Costa Rica Escape Birding Tour
A nine-day Costa Rica birding circuit from Caribbean lowland forest to the highlands of San Gerardo de Dota, with toucans, hummingbirds and Resplendent Quetzal among the possible highlights.
About this tour
Cross several of Costa Rica's richest birding zones on a compact route from San Jose to Sarapiqui and the Talamanca highlands. La Paz, Cinchona, La Selva and Cope Wildlife Reserve introduce Caribbean-slope forest, productive feeders and nocturnal roost searches before the journey climbs toward San Gerardo de Dota.
The final field days focus on cloud forest and high-elevation habitat around Los Quetzales National Park and Savegre. Resplendent Quetzal is a major objective, supported by opportunities for regional hummingbirds, tanagers, woodpeckers, antbirds and other neotropical species.
This scheduled Birding Ecotours programme includes accommodation, meals, private transport, guiding, entrance fees and airport transfers. Exact bird activity and individual stops remain subject to natural and local conditions.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Costa Rica.
Birds you can spot
Melanerpes formicivorus
target
Trogon rufus
target
Cinclus mexicanus
target
Setophaga aestiva
target
Icterus galbula
target
Bolborhynchus lineola
target
Falco rufigularis
target
Macheiramphus alcinus
target
Thamnophilus nigriceps
target
Neoctantes niger
target
Chamaepetes unicolor
target
Psarocolius guatimozinus
target
Strix nigrolineata
target
Phainoptila melanoxantha
target
Catharus gracilirostris
target
Empidonax atriceps
target
Myiornis atricapillus
target
Driophlox atrimaxillaris
target
Basileuterus melanogenys
target
Melanerpes pucherani
target
Lophornis helenae
target
Tityra inquisitor
target
Basileuterus melanotis
target
Myadestes melanops
target
Dacnis cayana
target
Volatinia jacarina
target
Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis
target
Aulacorhynchus wagleri
target
Megarynchus pitangua
target
Electron platyrhynchum
target
Pyrilia haematotis
target
Syndactyla rufosuperciliata
target
Saltator maximus
target
Psarocolius wagleri
target
Amazilia rutila
target
Pteroglossus torquatus
target
Trogon collaris
target
Myioborus torquatus
target
Piaya cayana
target
Microchera cupreiceps
target
Penelope purpurascens
target
Lophostrix cristata
target
Contopus lugubris
target
Phaeoptila sordida
target
Antrostomus saturatus
target
Chaetocercus berlepschi
target
Cymbilaimus lineatus
target
Tigrisoma fasciatum
target
Campylorhynchus fasciatus
target
Glaucidium brasilianum
target
Panterpe insignis
target
Piranga bidentata
target
Oreothlypis gutturalis
target
Cinnycerthia fulva
target
Carterornis chrysomela
target
Chlorophonia callophrys
target
Masius chrysopterus
target
Arremon schlegeli
target
Vermivora chrysoptera
target
Crax rubra
target
Ara ambiguus
target
Pitangus sulphuratus
target
Nyctibius grandis
target
Quiscalus mexicanus
target
Quiscalus niger
target
Mesembrinibis cayennensis
target
Anthracothorax prevostii
target
Heliodoxa jacula
target
Myiozetetes granadensis
target
Ortalis cinereiceps
target
Crotophaga sulcirostris
target
Penelopina nigra
target
Passer domesticus
target
Turdus simillimus
target
Ramphastos sulfuratus
target
Sarcoramphus papa
target
Herpetotheres cachinnans
target
Eubucco richardsoni
target
Zentrygon linearis
target
Phaethornis longirostris
target
Nasica longirostris
target
Ptiliogonys caudatus
target
Psarocolius montezuma
target
Pheugopedius genibarbis
target
Trogon tenellus
target
Mionectes oleagineus
target
Chlorothraupis stolzmanni
target
Turdus olivaceus
target
Pachyglossa olivacea
target
Mitrospingus oleagineus
target
Eupsittula nana
target
Brotogeris jugularis
target
Anarhynchus veredus
target
Linurgus olivaceus
target
Phaethornis anthophilus
target
Nyctidromus albicollis
target
Thaumastura cora
target
Vireo philadelphicus
target
Heliodoxa gularis
target
Semnornis frantzii
target
Protonotaria citrea
target
Psittacara maugei
target
Heliothryx barroti
target
Cranioleuca erythrops
target
Eubucco bourcierii
target
Cyanerpes cyaneus
target
Amazona autumnalis
target
Buteo jamaicensis
target
Pharomachrus mocinno
target
Myrmelastes saturatus
target
Patagioenas subvinacea
target
Catharus frantzii
target
Baryphthengus martii
target
Myiotheretes fuscorufus
target
Pheugopedius rutilus
target
Zimmerius minimus
target
Cyclarhis gujanensis
target
Urochroa bougueri
target
Amazilia tzacatl
target
Accipiter erythronemius
target
Heliodoxa branickii
target
Cnemarchus rufipennis
target
Troglodytes monticola
target
Ara macao
target
Ramphocelus passerinii
target
Leucopternis semiplumbeus
target
Molothrus bonariensis
target
Scytalopus argentifrons
target
Myrmelastes schistaceus
target
Myioborus miniatus
target
Catharus fuscater
target
Trogon massena
target
Stelgidillas gracilirostris
target
Myiozetetes similis
target
Thamnophilus ambiguus
target
Chlorospingus pileatus
target
Pogonotriccus eximius
target
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
target
Callacanthis burtoni
target
Pulsatrix perspicillata
target
Myioborus melanocephalus
target
Icterus pectoralis
target
Xanthotis polygrammus
target
Odontophorus guttatus
target
Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
target
Heliomaster squamosus
target
Eupherusa eximia
target
Phaethornis striigularis
target
Asio clamator
target
Pseudocolopteryx citreola
target
Serpophaga cinerea
target
Mimus gilvus
target
Systellura decussata
target
Scotopelia bouvieri
target
Campylopterus hemileucurus
target
Selasphorus flammula
target
Junco vulcani
target
Corapipo leucorrhoa
target
Manacus candei
target
Pionus senilis
target
Lepidothrix serena
target
Florisuga mellivora
target
Pharomachrus fulgidus
target
Eutoxeres aquila
target
Xenoligea montana
target
Cercomacroides laeta
target
Capsiempis flaveola
target
Sphyrapicus varius
target
Spinus xanthogastrus
target
Selenidera spectabilis
target
Empidonax flavescens
target
Basileuterus punctipectus
target
Itinerary ▼
Meet the tour leader at the airport and transfer to the hotel. When arrival time allows, begin with garden birding for Rufous-backed Wren, a selection of woodpeckers and other common Central Valley species.
Bird the hotel grounds before continuing to La Paz for montane species and hummingbirds. After the Cinchona feeders, descend to Sarapiqui with opportunities for toucans, oropendolas, parrots and chachalacas.
Explore La Selva's lowland rainforest for Great Green Macaw, Snowy Cotinga, Great Curassow, antbirds, woodcreepers and woodpeckers. The mix of trails and forest edge can produce a broad Caribbean-slope list.
Use Cope's feeders and nearby forest for close views and photography of hummingbirds, honeycreepers and tanagers. Roost searches may add owls or Great Potoo before afternoon birding around Puerto Viejo.
Travel toward the Talamanca highlands with a birding stop along the Sarapiqui River. If conditions cooperate, the route can produce Scarlet Macaw, King Vulture and river-edge species before reaching San Gerardo de Dota.
Work high-elevation habitat for Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Volcano Hummingbird and Black-capped Flycatcher. Feeders and lower cloud forest add more hummingbirds, tanagers and montane specialities.
Make an early search for Resplendent Quetzal, then explore forest above the lodge for mixed flocks, wood-quail, tapaculo, treerunners and highland warblers. Garden and feeder birding continue during the afternoon.
Use the morning for another quetzal attempt or the waterfalls road, according to priorities. After lunch, return to San Jose with time for final garden birding if the schedule permits.
At a time aligned with the booked departure, travel from the final San Jose hotel to the airport. Airfare is outside the tour package.
Locations & map
- San José - Costa Rica
Availability & pricing
Included
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Entrance fees
- Private ground transport
- Private tour leader
- Airport transfers
Not included
- Flights
- Personal expenses and alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Medical and trip-cancellation insurance
- Activities not described in the itinerary
Reviews
"‘The Costa Rica Escape tour was my second trip with Birding Ecotours, after Brazil. It was a great winter break and also a teaser trip to the country, leaving us wanting to see more. Any trip with a Resplendent Quetzal has to be a good one, but the variety of birds we saw at the various stops was amazing. One of the highlight memories for me was when Eduardo and the local guide were off the trail, listening for an owl, and a Great Tinamou walked right up to their feet without them realizing it. As a guide, Eduardo is professional, knowledgeable and personable. I’m already planning my third trip with the company!’"