Costa Rica | Birding the Northwest with Mario Córdoba

Upon arrival at the Liberia International Airport in northwestern Costa Rica, the group will meet and travel together to Hacienda Guachipelin. Please ensure incoming flights arrive by 3 pm. Dinner and orientation tonight at the hotel restaurant.

Start the day with birding around the lodge grounds, where you may see Turquoise-browed Motmot, Crested Caracara, Red-lored and White-fronted Parrots, toucans, guans, and woodpeckers. After breakfast, spend the day in Rincón de la Vieja National Park. More than 250 avian species have been recorded in the area, which is characterized by rivers and waterfalls, tropical dry forest, bubbling mud pools, and several volcanos, including the one for which the park is named. Elevations range from 2,000 feet to over 6,300 feet. Watch for Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Black-faced Solitaire, Long-tailed Manakin, Orange-chinned Parakeet, and Three-wattled Bellbird, among others. Return to the lodge this afternoon and review the daily bird checklist before dinner.

Rise early for birding around the lodge grounds, and then have breakfast before setting out for Santa Rosa National Park. Santa Rosa protects the largest remaining tract of tropical dry forest in Costa Rica; possible sightings include Plain-capped Starthroat, Elegant Trogon, Thicket Tinamou, parrots, and parakeets. Return to the lodge for afternoon birding, with time to review bird checklists before dinner.

Early birding around the lodge, then have breakfast and check out. Make your way south toward Palo Verde National Park. Covering nearly 49,000 acres, more than half of which consists of wetlands, the park is a wintering site for migratory waterfowl and provides habitat for 280 avian species, including the Scarlet Macaw, Jabiru, Great Curassow, and Long-tailed Manakin. Continue to the hotel and check in, with dinner at the hotel this evening.

This morning, depart for La Ensenada Sanctuary for a mangrove boat tour then birding in the afternoon at the nearby salt pans. Return to the lodge for a bird checklist meeting before dinner.

Begin the day with early morning birding. Check out of the hotel and travel to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and have lunch. This afternoon, take a boat ride in the wetlands then set out on foot for some 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.

Early this morning, take another boat ride in the wetlands before breakfast at the lodge. Go birding on a local trail, have lunch, and then depart for Celeste Mountain Lodge, on the northern side of Tenorio Volcano National Park. Arrive at the lodge with time to get settled. After dinner, set out on a hike in search of nocturnal species like Common Pauraque, Spectacled Owl, and Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl.

This morning, go birding at Tapir Valley Reserve. This private reserve was created when concerned citizens purchased the land over 10 years ago with the vision of preserving and protecting it. It consists of over 540 acres of primary and secondary forest. Look for target species like the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, King Vulture, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Lovely Cotinga, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black-crested Coquette, and Snowcap, among others. Receive a talk about the reserve. This afternoon, stop at Heliconia Lodge for some birding and lunch. Return to Celeste Mountain Lodge. Gather tonight for a final bird checklist meeting and farewell dinner.

Return to the airport in Liberia for flights home. Flights should be scheduled for 2:00 p.m. or later.