Costa Rica, from the Caribbean lowlands to the Cloud Forest: Sarapiquí, Bosque de Paz, Arenal, and Caño Negro

Upon arrival in San José this afternoon, you will be met at the airport and taken to the hotel. Attend a welcome briefing and dinner this evening. Check-in starts at 3 pm.

This morning, check out and head northwest for Bosque de Paz Lodge, arriving in time for lunch. This afternoon, explore the property grounds. Covering about 1,000 acres, the Bosque de Paz private reserve comprises premontane and cloud forest near the Continental Divide, at an elevation of about 4,500 feet. More than 400 bird species have been recorded here. If we are lucky during our visit, we may see Resplendent Quetzal, Scaled Antpitta, Black Guan, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Three-wattled Bellbird, Wrenthrush, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Black faced-Solitaire, American Dipper, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, and abundant hummingbirds.

This morning, visit Catarata del Toro, a picturesque waterfall where we may have opportunities to photograph hummingbirds. Spend the rest of the day photographing in the gardens, at the hummingbird feeders, and on the trails at the hotel.

This morning after breakfast, depart for Arenal Observatory Lodge, with a stop at La Fortuna's Eco-Center Danaus, a private ecological reserve where programs for conservation, training, environmental education, and sustainable production are developed. Take time for photography along the grassland areas, the bridge over the Burío River, in the secondary forest, and near the natural spring in search of some of the reserve's 150 species. Have lunch in the town of La Fortuna before continuing to the hotel, arriving mid-afternoon. Arenal Observatory is the only ecolodge situated between Lake Arenal and the massive Arenal stratovolcano, as well as the only hotel within Arenal National Park. Set on a ridge amid towering pine trees and beautiful rainforest on the south side of the volcano, the lodge boasts seven miles of well-maintained trails on over 800 acres. Elevations range from 1,650 to 2,950 feet. The lodge is a paradise for photographers and birders alike, with more than 400 species recorded here. Some of the more spectacular local residents include the Three-wattled Bellbird, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Sunbittern, 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. You'll have time after arrival for photography at local feeders and on the trails.

Spend a full day around the trails and gardens at Arenal Observatory. Some folks may want to take advantage of the variety of spa services available (to be paid on site).

Checkout and depart for Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge in northern Costa Rica. Arrive in time for lunch. Spend time this afternoon exploring the property.

Early this morning take a boat ride in the wetlands. Return to the lodge for breakfast, and then head back out for photography in the reserve. Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a Ramsar wetland providing important habitat for thousands of migratory water birds including storks, spoonbills, ibis, anhinga, ducks, and cormorants. This afternoon take another boat ride in the wetlands. Tonight take a guided walk to look for nocturnal wildlife.

After breakfast, depart for Sarapiquí and Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve in the Caribbean lowlands, at elevations ranging from 180 to 220 feet. Founded by the Holbrook family in 1985, the lodge is renowned for its commitment to ecological preservation and sustainability. Receive a brief orientation to the facilities and spend time photographing and exploring the property before dinner. The reserve is home to a large assortment of avian life, including several types of herons, egrets, hawks, falcons, macaws, hummingbirds, flycatchers, warblers, sparrows, and tanagers. Specific species often spotted at Selva Verde include the Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, Crimson Tanager, Wood Thrush, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, and Gray-cowled Wood-Rail. Selva Verde is also home to the endangered Great Green Macaw, which 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 2,500 acres of land, more than half of which is primary forest. The area averages over 13 feet of rainfall each year, making it a prime spot to photograph water birds. Over 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 and in the afternoon travel to Don Alvaro's farm to photograph macaws in flight. This evening, after dinner, take a walk in search of nocturnal species.

Begin the day with optional birding around the Selva Verde grounds. Then visit Copearte - the home and gardens of the artist, photographer, birder, and nature-lover known as Cope - to photograph bats, owls, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Return to the lodge for lunch, then travel to Puerto Viejo to board our boat and take a ride on the Puerto Viejo (if water levels allow) and Sarapiquí Rivers. Look for aquatic animals, birds, and reptiles in their natural habitat. This afternoon, get some great photographs and learn about native amphibians at Frog's Heaven.

Spend one last morning photographing the grounds and feeders at Selva Verde. The group will return to San José airport for afternoon flights home. Please schedule flights to depart after 1 pm.