Birding trip · 11 nights · Arrive San José (SJO)
The Pacific side, south and up. Three nights at Macaw Lodge between Carara and the Tárcoles for the Scarlet Macaws, four at Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula, the wildest forest we sell, then three in the Talamanca at San Gerardo de Dota for the Resplendent Quetzal. Three stops, eleven nights, no rushing.
West to the Pacific at Carara, south down the coast to the Osa, then up into the Talamanca, 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.
We built this one twice in 2024, for couples who had seen the north on an earlier trip and wanted the south.
Carara first, because it is the easy start: close to the airport, macaws over the lodge, a lake in front of it. Then the Osa, which is a trip of its own and deserves four nights.
The quetzal goes last for a simple reason. From San Gerardo de Dota the airport is an hour and a half away, so the last morning can be one more walk in the oaks and not a long drive.
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 4 · 3 nights
Macaw Lodge, Tárcoles
Macaw Lodge. 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.
At Carara and Macaw Lodge, the Scarlet Macaw in pairs, Collared Aracari in the park and its Pacific cousin the Fiery-billed Aracari where the two forests meet, with Sunbittern and Northern Jacana on the lodge's lake.
Days 5 to 8 · 4 nights
Drake Bay Wilderness, Drake Bay
Drake Bay Wilderness. The lodge for the Osa nights on this route.
At Drake Bay and on the Osa, the Scarlet Macaw in numbers, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Riverside Wren, with Baird's Trogon and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, birds found only on this stretch of the Pacific.
Days 9 to 11 · 3 nights
Trogon Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota
Trogon Lodge. Cabins by the Savegre River inside the forest the quetzals feed in, the valley's guides at the door.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal, with Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird at the feeders, Black Guan in the oaks and Swallow-tailed Kite over the ridge.
At Carara and Macaw Lodge, the Scarlet Macaw in pairs, Collared Aracari in the park and its Pacific cousin the Fiery-billed Aracari where the two forests meet, with Sunbittern and Northern Jacana on the lodge's lake.
At Drake Bay and on the Osa, the Scarlet Macaw in numbers, Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Riverside Wren, with Baird's Trogon and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, birds found only on this stretch of the Pacific.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal, with Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird at the feeders, Black Guan in the oaks and Swallow-tailed Kite over the ridge.
Every trip is a custom quote built around your dates and your list.
“The Scarlett Macaw and the Resplendent Quetzal were 2 of our target birds and we got both along with 182 species and 118 new birds to add to our life list!”
“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.”
“This year My Costa Rica assisted me in planning my fourth birding tour to Costa Rica.”
For a serious list, yes: it is the wildest forest we sell, with birds found nowhere else in the country, and three nights is the minimum.
Yes. The mangrove boat on the Tárcoles is a morning from Macaw Lodge.
No. Everything from landing to check-in for the flight home is ours; the flights are yours, and we advise on times.
Yes. Cerro Lodge in place of Macaw Lodge, La Paloma at Drake Bay, or a beach at the end.
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: Central and Southern Pacific Lowlands 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.
Keep going: add more birds, lodges or tours, then turn your Wishlist into a trip.
