New birding trip · 9 nights · Arrive San José (SJO)
A new trip, built for the camera rather than the list. Four nights at Rancho Naturalista in the Caribbean foothills, where the hummingbird feeders are on the balcony and the Snowcap comes to the forest pools in the late afternoon, then four at Savegre in San Gerardo de Dota, with the feeders at the door and the Resplendent Quetzal in the valley. Two lodges, long stays, no packing.
East to the foothills above Turrialba for four nights, then south and up into the Talamanca for four more, an hour and a half from the airport on the last morning.
The route between the numbered stops, the run back to the airport (dashed); lodges as small red pins.Every stop and lodge on this route is in the numbered list.
This one is new, and it is built on one idea: a photographer needs time in one place more than they need another place.
So there are only two lodges, and both have the birds coming to you. Rancho Naturalista has feeders on the balcony from the first breakfast and the forest pools where the Snowcap bathes. Savegre has the high-altitude hummingbirds at the feeders and the quetzal in the valley.
Four nights at each means bad light on one day costs you nothing. I would rather you went home with forty frames you love than four hundred from a moving van.
Jason Bateman, Costa Rica Specialist
Day 1 · 1 night
Hotel Bougainvillea, Heredia
Hotel Bougainvillea. Gardens with mature trees twenty minutes from the airport.
Days 2 to 5 · 4 nights
Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba
Rancho Naturalista. The birding lodge of the Caribbean foothills: 125 acres of slope forest half an hour from town, feeders on the balcony, hummingbird pools.
At Rancho Naturalista above Turrialba, the Snowcap at the pools below the lodge in the late afternoon, and at the morning feeders Gray-headed Chachalaca, Collared Aracari, Rufous Motmot and the Red-headed Barbet, with hummingbirds by the dozen.
Days 6 to 9 · 4 nights
Savegre Lodge Natural Reserve & Spa, San Gerardo de Dota
Savegre Lodge Natural Reserve & Spa. A 400-hectare private cloud forest reserve at 2,200 metres, with over 170 bird species recorded on it and the quetzal among them, and heated rooms.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal, the male with tail streamers longer than the rest of the bird; at the feeders Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and Violet Sabrewing; along the river Collared Redstart and Flame-throated Warbler.
At Rancho Naturalista above Turrialba, the Snowcap at the pools below the lodge in the late afternoon, and at the morning feeders Gray-headed Chachalaca, Collared Aracari, Rufous Motmot and the Red-headed Barbet, with hummingbirds by the dozen.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal, the male with tail streamers longer than the rest of the bird; at the feeders Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and Violet Sabrewing; along the river Collared Redstart and Flame-throated Warbler.
Every trip is a custom quote built around your dates and your list.
“The bird guides at Rancho were absolutely stellar (Mercedes, Fabian and also Harry came with us too first afternoon).”
“Our guide, Carlos, kept in touch with his son, also a guide, looking for quetzals and we found our elusive Resplendent Quetzal due to Carlos's diligence.”
“They also understand birding travel versus other types of travel and found lodges that catered to birding.”
Yes. Three nights at Cerro Lodge near Carara at the end, where the macaws cross the valley in front of the lodge, with the Tárcoles mangrove boat on flat water.
No. It is a good slow birding trip for anyone, and a partner who does not shoot has the spa at Savegre.
No. Everything from landing to check-in for the flight home is ours; the flights are yours, and we advise on times.
Yes. Trogon Lodge or Paraíso Quetzal Lodge in place of Savegre, or three nights at each lodge and a third stop.
No. Private, for your party only, on your dates; we run no fixed-date group tours.
This route birds two of our five birding zones: Caribbean Foothills and Highlands. Each zone page has its parks, its birds and every lodge we use there.
Or see all twenty-three birding trips, or every lodge we use, on one map.
Tell us your dates and your list. A Costa Rica specialist writes back with your version of this trip.
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