Costa Rica Birdwatching Experience

Welcome to Costa Rica. Upon arrival at the airport, a representative will meet you and assist with your transfer to the hotel in San José. Once you arrive, check in and enjoy some leisure time to refresh and settle into your room. Overnight stay in San José.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will collect you from the lobby around 10 am for a private transfer to the lush Sarapiqui region. Arriving in the early afternoon, you will join an expert guide for a naturalist hike through the rainforest. This walk offers a chance to observe the rich biodiversity up close—keep an eye out for monkeys, mot-mots, toucans and poison dart frogs while learning about their unique behaviours and habitats. Don’t forget your camera to capture these moments. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel before settling in for an overnight stay in Sarapiqui.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time to relax by the pool set amidst lush surroundings, followed by a delightful lunch at the lodge. Around midday, a representative will collect you from the lobby for a private transfer to La Fortuna de San Carlos, the gateway to the impressive Arenal Volcano. Upon arrival, take time to appreciate the striking natural beauty of the area. You may choose to explore independently or simply unwind at your hotel. Overnight in Arenal.

We start early at around 5:15 am for a transfer to a nearby natural park, arriving by 5:30 am. With an expert naturalist guide, we spend approximately four hours exploring the rich birdlife of the rainforest. The trail passes through tree plantations, gallery forest alongside a significant local river, regenerating forest, open grasslands, pastures, and small brooks, offering varied habitats for a wide range of bird species. Expect to see birds such as Great Kiskadees, Tropical Kingbird Flycatchers, Montezuma Orioles, Variable Seedeaters, Tropical Tyrants, Red-billed Pigeons, and Groove-billed Anis. A light breakfast of fresh fruit, juice, and coffee is served during the tour. After returning to the hotel to rest, we depart again around 2:00 pm for El Silencio Private Reserve. Here, we travel by vehicle as close as possible to the base of Arenal Volcano before walking about one kilometre along a volcanic stone path of moderate difficulty to reach the viewpoint—the closest accessible point to the volcano. Our guide will share factual information about the volcano’s formation, its active periods, and details of its first eruption in 1968. From this vantage point, you can enjoy views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. We then descend the same trail and continue through regenerating forest into primary rainforest on the volcano’s outskirts before returning to the hotel for the night.

After breakfast, check out around 9:00 am and take a private transfer to Dota, located near Los Quetzales National Park. Nestled in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountain Range, Dota is renowned for its stunning natural surroundings. The area offers excellent opportunities for hiking and wildlife observation, particularly of the region’s distinctive flora and fauna. In the afternoon, you have free time to explore the village at your own pace or simply unwind at the lodge. Overnight in Dota.

Rise early today for a guided walk through the cloud forest, beginning around 5:30 am. We will take a gentle 1.5-kilometre trail to the quetzal’s natural habitat, accompanied by a professional guide who will share detailed insights and use a spotting scope and bird guide to enhance the experience. The walk lasts approximately two hours. The remainder of the day is yours to relax amid the pristine surroundings or to enjoy an optional activity in the area. Overnight in Dota.

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before checking out at a convenient time. We will then transfer you privately to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your onward flight home.