Costa Rica Birding Expedition: Central Valley and Northern Mountains

Upon arrival in San José, transfer to Hotel Bougainvillea. Located on 10 acres overlooking the city, the hotel's botanical gardens feature over 600 species of plants, including 22 types of bromeliads. They are a great place to see hummingbirds, motmots, tanagers, and more. This evening, join the group for a welcome orientation and dinner. Check-in starts at 3 pm.

Depart San José and begin the journey to the town of Turrialba in Costa Rica's beautiful Central Valley. Have lunch at a local restaurant along the way. Continue to Rancho Naturalista, considered one of the country's premier birding lodges. Enjoy the remainder of the day to explore either on your own or with your guide. Over 450 species of birds have been recorded in Rancho Naturalista's private reserve, including antbirds, tanagers, and woodcreepers, just to name a few. The lodge is also renowned for attracting hummingbird species such as Purple-crowned Fairy and Garden Emerald. A highlight species often seen on the grounds is the Snowcap hummingbird, one of the smallest birds in the world. After dinner, take a night hike in search of nocturnal species.

Today visit CATIE, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center. The campus offers aquatic environments, open vistas, forest patches, and botanical gardens that host a number of specialty birds. Next, visit Angostura Lake, the most sizeable body of water in the Turrialba area. A reservoir was developed as part of a major hydroelectric project on the Reventazón River. This area offers huge potential for migrants and over the last decade has played host to many regionally and nationally significant species. The reservoir has created habitat for species such as Snail Kite, Limpkin, bitterns, and crakes, as well as a multitude of heron and egret species and waterfowl during the winter months. The lake edge forest patches can offer interesting migrant warbler flocks, while adjacent pastures and second-growth offer opportunities to see species such as Southern Lapwing, Red-breasted Meadowlark, Slaty Spinetail, and the attractive Barred Antshrike. Return to the lodge for lunch and then spend the afternoon on the property, which is a farm and private reserve, or choose to visit some of the nearby areas, where over 450 species of birds have been recorded.

Take one more bird walk around the lodge early this morning. After breakfast, visit Copearte, the home and gardens of the artist, photographer, birder, and nature lover known as Cope. Have lunch, and then continue to Arenal. Arenal Observatory Lodge is the only eco-lodge situated between Lake Arenal and the massive Arenal stratovolcano, and the only hotel within the boundaries of Arenal National Park. Set on a ridge amid towering pine trees on the south side of the volcano, the lodge offers seven miles of well-maintained trails on more than 800 acres. It is a birder's paradise, with more than 400 species being recorded here. Some of the more spectacular local residents include the Three-wattled Bellbird, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, 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. Elevations range from 1,650 to 2,950 feet. You'll have time after arrival for birding at local feeders and on the trails.

Start the day with birding on the lodge trails. After breakfast, head into the town of La Fortuna to bird at Bogarín Trails for an opportunity to see White-throated and Uniform Crakes, plus plenty of Montezuma Oropendola, Buff-throated Saltator, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Crimson-collared and Scarlet-rumped Tanagers, Orange-chinned Parakeet, and more. After lunch in town, go birding on the lower trail and road near the lake at Arenal National Park.

Spend the day birding in the Arenal area including a visit to Eco-Center Danaus, a private ecological reserve where programs for conservation, training, environmental education, and sustainable production are developed. Here there will be birding along the grassland areas, the bridge over the Burío River, in the secondary forest and the natural spring in search of some of the 150 species recorded here.

This morning, board a covered boat and make the 45-minute journey across Lake Arenal, enjoying views of the lake, volcano, and Monteverde mountain range along the way. On the other side of the lake, board a bus and head to Montaña Monteverde, arriving in time for lunch. The hotel sits at an elevation of 5,000 feet and has a private 15-acre reserve; on a clear day, you can enjoy beautiful views all the way to the Nicoya Peninsula. After lunch, go birding around the lodge and in the nearby reserve.

This morning, visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Established in 1972 by the Tropical Science Center and Quakers from the local community, the reserve protects 10,193 acres of cloud forest and encompasses eight life zones. It is estimated that about 50 percent of Costa Rica's biodiversity can be found within the reserve, including over 400 species of birds, 120 different species of amphibians and reptiles, and 3,000 plant species. In the afternoon, visit the Bat Jungle. The site features more than 90 bats, representing 8 different species, housed in a simulated nighttime cloud forest environment. Glass windows give visitors the rare opportunity to look inside the forest enclosure and observe bats feeding, flying, and socializing. Special microphones capture the high-pitched bat vocalizations and broadcast them through speakers in the bat viewing area. Designed by a bat biologist, there are many exhibits teaching the importance of bat conservation.

Early this morning head to Curi-Cancha Reserve for birding. This private reserve protects 205 acres of virgin forest, secondary growth, and open pasture. The diverse habitats make it a great place for birding, with opportunities to see the Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Lesson's Motmot, Collared Trogon, and many others. Over 200 species of birds have been observed in the reserve. In the afternoon visit the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. The reserve is managed by the local public high school's Board of Directors. The 765-acre reserve is located along the Caribbean slope, which offers a large variety of flora and fauna and is also a good place to possibly see Resplendent Quetzal and Collared Trogon.

This morning, go birding at the lodge, then return to San José with lunch en route. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Check-out is at 12 pm.