel and start your journey to the Sarapiqui region. En route, stop for birding at Cinchona and Virgen del Socorro if road conditions permit. Have lunch en route. The Sarapiqui area is situated in the Caribbean lowlands, at elevations ranging from 180 to 220 feet. Birding in the area may yield the Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, Crimson-collared Tanager, Wood Thrush, Crowned Woodnymph, and Russet-naped Wood-Rail. Also good chances to see the endangered Great Green Macaw, a species that seems to be recovering thanks to area conservation efforts. They can occasionally be found feeding on the giant fruiting almond trees in the rainforest.
Depart at dawn for the world-famous Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Biological Station for early morning birding in the tropical wet forest. La Selva consists of approximately nearly 4,000 acres of land, more than half of which is virgin forest. The area averages more than 13 feet of rainfall each year and is one of the longest-studied rainforests in the world. More than half of Costa Rica's recorded bird species have been spotted at La Selva, including the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Red-capped Manakin, Great Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Striped Cuckoo, Slaty Spinetail, Yellow-tailed Oriole, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar. Return to the lodge for lunch. Your afternoon is free to participate in optional activities such as whitewater rafting or horseback riding (arranged at reception upon arrival and paid on site), spending time by the pool, or looking for avian visitors on the hotel property. Later this afternoon, enjoy an optional guided birding hike.
Begin the day with birding around the hotel grounds. Depart for Copearte - the home and gardens of the artist, photographer, birder, and nature-lover known as Cope. Return to the lodge for lunch. Later this afternoon, take a boat ride on the Sarapiquí River. While winding down the river bordered with forests and cultivated fields, look for aquatic animals, birds, and reptiles in their natural habitat. You may also see residents going about their daily lives and witness the impact local banana plantations have on this watershed.
Depart for Arenal Observatory Lodge this morning, with a stop at La Fortuna's EcoCenter Danaus. This private ecological reserve also develops programs for conservation, training, environmental education and sustainable production. There are a number of optimal birding locations to explore; the grassland areas, the bridge over the Burío River, the secondary forest, and the natural spring are all excellent vantage points to seek out some of the 150 species found here. Have lunch in La Fortuna and continue to the hotel. Arenal Observatory is the only eco-lodge situated between Lake Arenal and the massive Arenal stratovolcano, and the only hotel within the boundaries of Arenal National Park. Set on a ridge amid towering pine trees on the south side of the volcano, the lodge offers seven miles of well-maintained trails on more than 800 acres. It is a birder's paradise, with more than 400 species being recorded here. Some of the more spectacular local residents include the Three-wattled Bellbird, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Laughing Falcon, Red-lored Parrot, Great Curassow, Northern Jacana, Steely-vented Hummingbird, and Keel-billed Toucan. There is also plenty of other wildlife in the area, including three species of monkeys. Elevations range from 1,650 to 2,950 feet.
Early this morning go birding on the lodge's trails. Have breakfast, and then depart for Arenal Sky Adventures for a walk on their hanging bridges. Experience the tranquil beauty of Arenal Rainforest on Sky Adventures' hanging bridges and nature walk. This 2.5 mile trail offers a serene journey through a vibrant ecosystem, with suspension bridges granting intimate views of the forest canopy. Venture deep into these tropical woods for a unique nature encounter. Traverse hanging bridges for panoramic treetop vistas, then explore the forest floor on well-kept paths. The trail includes uneven terrain and varied elevations, adding a sense of adventure to your memorable forest exploration. Return to the lodge for lunch, and this afternoon continue birding on the lodge's trails.
Travel to Villa Lapas today, stopping en route for a boat ride along the Tárcoles River to watch for both water and shore birds, like the Double-striped Thick-knee, Roseate Spoonbill, jacanas, and ducks. The Tárcoles River basin is one of the most important in the Pacific coastal region; it drains virtually the entire western side of the Central Valley. Tárcoles hosts an amazing diversity of wildlife along its banks. The river is a perfect place to catch a glimpse of mangrove specialties such as the rare Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Mangrove Hummingbird, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Panama Flycatcher, Mangrove Vireo, Mangrove (Yellow) Warbler, and Scrub Greenlet. Perhaps the most famous of all its inhabitants are the enormous American crocodiles that live on its banks. Have lunch then continue to the hotel. Later, take a guided night walk to observe owls.
Take an early morning bird walk before breakfast. Then, set out for a full day at Carara National Park, one of the birding hotspots of Costa Rica. The park is located in the Central Pacific region, one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the country. The intersection of northwestern tropical dry forest with the humid rainforest of the South Pacific region, concentrated in a relatively small area, produces an interesting combination of species from both ecosystems. Keep your eyes open for Golden-naped Woodpecker, Baird's Trogon, Orange-collared Manakin, Riverside Wren, Black-hooded Antshrike, Dot-winged Antwren, Long-billed Gnatwren, and Chestnut-backed Antbird. Dinner at the lodge.
After breakfast, continue to Cerro de la Muerte, 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 Mountain-gem, Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-throated Jay, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Wrenthrush, and Resplendent Quetzal. Look for these species and others at Cerro de la Muerte en route to Savegre. Continue birding at the lodge before dinner.
The Savegre biological reserve is 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. Spend the morning looking for Spotted Wood-Quail, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Collared Trogon, Barred Becard, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. In the afternoon, search for the Resplendent Quetzal. Dinner is followed by a guided night walk.
Depart early in the morning for group transfer to San José and the airport. Flights should be scheduled to depart after 1 pm.