Trip Summary
Duration
11 Days / 10 Nights
Transportation
Private transportation
throughout the journey
Guide
Specialized naturalist guide throughout the trip
Participants
From 2 travelers · Maximum 10 travelers
Season
May, June, September, October and November
Route:
Cartago – Turrialba – Sarapiquí – Boca Tapada – San Ramón – Miramar – Tárcoles – Quepos
Discover Costa Rica’s Bird Diversity
Wings of Costa Rica is an 11-day journey designed for travelers interested in birdwatching and bird photography, combining different regions and ecosystems throughout the country.
Along the way, we will explore humid mountain forests, premontane forests, the tropical lowlands of the Northern Caribbean, wetlands, high-elevation forests and different ecosystems along the Pacific coast.
Throughout the journey, you will have private transportation and the assistance of a specialized naturalist guide, who can adapt each day according to weather conditions, bird activity and the best observation opportunities.
Travel Route:
Cartago → Turrialba → Sarapiquí → Boca Tapada → San Ramón → Miramar → Tárcoles → Quepos
Day 1 – Arrival in Costa Rica | Cartago. Arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport and private transfer to Cartago. During this first day, there will be a welcome meeting with the naturalist guide, who will introduce the itinerary, the different regions to be visited and the general structure of the birdwatching days. Hotel Quelitales is surrounded by nature and located near protected areas, in a region of humid mountain forests that offers the opportunity to begin discovering Costa Rica’s bird diversity from the very start of the trip. Accommodation: Hotel Quelitales.
Day 2 – Cartago – Turrialba | Hotel Villa Florencia After breakfast, we will continue to Turrialba. This region combines different elevations and ecosystems, creating particularly interesting conditions for birdwatching. During the journey and once in Turrialba, the guide will select the most suitable observation sites according to the day’s conditions and bird activity. Hotel Villa Florencia offers a peaceful setting surrounded by nature, making it a suitable base for exploring the premontane forests of the region. Accommodation: Hotel Villa Florencia.
Day 3 – Turrialba | Birdwatching We will dedicate the day to exploring different areas of Turrialba and its surroundings. The combination of forests, open areas and different elevation levels makes it possible to find a wide variety of habitats within the same region. The day’s program will be organized by the naturalist guide, with the aim of taking advantage of the best conditions for birdwatching and bird photography. Accommodation: Hotel Villa Florencia.
Day 4 – Turrialba – Sarapiquí | Finca Surá We will continue toward the humid lowlands of the Northern Caribbean, one of the most biodiverse regions of Costa Rica. The change in elevation and ecosystem will bring new natural conditions and different observation opportunities. Finca Surá is surrounded by gardens, secondary forest and productive areas that form part of Sarapiquí’s characteristic landscape and provide good conditions for birdwatching and bird photography. Accommodation: Finca Surá.
Day 5 – Sarapiquí – Boca Tapada | Hotel Pedacito de Cielo After breakfast, we will continue to Boca Tapada, in northern Costa Rica. This region is characterized by extensive humid forests, rivers, wetlands and areas of great natural richness. Throughout the day, different stops and birdwatching activities may be arranged according to the guide’s recommendations and the conditions along the route. Hotel Pedacito de Cielo is set within a natural environment that provides access to different habitats of interest to birdwatchers and bird photographers. Accommodation: Hotel Pedacito de Cielo.
Day 6 – Boca Tapada | Birdwatching We will dedicate the day to exploring Boca Tapada and its surroundings. The humid forests, areas near rivers and other natural environments in the region offer different birdwatching opportunities throughout the day. The naturalist guide will determine the best locations and times for the activities, maintaining the flexibility needed to make the most of the day’s natural conditions. Accommodation: Hotel Pedacito de Cielo.
Day 7 – Boca Tapada – San Ramón | Mirador de Quetzales We will leave the northern lowlands behind and climb once again into the mountains of Costa Rica. The journey toward San Ramón brings another change in elevation and ecosystem, introducing montane forests and transition zones. Mirador de Quetzales is located in a natural setting that is well suited for continuing our birdwatching activities in a region with characteristics different from those visited during the previous days. Accommodation: Mirador de Quetzales.
Day 8 – San Ramón – Miramar | Posada Las Orquídeas. We will continue toward Miramar, gradually approaching the Pacific region. This area represents another transition between ecosystems and adds different natural environments to the journey. During the transfer and around Miramar, we will take advantage of birdwatching opportunities according to the naturalist guide’s planning. Posada Las Orquídeas will be our base for exploring this region. Accommodation: Posada Las Orquídeas.
Day 9 – Miramar – Tárcoles | Tarcoles Lodge. The journey continues toward Tárcoles, an especially interesting area due to the close proximity of several different ecosystems. In this region, tropical dry forest, mangroves and areas associated with Carara National Park come together, allowing us to explore a variety of habitats throughout the day. Tarcoles Lodge is conveniently located for continuing birdwatching and bird photography activities in the Central Pacific region. Accommodation: Tarcoles Lodge.
Day 10 – Tárcoles – Quepos | Campesinos Lodge We will continue toward Quepos, adding one final ecosystem to the journey before the trip comes to an end. The landscape changes once again, this time toward Central Pacific rainforest environments, offering new birdwatching opportunities. Campesinos Lodge is surrounded by nature and provides a fitting setting to conclude the expedition in an environment different from those visited earlier in the journey. The guide will use this final birdwatching day to explore the best opportunities available in the region. Accommodation: Campesinos Lodge.
Day 11 – Departure from Costa Rica After breakfast, and according to the schedule of your international flight, private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport. End of services.
An Experience for Bird and Nature Lovers
Wings of Costa Rica is designed for small groups, allowing greater flexibility during birdwatching outings, more personalized attention from the guide, and better conditions for travelers who also enjoy nature photography.
The journey is available from 2 participants, with a maximum of 10 travelers per group.
Because birdwatching depends on natural conditions, the itinerary maintains a certain degree of flexibility. The guide may adjust locations, schedules and activities according to weather conditions, the time of year and bird activity observed during the trip.
Your Experience Includes
10 nights of accommodation
Specialized naturalist guide throughout the trip
Operational coordination by Green Stone Adventures throughout the journey
Daily breakfasts
Birdwatching activities
Private transportation throughout the journey
All entrance fees required for the activities included in the itinerary
All scheduled access fees included in the program are covered in the quotation, helping avoid additional charges for the activities included in the itinerary.
Representative Birds Along the Journey
The following species are part of the program’s preliminary bird list and are grouped by region for easier reference.
CARTAGO Resplendent Quetzal Emerald Toucanet Silver-throated Tanager Prong-billed Barbet Violet Sabrewing Golden-browed Chlorophonia Black Guan Northern Emerald-Toucanet
TURRIALBA Snowcap Green Thorntail Keel-billed Toucan Collared Aracari Black-headed Trogon White-necked Jacobin Crested Guan Bay-headed Tanager
SARAPIQUÍ Great Green Macaw Sunbittern American Pygmy Kingfisher Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Black-cheeked Woodpecker Keel-billed Toucan Montezuma Oropendola White-fronted Nunbird
BOCA TAPADA Agami Heron Green Ibis Great Green Macaw Sungrebe Black-collared Hawk Nicaraguan Seed-Finch White-ringed Flycatcher Rufous-tailed Jacamar
SAN RAMÓN Emerald Toucanet Prong-billed Barbet Golden-browed Chlorophonia Black Guan Violet Sabrewing Mountain Thrush Resplendent Quetzal Silver-throated Tanager
MIRAMAR Turquoise-browed Motmot White-throated Magpie-Jay Orange-fronted Parakeet Long-tailed Manakin Lesson's Motmot Black-headed Trogon White Hawk Crested Guan
TÁRCOLES Scarlet Macaw Mangrove Hummingbird Boat-billed Heron Fiery-billed Aracari Black-headed Trogon Rufous-tailed Jacamar White-throated Magpie-Jay Laughing Falcon
QUEPOS White-crested Coquette Fiery-billed Aracari Black-faced Antthrush White-whiskered Puffbird Baird's Trogon Golden-naped Woodpecker Red-capped Manakin White-crowned Manakin
This list is preliminary and does not guarantee sightings. The presence of each species will depend on the time of year, weather conditions, natural bird activity and the daily planning of the specialized guide.
