Central and Southern Pacific Lowlands
The park where the dry forest of the north Pacific meets the wet forest of the south, so the birds of both are on the same trails. SINAC, the national parks service, calls it the main conservation and breeding core of the Scarlet Macaw in the country, and that is the bird we bring people here for.
You hear them before you see them: pairs crossing over the park and the Tárcoles River at dawn and at dusk. Over 400 species have been registered around the park and the river. Our lodges are about 20 minutes from the gate, and the Tárcoles mangrove boat adds the water birds the same day.
The Scarlet Macaw first: loud, red, flying in pairs at the edges of the day. With it the Collared Aracari, and where the two forests meet, its Pacific cousin the Fiery-billed Aracari, a regional endemic.
Down at the river the mangrove boat adds Boat-billed Heron and Keel-billed Toucan, and that boat has a page of its own.
| English | Scientific | Spanish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Macaw | Ara macao | Guacamayo Rojo (Lapa Roja) | |
| Collared Aracari | Pteroglossus torquatus | Tucancillo Collarejo | |
| Fiery-billed Aracari | Pteroglossus frantzii | Tucancillo Piquianaranjado | Regional endemic |
| Boat-billed Heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | Pico Cuchara (Chocuaco) | |
| Keel-billed Toucan | Ramphastos sulfuratus | Tucán Pico Iris | |
| Bay-headed Tanager | Tangara gyrola | Tangara Cabecicastaña | |
| Slaty-tailed Trogon | Trogon massena | Trogón Coliplomizo | |
| Graceful Black-throated Trogon | Trogon tenellus | Trogón Cabeciverde | |
| King Vulture | Sarcoramphus papa | Zopilote Rey |
Fly into San José. Carara is about an hour and a half from the airport, which is why it is so often the last stop of a trip: one more dawn with the macaws, and then the flight home. Hot at sea level all year, so start at first light and stop by ten.
All year. The macaws cross at dawn and dusk in every month.
Four lodges, from a five-star hacienda at the edge of the park to a lodge on a lake between the park and the Tárcoles bridge, and a beach resort just south for a birder travelling with family.
Photo: Cerro Lodge
Tárcoles
A Birder's Haven near Jaco Will Have You Seeing Red: The Stunning Scarlet Macaw!
★★★★
Ten bungalows and ten rooms on a ridge about 10 minutes from Carara, where scarlet macaws cross the valley in front of the hotel and about 150 species have been counted around it. "Macaws and fascinating hummingbirds on the feeders", in one client's words.
Photo: Hotel Punta Leona
Punta Leona
Private white sand beach
★★★
A beach resort in one of the country's last transition forests, where the wet Pacific forest meets the dry, just before Jacó and 45 minutes from the San José airport. A private white sand beach, three pools, and Carara and the Tárcoles river a short drive away: the lodge for a birder travelling with a family.
Photo: Macaw Lodge
Tárcoles
Beauty and Sustainability not far from the Tarcoles River
★★★★
A lake in front of the lodge and forest on two sides, between Carara and the Tárcoles bridge, with over 300 species on the lodge list, Sunbittern and Northern Jacana among them. Opened in 2011, and our clients mention the owner, Pablo, by name.
Photo: Santa Lucía Jungle Hacienda, Autograph Collection
Carara
A hacienda and colonial village on the riverbanks at the edge of Carara National Park
★★★★★
The old Villa Lapas, reopened as Santa Lucía Jungle Hacienda, an Autograph Collection hotel, on the riverbank at the edge of Carara National Park near Tárcoles, where scarlet macaws cross over the grounds. The same birding ground we have used for years, with a five-star hotel on it now.
A few minutes on the form, and one of our Costa Rica specialists comes back to you personally with a first itinerary: the Pacific in the right order with whatever else is on your list, and how many nights each stop really needs. That first version is just a place to start.
Or call us: 1 (800) 996-1139 from the US and Canada, +506 4052-2140 in Costa Rica.
Keep going: add more birds, lodges or tours, then turn your Wishlist into a trip.
