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Self Drive, Costa Rica Birding Holiday: Arenal + Sarapiqui + Central Valley (Resplendent Quetzal)

Birding Holiday - Costa Rica (self drive)

Self Drive Costa Rica Birding Holiday Sarapiqui Central Valley Quetzal

14 NIGHTS FROM:

$3,152

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights + car hire quoted separately

7RCA14S

• Costa Rica Birding Holiday

• Arenal Volcano

• Sarapiqui Lowland Rainforest

• Central Valley Cloud Forests

• Turrialba Volcano

• San Gerardo de Dota

• Respendent Quetzal

• Manuel Antonio National Park

• Osa Peninsula extension

• Self Drive, Costa Rica Birding

This self drive Costa Rica birding holiday focuses on the birding hot-spots of this small country including Arenal, Sarapiqui in the Caribbean lowlands, cloud forests of Turrialba & San Gerardo de Doto in the Central Valley (home to the Resplendent Quetzal) & Manuel Antonio. All specified birding included, with option to extend to Osa Peninsula. Lodge transfer avaiable, if preferred.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

Arrive at San Jose Airport, collect your hire car and drive to your hotel situated in a location convenient for the airport.

Check in and relax in the beautiful Central Valley, surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains to the south and the volcanoes of Poas, Irazu and Turrialba.

Day 2

This morning your hire car will be dropped off at your San Jose hotel. Then drive 3.5-hours through beautiful Costa Rican mountain scenery towards the Arenal Volcano - one of the most active in Central America, with a perfect cone that on a clear day is visible from almost anywhere in the area.

Along the way you can make an optional stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens (pay entrance fee locally). Here you can see a Butterfly House, toucans, scarlett macaws, hummingbirds and sloths in a nature park environment, as well as a series of waterfalls in a stunning rainforest.

After driving through the mountains on narrow roads, your route then crosses a large cattle and agricultural area, where chocolate is grown. Cacao was very important in the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations and today it is enjoyed throughout the world. Continue to La Fortuna, where you can relax surrounded by rainforests, waterfalls and thermal hot springs.

Day 3

This morning drive yourself to the Mistico Hanging Bridges in good time for your private birding tour. This series of ten fixed and six suspension bridges is located in a natural corridor followed by migratory birds travelling between North and South America and offering wonderful views of the lake and volcano.

On this 2-mile (3-km) trail you can enjoy the great diversity of flora and fauna found inside this mountainous zone, as well as outstanding bird watching. Keep an eye out for howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, coati, racoons and other rainforest wildlife too.

Nearly 450 different species (i.e. half of all the birds found in Costa Rica) have been recorded in and around Arenal National Park, whose diverse habitats include tropical lowland rainforest, pre-montane forest of the Caribbean foothills and agricultural pastures. Birds you can hope to see here include the Yellow-throated toucan, Crested guan, Grey-headed chachalaca, Baltimore oriole, Clay-coloured thrush, Red-throated ant tanager, Lovely cotinga, Black-crested coquette, Yellow-eared toucanet, Bare-necked umbrellabird, Emerald tanager, Great curassow, Thicket antpitta, Ornate hawk-eagle and Fasciated tiger heron.

Other birds commonly reported in these forests include the Buff-fronted quail dove, Chiriqui quail dove, Bronzy hermit, Band-tailed barbthroat, White-throated crake, Uniform crake, Spectacled owl, Rufous-winged woodpecker, Mealy amazon, Checker-throated antwren, Bicolored antbird, Spotted antbird, Chestnut-backed antbird, Dull-mantled antbird, Rufous piha, Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Olive-striped flycatcher, Paltry tyrannulet, White-ringed flycatcher, Stripe-breasted wren, Song wren, Black-faced solitaire, Tawny-capped euphonia and Sootycapped bush tanager, amongst others. Also keep an eye out for howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, coati, racoons and other rainforest wildlife.

Later there is the option to relax at one of the many Hot Springs in the area (you can pay locally - but we strongly recommend booking in advance, as these do get fully booked in season).

Note: The hanging bridges trail is not suitable if you have a fear of heights. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars & rain gear. Also sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, plus swimwear and water shoes for the hot springs.

Day 4

Rise early today to enjoy a 2-hour birding walk around La Fortuna with a birding guide from your lodge.

More than 500 different species (i.e. half of all the birds found in Costa Rica) have been recorded in and around Arenal National Park, whose diverse habitats include tropical lowland rainforest, pre-montane forest of the Caribbean foothills and agricultural pastures. Colourful birds you can hope to see include the Lovely cotinga, Black-crested coquette, Yellow-eared toucanet, Bare-necked umbrellabird, Emerald tanager, Great curassow, Thicket antpitta, Ornate hawk-eagle, Fasciated tiger heron and many, many more.

In the afternoon enjoy another 2-hour private birding walk.

Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Day 5

Today depart from La Fortuna and drive 2-hours to the lowland tropical rainforests of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.

These lush green forests have a huge diversity of indigenous tropical birds, flora and fauna. This region is also know for its banana plantations, adventure activities such as white water rafting and ‘turnos’ (outdoor festivals) - which include fairs, bull riding and cattle shows.

Day 6

An early start today to enjoy a 2-hour private birding walk through the lush lowland rainforests of Sarapiqui, accompanied by a lodge guide.

More than 54% of all bird species found in Costa Rica can be seen in this region. We walk along the river bank and through primary and secondary forests in search of a variety of tanagers, honeycreepers, herons and much more. Some sought-after species include the highly endangered Great green macaw, Keel-billed toucan, Sunbittern, Snowy cotinga, White-fronted nunbird, Wood thrush, Grey-necked wood rail, Violet-crowned woodnymph and Black-crested coquette.

In the afternoon enjoy another 2-hour private birding walk.

Note: Wear rubber boots or closed shoes. Bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Day 7

This morning enjoy a relaxed boat ride down the Sarapiqui River. As we cruise down the river, be on the lookout for wildlife in the water and on the land, as it is possible to see monkeys, iguana, sloths, crocodiles, alligators, otters and a variety of bird life.

After returning to your lodge around midday, there is time for a siesta. Then in the late afternoon transfer to the Tirimbina Reserve. After an included dinner at the reserve, we set out on a shared Night Walk to see nocturnal species such as porcupines, frogs, possums and kinkajous (also called 'honey bears').

Note: Wear good walking shoes & take rain gear, insect repellent and a headlamp for the night walk, which has a maximum of 10 per guide.

Day 8

This morning drive 3.5-hours from Sarapiqui to Turrialba in the cental valley region of Cartago - the gateway to Turrialba Volcano National Park.

Check into your hotel in this beautiful but lesser known region of Costa Rica.

Day 9

Rise early for a shared morning birding walk around Turrialba accompanied by a lodge guide.

With over 450 different species of birds having been recorded in this forest reserve, you will have many opportunities for excellent sightings - including hummingbirds, trogons, tucans, hawks, motmots, cuckoos, woodpeckers, migratory tanagers, collared redstarts and possibly the yellow throated brush finch.

In the afternoon enjoy another shared birding walk.

Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Day 10

This morning drive 3-hours from Turrialba to San Gerardo de Dota, nestled in a pristine steeply walled mountain valley high in the Talamanca Mountains at 7,200 ft (2,200 m).

The cloud forests of Los Quetzales National Park and Savegre Reserve are filled with massive oaks and other native highland species and this is the best birding spot in the country for regional endemics, with more that 50 found in these central highlands. This area is also part of the Los Santos Forest Reserve, a biological corridor for a large number of wildlife - some in danger of extinction. It is a haven for both bird watchers and walkers.

Day 11

Rise early for a private morning birding walk with a guide from your lodge.

This region is famous for its large population of Resplendent Quetzal - a bird that is sacred to the indigenous people and is one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas. We start the day looking for this bird, but over 175 other birds have also been identified in this small town.

While seeing a quetzal will be our main goal, this valley is also an excellent place to see all the specialty birds of the region. Some of the regional highland endemics we are likely to see include the Highland tinamou, Red-tailed hawk, Black guan, Sulphur-winged parakeet, Ruddy treerunner, Silvery-fronted tapaculo, Sooty robin, Ruddy pigeon, Scintillant hummingbird, White-throated mountaingem, Purple-throated mountaingem, Emerald toucanet and many flycatchers, trogons, tanagers, sparrows and hummingbirds such as the White-throated mountaingem, Scintillant hummingbird and Purple-throated mountaingem.

In the afternoon enjoy another 2-hour private birding walk.

Note: As you are at a fairly high altitude (7,000 ft / 2,400 m), remember not to exert yourself. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Day 12

Today drive 3.5-hours to Manuel Antonio, a busy tourist town known for its sandy Pacific beaches surrounded by lush coastal rainforest.

Check into your hotel and relax in your verdant surroundings.

Day 13

Rise early this morning to avoid the heat of the day for a 2-hour privately guided hike with a naturalist, through the tropical humid rainforest of Manuel Antonio National Park - the oldest and most visited national park in the country.

Situated on the Pacific Coast, this wildlife sanctuary consists of four protected white sandy beaches bordered by verdant tropical jungle. A series of boardwalks offer two main routes - either a direct 2-mile (3.2 km) hike to the main beach, or a longer 3.5-mile (5.6 km) circular hike that includes a second spectacular beach.

Over 100 mammals can be found here, as well as over 350 different bird species. You can hope to spot an adorable sloth - a tree-dwelling animal that sleeps for over 15 hours a day, whilst hanging from the branches of trees. The two-fingered sloth is largely nocturnal, so you are more likely to see the three-fingered sloth, although both species have excellent camouflage so can be hard to spot. These cute creatures move so slowly that algae grows on their fur. Look out for white-faced capuchins and cute squirrel monkeys and listen out for howler monkeys calling across the trees. You should see hermit crabs scurrying across the sands, halloween crabs (with their bright orange & black colouring) and may even see a bullfrog, Jesus Christ lizard (the brown basilisk that 'walks on water'), helmet basilisk, black spiny-tailed iguana, green anole lizard, caiman, American crocodile, fish moth, wax-tail hopper, rainbow grasshopper or spectacular blue morpho butterfly.

Birds you can hope to see include the Brown pelican flying in formation over the sea, Yellow-throated toucan, Tendin fruit bat, Long nosed bat, Mangrove hummingbird, Yellow-crowned night heron, Crowned woodnymph and Bananaquit amongst many others.

At the end of your hike you will be given the opportunity to relax on the beach for about an hour, before returning to your hotel. Your afternoon is at leisure.

Note: Manuel Antonio Park is closed on a Tuesday. Wear swimwear, comfortable walking shoes, shorts & T-shirt, as it will be very hot & humid. Bring water, binoculars, rain gear, sun hat, sunscreen, towel & insect repellent and expect this park to be very busy.

Day 14

Rise early to enjoy a half day of birding in the forests around Quepos with a naturalist guide.

These primary and secondary Pacific coastal rainforests are full of wildlife and home to over 250 different bird species. We hike through rural areas and along paths, cattle farms and unpaved roads as this is the best way to spot up to 70 different species in one day - such as the Black-mandibled (Yellow-throated) toucan, White-throated shrike-tanager, hummingbirds, birds of prey, seedeaters, thrushes, doves, trogons and many more.

Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars, camera, jacket & raingear. Also sun hat, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Day 15

This morning we suggest leaving Manuel Antonio and driving 4-hours to Sarchi - an artisan town known for its colourful and decorative oxcarts. Here you can buy a variety of local handicrafts including bowls, utensils, jewellery and masks made of fine Costa Rican wood. This charming town also has a pink and blue painted church, with two turrets.

Afterwards continue to San Jose Airport for your flight home.

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