Costa Rica | Point and Shoot Photography: Osa Peninsula, Las Cruces, and Cloud Forests

Upon arrival at the San José International Airport, after clearing customs and collecting your luggage, you will be met and transferred to Hotel Bougainvillea. Arrival times may vary, so your evening meal will be on own. Check in starts at 3 pm.

After breakfast and orientation, check out and your journey begins! We will be traveling southwest today, to the well-known Osa Peninsula and Danta Corcovado Lodge. Part of our route takes us along the Pacific Ocean with stupendous views. We'll stop for lunch en route at a typical "tico" restaurant. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, we'll have time to settle in and perhaps explore our new surroundings before gathering for dinner. After dinner, your guide will offer a night hike in the area to see forms of nocturnal wildlife.

Meet your guide at dawn for early morning birding, followed by breakfast, and then "gear up" for the day in Corcovado National Park. Take a 4x4 truck about 5 miles to the park entrance, then hike about 4 miles within the part and visit Los Patos Ranger Station to enjoy incredible views, pristine forest, and the rich flora and fauna of the region. Walk in the footprints of the jaguars, see where all four species of monkeys live, or cross paths with wild pigs. This is an eco-challenge that will have you in awe of the neotropics, capturing the essence of what National Geographic considers to be "the most biologically intense place on Earth." At 164 square miles, it's the largest national park in Costa Rica, the largest primary forest on the American Pacific coastline, and one of the few remaining large areas of lowland tropical rainforests in the world. The area holds thousands of species of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the area.

This morning enjoy birding at the lodge. Journey around mangroves, rivers, pastures, secondary growth and primary forest to search for some of the endemic species of the region, such as Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, Fiery-billed Aracari, and the Yellow-billed Cotinga. This afternoon, explore some of the 75 acres at Danta Corcovado, just outside of Corcovado National Park. Hike through sections of heart-of-palm plantation, reforestation area, regeneration and secondary forests, as well as primary forests. You will also have the opportunity to see some of the 200-plus species that have been spotted in the property-maybe even jaguarundis, northern tamanduas (anteaters), three-toed sloths, and squirrel, howler, and white-faced capuchin monkeys.

After breakfast, we will start our journey by traveling east to Las Cruces Biological Station, near the town of San Vito with a boxed lunch. This Organization for Tropical Studies Station consists of a contiguous 632-acre forest reserve with over 7,000 species of plants that attract over 400 species of birds, including many hummingbirds, tanagers, warblers, and at least five different species of trogons. Las Cruces is home to Wilson Botanical Garden, the leading cycad and palm garden in Latin America, where you will see the work of the famous Brazilian landscape architect Burle Marx. This afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to explore your new surroundings before gathering with the station director to learn about the research and history of Las Cruces, followed by a family-style dinner shared with the researchers and students that may be staying at the station.

After a morning of guided birding and flora discovery at Las Cruces, as well as a tour of the greenhouses and sustainable practices going on at the station, spend the afternoon at a nearby property in San Vito. The area is located 3,214 feet above sea level, surrounded by mountains, with a cool climate with marshes that are home to the Masked Duck and the Masked "Chiriqui" Yellowthroat. The wetlands of San Vito attract many species of water birds, including wild ducks, gallinules, and White-throated Crakes. Dinner will be at the station, followed by a guided night hike.

After your early breakfast and birding in the area, depart for San Gerardo de Dota (3.5 hours) with a stop at Los Cusingos Bird Sanctuary, a farm-turned-private-reserve where famed ornithologist Alexander Skutch made his home. A bird sanctuary of great diversity, you may see Turquoise Cotinga, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Baird's Trogon, Black-hooded Antshrike, Orange-collared Manakin, Riverside Wren, Spot-crowned Euphonia, tanagers and antbirds. Continue to Trogon Lodge, located in the small community of San Gerardo de Dota in the Talamanca Mountains. The afternoon will be spent birding on the trails around the hotel.

This morning, continue to explore the cloud forest of Los Quetzales National Park. The high elevation habitat of mostly oak forest and highland cloud forest attracts a huge variety of avifauna, including the Tufted Flycatcher, Flame-colored Tanager, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Hummingbird (Talamanca sp.), Scintillant Hummingbird, Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Silvery-throated Jay, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Black-thighed Grosbeak, Collared Redstart, Sooty-capped Bush Tanager, Torrent Tyrannulet, Golden-browned Chlorophonia, Emerald (Blue-throated) Toucanet, Collared Trogon, Dusky Nightjar, and Ochraceous Wren. After lunch, you will have time on your own to enjoy the trails.

Another day in San Gerardo de Dota! Your guide will select the best trails to discover today, as his knowledge of the group will be well established. You may also wish to take the day for self-exploration and photo opportunities.

This morning you'll have a chance to explore on your own. Depart for San Jose stopping for lunch at Paraiso del Quetzal. This evening enjoy a delicious Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

At the appropriate time this morning you will be transferred to the San Jose International Airport for your flight out. Check out is at 12 pm.