New birding trip · 5 nights · Arrive San José (SJO)
A new trip, and the shortest on our list. Two nights in the high oak forest of San Gerardo de Dota for the Resplendent Quetzal, two at Cerro Lodge above the Tárcoles for the Scarlet Macaw and a morning in Carara National Park. Two of the birds people cross an ocean for, in five nights, for a long weekend or the front of a longer holiday.
South into the Talamanca for the quetzal, then west and down to the Pacific at Carara, about two hours 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. People kept asking whether five nights was enough to be worth it, and I think it is, if you are honest about what five nights can hold.
So it holds two birds. The quetzal at San Gerardo de Dota, where I have sent more birders than anywhere else in the country, and the Scarlet Macaw at Carara, where the dry forest of the north meets the wet forest of the south.
Two places, two nights each, the same lodges our longer trips use. If you like it, you will want the long version next time, and that is fine with me.
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 3 · 2 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, the male with tail streamers longer than the rest of the bird, and at the lodge feeders Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird, with Black Guan in the oaks.
Days 4 to 5 · 2 nights
Cerro Lodge, Tárcoles
Cerro Lodge. A birding lodge above the Tárcoles River, close to Carara, with Scarlet Macaws passing over the grounds.
At Carara and on the Tárcoles, the Scarlet Macaw in pairs at the edges of the day and the Collared Aracari in the park.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal, the male with tail streamers longer than the rest of the bird, and at the lodge feeders Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird, with Black Guan in the oaks.
At Carara and on the Tárcoles, the Scarlet Macaw in pairs at the edges of the day and the Collared Aracari in the park.
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.”
“We came to Costa Rica because my husband is a bird watcher ... and we were delighted to find that Abel was also passionate about birds, and he gave us a great experience showing us all the different birds as he drove us to our destinations!”
For two birds and a first look, yes. For a list, take Best of Birding in Costa Rica, which runs the same two places with Bahía Ballena between them.
Yes. The sampler finishes on the Pacific, so a few nights on the coast after Carara is an easy addition.
No. Everything from landing to check-in for the flight home is ours; the flights are yours, and we advise on times.
Yes. A third night at San Gerardo de Dota is the change we would suggest first, or Macaw Lodge in place of Cerro Lodge.
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: Highlands and Central and Southern Pacific Lowlands. 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.
