Individual arrivals in San José.

This morning meet for breakfast and an orientation in the hotel restaurant. After breakfast, receive an introduction to tropical birding from a local expert. Check out of the hotel and travel by bus to La Paz Waterfalls, where you will have lunch and then visit the hummingbird gardens and butterfly farm. Continue to Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve, stopping at Cinchona en route. This afternoon take a hike in the reserve with your guide. Protecting 500 acres of rainforest, Selva Verde offers many covered walks, birding trails and lookout points. Selva Verde provides opportunities to see species such as the Keel-billed Toucan, Great Green Macaw, White-winged Becard, Sunbittern, Acadian Flycatcher, and Wood Thrush. Boots are available for use if the trails are muddy. Take an optional walk after dinner to discover nocturnal frogs and insects.

Early morning birding before breakfast. Then set out to explore the reserve again on a different trail. The Selva Verde Reserve is home to one of the largest almond trees in all of Central America, which provides habitat for the endangered Great Green Macaw. Return in time for lunch and later this afternoon visit Tirimbina Biological Reserve for a guided hike. The trails are designed to approach areas of high-interest for wildlife watching or viewing highlights of rainforest biodiversity. The greater proportion of the life of a rainforest thrives in the forest canopy. Tirimbina visitors experience a view of the richness of treetop flora and fauna from a 100-meter suspended canopy walkway spanning one of the many stream valleys in the reserve. After dinner at Tirimbina enjoy an informative talk on the lives of bats.

This morning depart early for the Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Biological Station. La Selva is world-renowned for scientific research on rainforest ecosystems and has been studying this forest for more than 50 years. Be on the lookout for the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Crested Guan, Great Tinamou, Pied Puffbird and Spectacled Owl as possible sightings. Return to the lodge for lunch. Your afternoon is free to participate in optional activities such as a Sarapiquí River boat ride, rafting or horseback riding (arranged at the reception after your arrival and paid on-site), spending time by the pool, or looking for avian visitors in Selva Verde’s botanical garden area. Later this afternoon enjoy a guided birdwatching hike or take in the river views from the patio overlooking the Sarapiquí River.

Early this morning check out of the lodge and depart for San Gerardo de Dota. En route visit El Tapir for birding. At a slightly higher elevation and with heavier rainfall, this area holds many specialty birds not typically found in the Sarapiquí region. Regular sightings include Lattice-tailed Trogon, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Streak-crowned Antvireo, Tawny-faced Gnatwren, White-throated Shrike-Tanager, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, and Tawny-crested, Emerald, and Blue-and-gold Tanagers. Rarities seen here on occasion include Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail, Red-fronted Parrotlet, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Black-crowned Antpitta, Gray-headed Piprites, and Sharpbill. Have lunch en route and then check in at Savegre. Located in San Gerardo de Dota, a small community in the Talamanca Mountains, Savegre sits at an elevation of 7,220 feet. The forest surrounding the hotel is home to massive oaks, colorful plants and an incredible variety of animal life. The forest is rich with insects, mammals, amphibians, and the pristine valley is a paradise for birdwatchers, with more than 170 species of birds. The crown jewel is the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal, which lives in the region year round. After settling in at the lodge, spend some time at the hummingbird feeders situated in front of reception and off the balcony of the lounge. The feeders are always active with resident Magnificent Hummingbird, Green Violetear with flared-blue cheek tufts, Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Volcano Hummingbird, and the tiny Scintillant Hummingbird. Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Violet Sabrewing are seasonally present, and even Flame-colored Tanager and Slaty Flowerpiercer come in to feed. Natural vegetation near the feeders offers great photographic opportunities.

Spend the morning exploring the upper trails at Savegre in search of Resplendent Quetzal and some of the other 169 species present here. (Note the beginning of the trail is about a one-mile uphill climb.) This forest is amazing to walk through. The large centennial oaks of the forest are laden with lichens and mosses that contrast with the colorful bromeliads. Explore the trails in search of such specialties as Spotted Wood-Quail, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Resplendent Quetzal, Collared Trogon, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner, Ochraceous Pewee, Barred Becard, Zeledonia, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia, just to name a few. After lunch, journey to Cerro Buena Vista in Los Quetzales National Park to look for Volcano Junco, among other high elevation (10,400 ft) species. Dinner at the lodge this evening.

Transfer to the airport in time to catch your afternoon flight home.