Birding trip · 8 nights · Arrive San José (SJO)
A short trip with two very different halves. Three nights on the Pacific at Manuel Antonio, with the national park and the Scarlet Macaw, then three in the cold oak forest of San Gerardo de Dota for the Resplendent Quetzal, the valley an hour and a half from the airport. Eight nights, three beds.
Two nights near the airport, down to the Pacific at Manuel Antonio, then up into the Talamanca for the quetzal, 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 is our answer when someone has a week, wants the quetzal, and is travelling with someone who wants a beach. We have built it twice, in 2024 and 2025.
Manuel Antonio gives the non-birder the coast and the park, and gives the birder the macaws. Then three nights at San Gerardo de Dota, because the quetzal deserves more than one try.
The order matters more than it looks. Ending in the valley puts you an hour and a half from the airport, so the last morning is a walk, not a drive.
Jason Bateman, Costa Rica Specialist
Days 1 to 2 · 2 nights
Finca Rosa Blanca, Central Valley
Finca Rosa Blanca. The first two nights, near the airport.
Days 3 to 5 · 3 nights
Costa Verde, Manuel Antonio
Costa Verde. The coast nights on this route.
At Manuel Antonio, the Scarlet Macaw and a motmot in the park, and at Naranjito Yellow-throated Toucan, White-throated Shrike-Tanager and Short-tailed Hawk.
Days 6 to 8 · 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, Volcano Hummingbird and Violet Sabrewing at the feeders, Black Guan in the oaks and Collared Redstart along the river.
At Manuel Antonio, the Scarlet Macaw and a motmot in the park, and at Naranjito Yellow-throated Toucan, White-throated Shrike-Tanager and Short-tailed Hawk.
At San Gerardo de Dota, the Resplendent Quetzal, with Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and Violet Sabrewing at the feeders, Black Guan in the oaks and Collared Redstart along the river.
Every trip is a custom quote built around your dates and your 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!”
“They also understand birding travel versus other types of travel and found lodges that catered to birding.”
Yes. The other trip like this was seven: one night near the airport, three at Manuel Antonio, two at San Gerardo de Dota and a last night near the airport.
San Gerardo de Dota has quetzals all year and the valley's guides find them in every month.
No. Everything from landing to check-in for the flight home is ours; the flights are yours, and we advise on times.
Yes. Hotel Bougainvillea for the first nights, Dantica in place of Trogon Lodge, or Carara added on the way to the coast.
No. Private, for your party only, on your dates; we run no fixed-date group tours.
This route birds one of our five birding zones: 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.
