Classic Birding | January 30 - February 13, 2027

15 day/14 night

Guide: Paco Madrigal

Experience the very best of Costa Rica on this expertly guided 15-day birding adventure, designed to maximize species diversity while maintaining a relaxed, comfortable pace. From misty highland cloud forests to the Caribbean lowlands and the Central Pacific coast this tour visits the country’s most productive habitats. Highlights include Carara National Park, Savegre’s oak forests, Arenal Volcano and La Selva Biological Station. Led by a full-time professional birding guide, the tour includes all lodging, pre-arranged meals, transportation, park entrances, boat excursions, and optional owling outings. With opportunities to see iconic species such as Resplendent Quetzal, Great Green Macaw, Snowy Cotinga, and hundreds more, this is a comprehensive, worry-free birding experience for serious birders and nature enthusiasts alike.​

 

Tour Includes

• 14 nights of lodging and all pre-arranged meals, beginning with breakfast on Day 2 and ending with breakfast on Day 15

• All ground transportation from Day 2–14 in a modern, spacious, air-conditioned vehicle with large, clear windows ideal for wildlife viewing

• Two airport transfers:

  • Arrival transfer on January 30

  • Departure transfer on February 13

• Full-time private bilingual professional guide, specializing in birds and natural history (Day 2–14)

• Entrance fees to all parks and reserves listed in the itinerary

• Owling excursions: one optional night outing at each location, weather permitting and at the guide’s discretion

• Taxes (airport taxes and gratuities for guide, driver, and local staff not included)

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All accommodations are comfortable, clean, and feature en-suite bathrooms. Meals are thoughtfully pre-arranged to maximize time in the field.

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Entrances Included

• Carara National Park – 2 day pass

• Tárcoles River Mangrove Boat Tour

• Paraíso de Quetzal – entrance and lunch

• Savegre Oak Forest Reserve – entrance

• La Selva Biological Station – 1 full day and 1 half-day entrance

• Cope’s Garden – entrance

• Full access to the Arenal Observatory Lodge trail system

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Focus

This is a classic birding and wildlife tour featuring unhurried walks over mostly easy terrain. That said, some trails—particularly in the Talamanca Mountains and Arenal National Park—can be steep, root-strewn, and muddy at times. Conditions in the lowlands are often hot and humid, which can make walking more demanding. For these reasons, the tour is best suited to participants with an average level of fitness who enjoy walking. As wildlife activity peaks in the early morning hours, pre-dawn starts will be encouraged to make the most of each day. That said, all walks are optional, and excellent birding can usually be enjoyed right from the lodges.

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DETAILED ITINERARY

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General Notes

• Early starts are planned most mornings to maximize birding opportunities while maintaining a comfortable pace.

• Optional owling outings will be offered one night at each location (weather and conditions permitting).

• Optional evening checklist sessions will be held to review daily bird and wildlife sightings.

• Exact meal and outing times will be announced by the guide during the tour to allow flexibility and take advantage of optimal field conditions.

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January 30 – Arrival in San José

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Upon arrival in San José, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure—relax by the pool or explore the hotel gardens to recover from your travels.
Possible species: White-eared Ground Sparrow, Lesson's Motmot, Chestnut-capped Warbler, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker.

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January 31 – Cerro de la Muerte & San Gerardo de Dota

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Travel to the highlands of Cerro de la Muerte, stopping for lunch en route. The afternoon will be spent birding the misty cloud forest at Paraíso Quetzal, home to the iconic Resplendent Quetzal.
Other target species include Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Large-footed Finch, Peg-billed Finch, and Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush.
While in the area, we will visit the páramo habitat at approximately 3,500 meters in search of the Volcano Junco. Overnight in the charming valley of San Gerardo de Dota.

 

February 1 & 2 – Savegre Valley

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Spend the next couple of days exploring the gardens, riparian zones, and old-growth tropical oak cloud forest surrounding the lodge. Birding along the Savegre River may yield Flame-colored Tanager, Collared Trogon, Torrent Tyrannulet, Scintillant Hummingbird, and White-throated Mountain-Gem.
Additional possibilities include Black-faced Solitaire, Spotted Wood-Quail, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Ochraceous Wren, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, and Resplendent Quetzal.

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February 3 – Central Pacific Lowlands

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Descend to the Central Pacific lowlands, arriving at a lodge located near Carara National Park. Afternoon birding on forest trails may reveal Scarlet Macaws, Tiger-herons, and a wealth of lowland species.

 

February 4 & 5 – Carara National Park & Tárcoles River

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Explore Carara National Park, a unique transition zone between dry forest and humid rainforest ecosystems. Highlights include Orange-collared Manakin, multiple species of trogons, antbirds, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, and Royal Flycatcher.
While in the area we will also look for Gray-cowled Wood-Rail, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Melodious Blackbird, Spectacled Owl, and shorebirds.
One afternoon features a two-hour mangrove boat tour on the Tárcoles River, offering excellent views of crocodiles, waterbirds, raptors and Scarlet Macaws.

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February 6,7 & 8 – Arenal Region

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​Spend three nights in the Arenal Volcano area, Arenal Volcano area, a spectacular birding hotspot. Trails around the lodge offer chances for Crimson-collared Tanager, White Hawk, Brown-hooded Parrot, Golden-olive Woodpecker, three species of toucans, and numerous hummingbirds among many other spectacular species. 

 

One evening, we will go owling in search of Black-and-white Owl and Mottled Owl.

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February 9 – Sarapiquí Lowlands

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Travel to the Caribbean lowlands of Sarapiquí, birding along the river and surrounding rainforest. This biologically rich region is one of the best places to encounter Great Green Macaw, as well as Sunbittern, Black-faced Grosbeak, and Russet-napped Wood-Rail. Other highlights include Rufous Motmot, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Bay Wren and Red-throated Ant-tanager. Wildlife may include sloths, peccaries, and three species of monkeys.

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February 10 & 11 – La Selva Biological Station

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Spend a couple of days at La Selva Biological Station run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), clearly a highlight of the tour. The station is among the four most famous tropical research facilities in the world. We will see an outstanding abundance of wildlife. The station is home to more than 420 bird species, more than 500 species of butterflies, 55 species of snakes, and 120 species of mammals. Targets include tinamous (three species possible), Rufous Motmot, trogons, caciques, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and Snowy Cotinga.
Mammals such as peccaries, agoutis, coatis, sloths, and monkeys are frequently seen, making for exceptional wildlife viewing and photography.​​​​​

 

​February 12 – Return to San José

 

Return to San José for a farewell dinner and overnight stay.

 

February 13 – Departure

 

Transfer to the airport for international departures.

 

Important Notes & Conditions

• Meals are pre-arranged and prepaid so if the group wishes to make changes to the schedule that result in missing a pre-arranged meal, there will be no refund for the missed meal and guests will assume the additional cost of the missed meal elsewhere for themselves, the guide and driver.

• Participants must bring a reusable water bottle and refill water bottles at filtered water dispensers in lodges and on the bus to reduce our use of plastic. Single-use plastic bottles are not allowed in the National Parks

• Any additional airport transfers that are not on the arrival or departure date for this tour have an additional charge of $60 per transfer (if you require a private transfer from any other location, this will be quoted upon request and added as an additional item on your invoice)

• International airfare not included

• Early check-in (usually before 3pm) and late check-out (usually after 10am) fees are not included. Early check-in / late check-out must be requested before final invoicing (service contingent upon hotel availability and is not guaranteed)

• Cotinga Tours will not cover any additional costs that could result from flight changes such as schedule changes, flight cancellations, airstrip closures, flight rerouting or other situations that are out of our hands, including extra costs in transfers, lodging, or costs due to missed/rerouted flights that may result from these changes.  All additional costs due to flight related changes will be covered by the participant

• Each participant is responsible to make sure they meet the legal requirements for entry/travel to Costa Rica, including up to date and proper travel documents and visas when applicable based on the traveler's passport issuing country.

• Non-smokers preferred. Costa Rica has strict laws on smoking in public. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas away from the main public amenities. This means that there is no smoking on public property, inside the hotel facility, trail systems or reserves. 

• Physical Fitness Disclaimer: Our tours involve a moderate level of daily physical activity. Participants should be comfortable standing for several hours at a time in the field, sometimes in hot and humid weather conditions. Daily walking is typically 1–2 miles at a slow pace on generally flat terrain, though some slight and gradual inclines may be encountered. Participants should also be able to comfortably navigate stairs. Please note that many of our itineraries include high-elevation locations reaching up to 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) above sea level. Our birding and wildlife tours feature unhurried walks over mostly easy terrain. That said, some trails—particularly in the Talamanca Mountains and Arenal National Park—can be steep, root-strewn, and muddy at times. Conditions in the lowlands are often hot and humid, which can make walking more demanding. For these reasons, our tours are best suited to participants with an average level of fitness who enjoy walking. If any of the above could present an issue, you are required to inform us prior to booking.

• Participants must disclose in their registration form: any health conditions that could prohibit them from fully participating in the tour and/or interfere with their or other participants' ability to enjoy the tour. Failure to do so can result in expulsion from the tour and will not be eligible for a refund of any portion of the tour and any costs related to an expulsion will be the sole responsibility of the participant.

• No refund for any unused entrances or tours

• Tips to guides and hotel staff not included (tipping is customary, expected and merit-based in Costa Rica): group tours (10+ participants): $10-12  per day per participant for guide(s) and $5-8 per day per participant for the driver; $ 1 per day for hotel maid service and $2 per service for porters for 1 bag and an additional $1 per bag. What guests decide to tip within these guidelines should be based on the merits of the service provided.

• Alcoholic beverages and costs of a personal nature are not included

• We highly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical care, medical evacuation, and loss or damage to optics and equipment, in order to protect your investment.

• Non-refundable registration deposit: $850 USD per person, unless otherwise stated in the tour quote.

• All tour balances are due 90 days prior to the arrival date, unless otherwise stated in the tour quote.

• Cancellations and respective refunds are according to the following schedule (all cancellations must be received in writing):

• All cancellations must be received by email in writing to the emails: croffice@cotingatours.com with copy to info@cotingatours.com and inquiries@cotingatours.com

• Cancellations received before 90 days prior to the arrival date, the client receives a full refund less the non-refundable deposit.

• Cancellations received between 90 and 0 days prior to the arrival date are non-refundable.

 

Pandemic and Illness Detailed Policies 

• In case of illness or medical emergency including injury, all medical costs and any extra costs associated with a medical issue (lodging, transportation, meals, etc) are the responsibility of the participant. Cotinga Tours will not be responsible for any costs incurred. Cotinga Tours will assist participants in finding alternative accommodations if participants are denied entrance into a hotel in their itinerary due to illness. Participants will pay for these additional accommodations and transfers directly to the hotel and transportation companies.

• If a specific test or other testing is necessary while in Costa Rica, extra costs incurred--transportation, medical costs, test cost, alternative lodging and meals will be covered by the participants.

• The above pandemic and illness related travel requirements could change at any time due to government mandates, please check with us.

• In case of a travel emergency within Costa Rica, Cotinga Tours will keep communication with the participants. *In terms of a travel emergency that affects travel to or from the country of origin, it will be the responsibility of the participant to communicate with Cotinga Tours so we can assist. Any costs incurred related to delays, changes or cancellations due for medical reasons, weather or airline delays will be the responsibility of the participants to cover. 

• Traveling during any pandemic does come with risks. Cotinga Tours as well as the hotel properties, tour operators, and restaurants follows the sanitary policies enforced by the Costa Rican Ministerio de Salud.