ITINERARY:
Day 1 – Arrival – San Jose – February 20th  
Arrival in San Jose on Saturday the 20^th of February and transfer the short distance to our hotel. Note that this is an arrival day and depending on your flight arrival time there may be opportunities to bird the lodge grounds in the afternoon. Airport transfer included.
Night San Jose. D

Day 2 – San Jose – Arenal – Feb 21st  
After breakfast we will head towards Arenal Volcano. Along the way we will make a quick stop at café where they have some feeders that attract a bedazzling array of colourful tanagers, including Emerald, Speckled, Silver-throated and sometimes Blue-and-gold. There could also be stunning  Red-legged Honeycreepers, Green Honeycreepers and Black-cheeked Woodpecker. Another stop near to Arenal will give great photo opportunities of various birds and our best chances to see White-throated Crake, Three-toed Sloth, Black-and-white Owls and even Keel-billed Motmot. Moving on, and only if the clouds are high, we can see the almost perfectly shaped cone of Arenal Volcano, which soars 1,633 meters (5.500 ft) above sea level. Although the main attraction in this region is the volcano, the area offers fantastic bird watching opportunities, with forest trails, tumbling streams and a huge lake. There are gardens and forest trails with even more wildlife, and we will spend the following days around the lodge looking at the feeders as well as checking out the trails and flowers that attract a wealth of colourful birds. A nearby stream often holds Fasciated Tiger-Heron and occasionally Sunbittern, while forest edges could treat us to Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Collared Aracari, White-throated Magpie-Jays, Keel-billed Toucan, Slaty Spinetail, Bright-rumped Attila, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and possibly Bare-crowned Antbird, White-fronted Nunbird or the rare Keel-billed Motmot.
Night Arenal  B,L,D

Day 3 – Arenal Observatory Lodge – Feb 22nd 
No doubt we’ll be up early checking the lodge grounds and hopefully marvelling at the sight of the volcano. We will then spend most of the day birding the grounds and trails and some nearby tracts of forest. The entire area is a haven for birds and we will search out rarely seen species such as Keel-billed Motmot, Lanceolated Monklet, Ocellated Antbird, and probably only hear Thicket Antpitta. Easy viewing of the fruit feeders and flowers should include Emerald, Crimson-collared, Hepatic, Blue-grey, Golden-hooded, Scarlet-rumped and Bay-headed Tanagers, while hummingbirds amongst the flowering gardens should include Black-crested Coquette, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Crowned Woodnymph, Purple-crowned Fairy, Stripe-throated Hermit, White-necked Jacobin and maybe Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer. Many other birds will keep us busy such as Montezuma’s Oropendola, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Red-legged and Green Honeycreepers, Orange-bellied Trogon, Spotted Antbird, Crested Guan and Great Currasow. The shy yet vocal Nightingale Wren will be sought, and we could get to grips with Black-bellied Wren, Bare-crowned Antbird, Trilling Gnatwren, Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush and maybe the rarely seen Bare-necked Umbrellabird. White-nosed Coatis will entertain us and we could even see Northern Tamandua. It will be a busy day!
Night at Arenal  B,L,D

Day 4 – Arenal – Laguna Lagarto – Feb 23rd 
This morning after a final look around the gardens, we will leave Arenal and head towards our next destination of Laguna Lagarto. We hope to take a late lunch at a new nature centre where we have the opportunity to see White-collared Manakins from well positioned hides, plus feeders that attract Collared Aracaris, tanagers, Lesson’s Motmot and Black-cheeked Woodpecker. And if we are lucky a family of Striped Owls may be viewable! Continuing on we may see our first Great Green Macaws or the spectacular King Vulture. We will then arrive at our lodge where we are immediately drawn to the deck which overlooks a large pond and some fruit feeders that attract species such as Brown-hooded Parrot, Keel-billed and Yellow-throated Toucans, Collared Aracari, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, and various euphonias, tanagers and honeycreepers. Get your cameras ready as the photo opportunities are fantastic. Depending on the time we may just relax and watch the birds coming to the feeder, or take a short walk on one of the forest trails.
Night Laguna Lagarto  B,L,D

Day 5 – Laguna Lagarto – Feb 24th 
Today we will be birding around along the road and nearby to the Laguna Lagarto Lodge. We can expect great views of several birds that come to their feeders, such as Keel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Toucan, Collared Aracari, Golden-hooded Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Plain-coloured Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Brown-hooded Parrot, Cinnamon and Black-cheeked Woodpecker. With over 400 species of birds in this 1,250 Acres of virgin tropical rainforest, we have a lot to look forward to. The lodge’s trails, flower-filled gardens, and very active feeders offer excellent birding and photography opportunities, and in addition to this we will have a special opportunity to view the impressive King Vulture at a feeding station, where views of these impressive vultures are simply incredible. There will be plenty of other exciting birds to look for today including Great Green Macaw as well as Scarlet Macaw, Montezuma Oropendola, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Olive-backed Euphonia, Black-cowled Oriole, Pied Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird and on the small ponds and lagoons possibly the beautiful Agami Heron or Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Least Grebe, Green Ibis, Ringed and Green Kingfishers as well as an array of colourful and very interesting dragonflies, including the localised Amazon Sapphirewing. In the forest we can look for Royal Flycatcher and Red-capped Manakins, and if we are luck, as we have been in the past we may get to see the resident Central American Pygmy Owl.
Night Laguna Lagarto  B,L,D

Day 6 – Laguna Lagarto – Cano Negro – Feb 25th 
After some final looks and photography from the deck we will set off towards our next lodge on the Cano Negro River. This wonderful park is a stark contrast from where we have been and it borders Nicaragua to the north, and our lodge is nestled right beside the Cano Negro River, another haven for many species of birds, including the localised Nicaraguan Grackle, one of our main target birds that we will be looking for both this afternoon and tomorrow. There are many superb species within close vicinity of the lodge and we will search for localised Spot-breasted Wrens, Grey-headed Dove, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and Olive-throated Parakeet. After a quick lunch we will set off on the short drive to an area of vast wetland where we will take an afternoon boat trip along the narrow river to hopefully get us close to many wetland species and in particular the elusive Pinnated Bittern and even more elusive Yellow-breasted Crake, both of which we have had 100% luck with on all of our visits. There will also be possibilities for Least Bittern, flocks of Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Snail Kite and several species of kingfisher, Nicaraguan Seed Finch, Boat-billed Herons and Olive-crowned Yellowthroat. As the sun sets we will drive back to our lodge looking for night birds such as Pauraque, Common and Great Potoo and maybe even Striped Owl. 
Night Cano Negro  B,L,D

Day 7 – Cano Negro – La Selva – Feb 26th 
This morning we will make an early start for our boat trip on the Cano Negro river. This excellent trip will give us chances for many birds including all five species of kingfisher and if the water levels are not high, the much sought after Sungrebe. This is one of the only places we can find the very localised Nicaraguan Grackle a bird associated with wetlands and reedbeds. Depending on water levels we could also find the striking Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Green Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Jabiru, Black-collared Hawk, Russet-naped Wood Rail, Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Swallow and a host of other species, and if we are fortunate we could even see Neotropical Otter. After this we will return to the lodge for a late breakfast before setting off toward our next destination of Sarapiqui. Along the way we spend time searching the open grasslands for the Nicaraguan Seed-Finch and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture if we had not seen them the previous day. Continuing on we will arrive at our very nice lodge where we will take a leisurely look around the gardens and the feeders. After dinner we will take a look at the frog ponds where we should see the iconic Red-eyed Tree Frog and the striking Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog.  
Night at La Quinta Country Inn  B,L,D

Day 8 – La Selva OTS – Feb 27th 
After an early breakfast we will spend the full day at the nearby La Selva OTS. At the confluence of two major rivers in the Caribbean lowlands of northern Costa Rica, La Selva comprises 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) of tropical wet forests and surrounding lands. It averages 4 metres of rainfall that is spread rather evenly throughout the year. Located within the tropical and premontane wet forest, the Station has about 73% of its area under primary tropical rain forest. It was purchased in 1968 by the Organization for Tropical Studies and declared a private biological reserve and station. Since then, it has become one of the most important sites in the world for research on tropical rain forests. For the birder it is a haven for a wide range of sought after species. Before entering the reserve we will spend time birding the approach road an area always alive with birds and often a surprise or two. Loose flocks may include Barred, Fasciated and Great Antshrikes, Broad-billed Motmot, Rufous-winged, Cinnamon and Chestnut-coloured Woodpeckers, Pied Puffbird, Scarlet-rumped Tanagers, Canebrake Wren, White-ringed Flycatcher, Olive-backed Euphonia, Black-cowled and with luck Yellow-tailed Oriole, Black-thighed and Black-faced Grosbeaks, and occasionally on a tiny stream we have seen the elusive Agami Heron. We will spend both morning and afternoon within the reserve among areas of tropical rainforest where many different species will be sought. Among our quest will be targets such as Snowy Cotinga, Great Curassow, Rufous Motmot, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Black-crowned Antshrike, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Red-capped Manakin, White-collared Manakin, Great Tinamou, Stripe-breasted Wren, Dusky-faced Tanager, White-whiskered Puffbird, Bright-rumped Attila, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous Mourner, and if we are in luck there may be Central American Screech-Owl or Crested Owl on their day roosts, or Great Green Macaws flying noisily overhead. Also overhead we could see Grey-rumped, Lesser Swallow-tailed and even the rare Spot-fronted Swift and raptors could include Short-tailed Hawk, Grey-headed Kite, Semiplumbeous Hawk and even chances for King Vulture, although we would have had fabulous views of these while at Laguna Lagarto. After dinner we will take a look at the frog ponds where we should see the iconic Red-eyed Tree Frog and the striking Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog. 
Night at La Quinta Country Inn   B,L,D

Day 9 – La Selva – Carara National Park – Feb 28th
This morning a quick look at the feeders should produce Collared Aracari and Red-throated Ant-tanager along with a few other species such as Red-legged and Green Honeycreepers. We will then have breakfast before setting off on our journey to the Pacific coast and our lodge close to the incredibly bird rich Carara National Park. Depending on what we have already seen we may make a few impromptu stops along the way. At a small cafe we can see hummingbirds such as Green-crowned Brilliant, Violet Sabrewing and sometimes Green Thorntail, while Northern Emerald Toucanet, Red-headed Barbet and some nice tanagers will entertain us. As we near Carara and can see the huge forest stretching out in front of us, we will make a brief stop at the famous Tarcol Bridge where some of the biggest American Crocodiles laze around on the muddy river edges below. Depending on time we may bird some areas near to our lodge.
Night Tarcol   B,L,D

Days 10 & 11 – Carara National Park – March 01st, 02nd  
We have two full days to bird this wonderful area including a full day visiting Carara National Park, which is the northernmost region of Pacific rainforest remaining in Costa Rica, and is the beginning of the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest. Its 11,600 acres hold a wide range of species and includes the most important area for breeding Scarlet Macaws in the country. Our time will be divided into a morning and afternoon visit with a break for lunch back at the lodge. We will spend time on a several short trails where birding can produce amongst others Northern Royal Flycatcher, Green Shrike-Vireo, Baird’s, Gartered, and Black-throated Trogons, Tawny-winged and Cocoa Woodcreepers, Blue-black Grosbeak, White-whiskered Puffbird, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Orange-collared Manakin, Chestnut-backed and Dusky Antbirds, Dot-winged Antwren, Black-hooded Antshrike, Blue-throated Sapphire, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Costa Rican Swift, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Rufous-and-white, Rufous-breasted, Riverside and Black-bellied Wrens, Grey-headed and White-shouldered Tanagers, Trilling Gnatwren, Tawny-crowned and Lesser Greenlet, White-winged Becard, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher and Northern Bentbill. Along another trail we hope to connect with a different variety of species including several understory specialities such as Streak-chested Antpitta, Black-faced Antthrush, Ruddy Quail-Dove and Great Tinamou. We will also check a small stream where Red-capped and Blue-crowned Manakins come in to bathe and sometimes accompanied by Northern Schiffornis. On our other full day we will visit an area that offers outstanding views over Carara National Park right down to the Pacific coastline. Here a few select species can be found that maybe hard to connect with elsewhere. Western Tanagers, Painted Bunting, Ruby-throated and Charming Hummingbirds, plus Philadelphia Vireo and possibly Fiery-billed Aracari will all be in our sights. An overlook will give us superb chances to see the magnificent King Vulture as well as other raptors such as White Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk and Swallow-tailed Kite. A short trip to an area of dry forest and scrub could also find us species such as White-throated Magpie Jay, Double-striped Thickknee, Nutting’s Flycatcher, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Olive Sparrow, and possibly Long-tailed Manakin, Northern Royal Flycatcher or the elusive Lesser Ground Cuckoo. 
One of the highlights of the Carara area will be our fabulous afternoon boat trip on the River Tarcoles. Setting off under the guidance of our expert boatman we will first search the estuary and river edges where we can expect to see roosting Boat-billed Herons, plus Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned and sometimes Black-crowned Night-Herons, Green Heron, Tri-coloured Heron, White Ibis, occasionally Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt, Purple Gallinule, Northern Jacana, Killdeer, many shorebirds and if we are lucky both Double-striped Thick-knee and Collared Plover. Out towards the mouth of the estuary will see Laughing Gulls and a variety of terns, plus Brown Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebirds and the ever present Ospreys. We then move into the narrower mangrove creeks where we will look for Mangrove Black Hawk, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Prothonotary Warbler and with a lot of luck Mangrove Vireo and the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird. As we return with the sun setting we will see Cattle and Snowy Egrets going to roost and noisy Scarlet Macaws and Yellow-naped Parrots flying overhead. Our finale to this superb trip will be countless Lesser Nighthawks hawking for insects low over the water at dusk. 
Nights at Tarcol   B,L,D

Day 12 – Carara – Savegre – March 03rd 
After breakfast we will leave the Carara area  and head up the mountains towards our next destination of Savegre. When we get near to the highest part of the mountains we may visit an area of high paramo where we will search for Volcano Junco and the difficult Timberline Wren. Other species here are few and far between but we should be able to find Black-billed Nightingale-thrush, Black-cheeked Warbler and plenty of Volcano and Talamanca Hummingbirds. After our search we will slowly descend to the other side of the Mountain to a beautiful lodge set in a rich forested valley at 7,000ft, where we will spend the next 3 nights. As we make our way along this most scenic valley towards the lodge we can make a quick check of the river to see if any American Dippers or Torrent Tyrannulets are present. Our slow decent should introduce us to a new selection of bird species. Sooty Thrushes sit on fence posts, and at a small café we will check out some feeders where Acorn Woodpeckers, Flame-coloured Tanagers, Green Honeycreeper, Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Finch and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher allow for excellent photographs. Volcano and Talamanca Hummingbirds will also be seen before we continue down towards our lodge. The lodge has recorded over 200 species of birds with many of these being highland specialities. The remaining part of the day will allow us to acquaint ourselves with many of these, or just relax and watch hummingbirds and Slaty Flowerpiercer among the flower-filled gardens.
Night at Savegre  B,L,D

Days 13 – 14 Savegre – March 04th, 05th
We will have two full day of birding in the vicinity of Savegre Lodge. One of the most sought after and special birds here is the Resplendent Quetzal, and following our local contacts information we will go in search of this incredible bird. Sometimes the quetzal are right in the gardens of our lodge. WE will start our days by looking around the gardens where there will be great opportunities to look for birds such as Lesser Violetear, Scintillant Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird, Violet Sabrewing, White-throated Mountaingem, and Talamanca Hummingbird. Noisy Acorn Woodpeckers and flocks of Sulphur-winged Parakeets will distract us from the tame Rufous-collared Sparrows and Slaty Flowerpiercers before we head for breakfast. On one of the days we will take a short jeep ride up a mountain track where we will be dropped off to then bird our way slowly back downhill in time for lunch. Specialties during our walk may include the difficult Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Silvery-throated Jay (getting very difficult), and Spotted Wood-Quail, while other species to be sought include Large-footed Finches, Black Guan, Collared Redstart, Collared Trogon, Yellow-thighed Finch, Sooty Thrushes, Mountain Thrushes, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Flame-throated Warbler, Norther Emerald Toucanet, Ochraceous and Dark Pewee, Yellow-winged Vireo, Black-capped and Yellowish Flycatcher. In the afternoons we will take a short break before taking an afternoon walk along the river where we may find Torrent Tyrannulet and Louisiana Waterthrush, plus many other birds among the flowers and woods. Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Mountain Elaenia, Flame-throated Warbler and Stripe-tailed Hummingbird are normally present and often we see Collared Trogon or Northern Emerald Toucanet, Brown-capped and Yellow-winged Vireos, Black-thighed Grosbeak, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, and Black-cheeked and Flame-throated Warblers. For those that want we will make a night excursion up the valley by coach where we can try a few spots for Bare-shanked Screech Owl and Dusky Nightjar.
Night at Savegre Mountain Lodge   B,L,D

Day 15 – Savegre – Quelitales – March 06th
This morning we will visit the nearby Paraiso de Quetzales. Here we will look at the hummingbird feeders which will be buzzing with Fiery-throated Hummingbirds, Talamanca Hummingbirds, Lesser Violetear and tiny Volcano Hummingbirds. If we can tear ourselves away from this for a short time we will take a look around the gardens where Golden-browed Chlorophonia and even Peg-billed Finch have become regular. The area is alive with Epiphytes, Orchids and Bromeliads, adorning the trees and making this walk a most gratifying experience, especially if we see another Resplendent Quetzal. Other birds are also present and we will try for the elusive Wrenthrush or (Zeledonia), and have more chances for the beautiful Flame-coloured Tanager, Ochraceous Pewee, Black-and-yellow Phainoptila and Long-tailed Silky Flycatchers. After lunch and more hummingbirds we will head towards our next lodge situated near to Tapanti National Park. The park sits in the Orosi Valley part of the Talamancan mountain range, and contains 18 square miles (48 square km) of unspoiled cloud forest. A strategic stop along the way could find us day roosting Tropical Screech-Owls and American Barn Owl, as well as great looks at Finch’s Parakeets. Once we reach our wonderful lodge, we can spend some time checking the wonderful grounds and hummingbird feeders. One of our main targets is a hummingbird that lives beside small waterfalls, the Green-fronted Lancebill, while other garden birds may include Chestnut-headed and Montezuma’s Oropendolas, Black Guan, Brown Jays, Crimson-collared Tanager, Streaked Xenops, Barred Parakeets, White-winged Tanager, Chestnut-headed and White-naped Brush Finches, White-eared Ground Sparrow and Sooty-faced Finch. With luck we can even see Black-breasted Wood Quail and Scaled Antpitta. We would need even more luck to see Sharpbill or Chiriqui Quail-Dove but they do reside in the forest here. The hummingbird feeders and flowering bushes can attract Green Thorntail, the endemic Coppery-headed Emerald, Black-bellied Hummingbird and sometimes Snowcap. This is also a great place to see some amazing insects and wonderful butterflies. We will check out our Moth light at night or in the morning to see what was attracted in. 
Night at Quelitales Lodge   B,L,D

Day 16 – Quelitales – March 07th
This morning we will head out after a breakfast and a brief look around the garden, and take a drive to a remote rustic lodge which is a hotspot for the delightful Snowcap hummingbird. Once here we will spend time enjoying this tiny hummer and for those with cameras trying to photograph it. Other birds that can be seen from the balcony of the lodge include White-ruffed Manakin, Black-and-yellow Tanager, Speckled Tanager, Tawny-capped Euphonia, King Vulture, Ornate Hawk Eagle, and if we were very lucky maybe Lovely Cotinga or Red-fronted Parrotlet, both very difficult. The forest trails can prove very quiet  but hold many excellent birds, so we will walk a few parts of the trail and see what we can find. Lanceolated Monklet would be nice or the localised Tawny-chested Flycatcher. Small streams nearby and on our return sometimes hold the beautiful Sunbittern. Returning in the late afternoon we will have time to relax before dinner or walk up to the waterfall to see what birds are coming to the feeders. Don’t forget to order the Bailey’s Crepes for desert !!!
Night Quelitales   B,L,D

Day 17 – Quelitales – March 08th
Today we will have an early breakfast and then set off on our drive towards our Tapanti National Park. The park sits in the Orosi Valley part of the Talamancan mountain range, and contains 18 square miles (48 square km) of unspoiled cloud forest. If we missed them before we will take another look for day roosting Tropical Screech-Owls and American Barn Owl, as well as trying to find the very localised and declining Cabanis’s Ground Sparrow. Once we reach the park, we can spend the morning birding along the road and quiet trails. The Green-fronted Lancebill lives beside small waterfalls, while other birds in the area can include White-winged and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, Streaked Xenops, Ruddy Treeruners, Chestnut-headed and Montezuma’s Oropendolas, Black Guan, Brown Jays, Crimson-collared Tanager, Chestnut-headed and White-naped Brush Finches, White-eared Ground Sparrow and Sooty-faced Finch, and we have another slim chance for both Sharpbill or Scaled Antpitta. After lunch by the river we will head back to our wonderful lodge. 
Night at Quelitales   B,L,D

Day 18 – Quelitales – San Jose – End of Tour – March 09th
Today we will have to leave our delightful lodge and head back to San Jose in time for our international departing flights. We plan to arrive at the airport by 12.00 midday. Please arrange a departing flight that leaves no earlier than 15.00pm.  B