Costa Rica | Birding Sarapiquí, Caño Negro, and Arenal

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.

After breakfast, check out and make your way northeast toward the Sarapiquí region, with a stop at Nectar & Pollen Reserve for birding and then a visit to Frog Heaven to learn about native amphibians. Arrive at 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 Russet-naped 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 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.

Check out and depart for Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important wetlands and biological areas of the country, set in the lush wetlands of northern Costa Rica. This ecological jewel is natural habitat to over 350 species of birds as well as other wildlife such as the emerald basilisk, giant anteaters, river turtles and more. Keep an eye out for the Jabiru, Wood Stork, Agami Heron, Glossy and White Ibises, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Snail Kite, Anhinga, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, and Blue-winged Teal. You may also get the chance to see the endangered Nicaraguan Grackle. Lunch on arrival and afternoon boat trip to explore the area.

Early this morning take a boat ride in the wetlands. Return to the lodge for breakfast, and then head back out for more birding 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.

This morning after breakfast, depart for Arenal Observatory Lodge, 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. Spend time birding today for more spectacular local residents which 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.

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).

This morning, check out early and travel south toward San Ramón. Have breakfast, and then visit San Luis Canopy. A moderate network of about five miles of trails takes you through cloud forest with chances to see Lesser Violetear, Silver-throated, Bay-headed, and Emerald Tanagers, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Collared Trogon, and a variety of other hummingbirds, tanagers, trogons, toucans, flycatchers, and woodcreepers, among others. Have lunch and then continue to San José. Gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel this evening.

Travel to the airport for flights home.