Costa Rica | Birding the Wilds of the Osa Peninsula

Costa Rica | Birding the Wilds of the Osa Peninsula

About this trip

Remote and pristine, Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula boasts spectacular biological diversity: more than half of all the country’s species can be found here, including over 400 kinds of birds. Join expert birding guide Mario Córdoba on this 9-day adventure to seek out rare and endemic avifauna and other tropical wildlife. You’ll traverse primary and secondary rainforest, mangrove and marine habitats in the region’s parks and reserves for a once-in-a-lifetime birding experience.

Highlights

  • Observe some of the Osa’s abundant bird species during guided hikes within Punta Rio Claro National Wildlife Refuge and Corcovado National Park, once referred to as "the most biologically intense place on Earth" by National Geographic.
  • Visit the Yellow-billed Cotinga Sanctuary, which protects two habitats critical for the survival of this endangered, endemic species.
  • Look for pelagic species and go snorkeling around Caño Island, a biological reserve known for its rich marine life, and if the park is open, go ashore for an exploratory hike.
  • Learn about conservation and climate change initiatives taking place on the Osa Peninsula during a group discussion.
PLEASE NOTE: As safety and security are our highest priority, we have adopted extensive protocols to address COVID-19. Our field leaders are vaccinated and we require our travelers to be vaccinated. We follow strict field hygiene practices which are outlined on our website. If required, we arrange for Covid testing at the end of your program.

Reserve Risk-free - Registrations made for travel departing between now and December 31, 2022 are fully refundable with no cancellation penalties until the final payment deadline (95 days before departure). We strongly recommend purchasing travel protection.

San Jose

May 4, 2022

Upon arrival, you will be met and taken to the hotel. (Please schedule flights to arrive no later than 4 pm.) This evening, attend an orientation and welcome dinner at the hotel. Check-in is available starting at 3 pm.

Dinner included
Overnight at Hotel Bougainvillea

Osa Peninsula

May 5, 2022

Begin today with birding around the 10-acre grounds of the hotel before breakfast. Some interesting possibilities are Vaux's Swift, Hoffmann's Woodpecker, Squirrel Cuckoo, White-tailed Kite and if we are lucky, White-eared Ground-Sparrow. Have lunch and then depart for the airport in time for the afternoon flight to Drake Bay, where we'll transfer by bus to Punta Marenco Lodge. The lodge sits on a hill about 165 feet above sea level and about 200 feet from the coastline, facing Caño Island and surrounded by its own Punta Rio Claro National Wildlife Refuge. Gather to review the bird checklist and have dinner, followed by a discussion about the conservation and climate change initiatives that are taking place on the Osa Peninsula.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Punta Marenco Lodge

Osa Peninsula

May 6, 2022

After an early breakfast, gear up for a day of birding in Corcovado National Park. Corcovado has been referred to by National Geographic as "the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity." At 164 square miles, it's the largest national park in Costa Rica, the largest primary forest on the American Pacific coastline, and one of the few remaining large areas of lowland tropical rainforest in the world. The park holds thousands of species of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the region. Board a boat and travel along the coast for approximately 30 minutes, depending on the water conditions, to arrive at the San Pedrillo Station. We will hike nearby trails into the jungle and visit to a spectacular waterfall, where a refreshing swim will be more than welcome after the walk. Return to the lodge for a late lunch and time to explore the lodge grounds. (Note: Most boat trips in Corcovado involve "wet landings," i.e. disembarking in ankle- to knee-deep water, so plan to have water shoes in addition to shoes appropriate for hiking.) Tonight, gather for a bird checklist meeting and dinner.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Punta Marenco Lodge

Osa Peninsula

May 7, 2022

Spend the day looking for wildlife and birding in the 1,235-acre Punta Rio Claro National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was formerly known as Marenco Biological Reserve until 1997, when the owners donated the land to the Costa Rican park service to protect the rainforest and beach near Drake Bay and to offer protection for many mammals, birds and sea life - notably the Scarlet Macaw, squirrel monkey, black-mantled howler monkey, Baird's tapir, giant anteater, white-lipped peccary, jaguar, and humpback whale

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Punta Marenco Lodge

Osa Peninsula

May 8, 2022

Rise early for birding and breakfast. Then with a packed lunch in hand, our boat will pick us up for the day trip to Caño Island, where there will be optional snorkeling. If the park is open, go ashore for a walk around the interesting island, which has an Indigenous burial ground. Look out for pelagic species, as well as whales and dolphins, on our return to the mainland. Disembark at Drake Bay and then travel by vehicle to Danta Corcovado Lodge, on the east side of Corcovado National Park.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Danta Corcovado Lodge

Osa Peninsula

May 9, 2022

Enjoy birding on various trails in the area today. Visit the Yellow-billed Cotinga Sanctuary, 30 protected acres that help connect mangrove and inland rainforest habitats, both of which this endangered, endemic bird needs for survival. Also take a mangrove boat tour. Other targets today include the Isthmian Wren and other endemics and near-endemics such as the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager and Fiery-billed Aracari.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Danta Corcovado Lodge

Osa Peninsula

May 10, 2022

Continue with morning and afternoon bird walks in Corcovado National Park near the Los Patos entrance. Be on the lookout for Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner, Blue-crowned and Red-capped Manakins, and White-vented and Spot-crowned Euphonias, among many others.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Danta Corcovado Lodge

San Jose

May 11, 2022

This morning, take a guided hike on the property. Have lunch then check out and travel to Puerto Jiménez for the mid-afternoon flight back to San José. Attend a farewell dinner this evening.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Overnight at Villa San Ignacio

Farewell!

May 12, 2022

Depart for the airport this morning for flights home. Hotel check-out time is 12 pm.

Breakfast- included