The original pioneer of ecotravel and in birding tourism, Costa Rica is a birder’s paradise. With amazing eco-lodges, fantastic food, and rich biodiversity packed into a country the size of West Virginia, over ¼ of the nation is protected in national park land, wildlife sanctuaries or private nature reserves. On this easy-going and comfortable tour, we seek all of the animals from Toucans and Motmots, to Red-eyed Tree Frogs and Three-toed Sloths, all while enjoying good coffee, fresh local fruits, and taking in the magical landscapes. We will take you to the best wildlife sites and birding hotspots of the Caribbean slope, from the rich wetlands of Cano Negro, and foothill forests of the magnificent Arenal Volcano, to the historic rainforests of La Selva, this tour has it all.
Laughing Falcon
Tour Features
An 8-night jaunt for thrilling birds, with time for herps, mammals & plant life too.
A Caribbean focus, exploring foothill and lowland sites at Arenal, the magical Frio River wetlands, & iconic La Selva.
Popular trip for besties, couples and first-timers to the tropics.
Good pace using 4 hotels, with wonderful lodging and good food amid a rich coffee-growing region.
Experience 4 distinct habitats, cloud forest (including Volcano Arenal), the central valley, lowland rainforest, and a RAMSAR wetland.
Diversity of the habitats dictates a rich diversity of bird species seen.
Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrival into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Welcome Dinner at hotel with nice grounds for birding. Night just outside San Jose.
Day 2: Transfer to Arenal Observatory Lodge, PM Birding around the lodge, night at the lodge.
Days 3 & 4: Exploring the grounds/surroundings of Arenal Observatory Lodge & nights there.
Day 5. Transfer to Caño Negro. PM Birding near the lodge. Night in Caño Negro.
Day 6: Morning river boat tour, afternoon transfer to La Selva Biological Station, PM Birding, & night there.
Day 7: Exploring La Selva, & night there.
Day 8: AM Birding at La Selva, & transfer to San Jose, and night outside San Jose.
Day 9: Airport drop-off & departure, OR… join the Pacific Specials tour & keep up the fun!
Sites & Hotspots
San Jose Central Valley
Drained by the Tarcoles River, representing ⅕ of the land area of the nation, and home to ¾ of all Costa Rican residents, even in this most populous region, there are some nice birds one can see around town. Depending on arrival times, we may have an afternoon or the first or final morning to enjoy Costa Rican birdlife on the grounds of the hotel. Species like Gray-headed Chachalaca, Lesson’s Motmot, Hoffman’s Woodpeckers, Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Cabanis’s Wren and others are birds we may see here to better advantage than elsewhere. Just outside of San Jose there are some patches of forest too that can have specials such as Prong-billed Barbet, Violet Sabrewing, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, or even Crimson-collared Tanager.
Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
Caribbean Lowlands, including La Selva
Right alongside Braulio Carillo National Park, the historic and famous La Selva Biological Station was established in 1953 and taken over by the Organization of Tropical Studies in 1968 to be managed as a reserve and biological station. It remains among Costa Rica’s best known birding sites, with oodles of goodies to seek. While trying to see unique fauna in the area like the Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (or “Blue Jeans Frogs”), some target species include Great Tinamou, Scaled Pigeon, Great Green Macaw, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Middle American Screech-Owl, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Snowy Cotinga, Black-capped Pygmy-tyrant, and Dusky-faced Tanager. Optional nocturnal outings could yield Middle American Screech-Owl, Mottled or Spectacled Owl, among other species.
Striped Owl
Frio River Wetlands: Medio Queso & Caño Negro
An area some refer to as ‘the Pantanal of Costa Rica’, the northern wetlands we visit include the RAMSAR site (worldwide importance for wetlands conservation) of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge & the Medio Queso wetlands. Just south of the Nicaraguan border, we aim to find birds such as Pinnated Bittern, Nicaraguan Grackle, Sungrebe, and Yellow-breasted Crake. These sites are among the best places in the world to see these birds. Not always do we see all of them, as some are tricky, but along the way we should also see other birds such as Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Black-collared Hawk, Snail Kite, Limpkin, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher, and Olive-crowned Yellowthroat. Nearby at dusk, we may search for night birds too, with Great Potoo, Striped Owl, Black-and-White Owl, and Pacific Screech-Owl all possible. Often our checklist for the Caño Negro boat ride approaches 100 species! And, while this is not a ‘photography tour’ per se, this part of the trip often provides great photo opps. Plus we should see the prehistoric-looking Spectacled Caiman up close too.
Ocellated Antbird
Cloud Forest
Working the area around Arenal Observatory Lodge, birding and exploring the mid-elevation forests and trails, we will also soak up the action at the feeding stations and the observation areas on the grounds of the lodge. Feeders may attract Emerald and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Crested Guan, and Montezuma Oropendola. Hummingbird gardens often offer experiences with Violet-headed Hummingbirds and the chance at Black-crested Coquette. One morning, we will visit the hanging bridges of a nearby hotspot, a site that offers canopy-level suspension bridges and trails through this great forest. This provides us an amazing opportunity to see canopy species, sometimes right at eye-level. We will keep our eyes peeled for localized specialties like Black-and-Yellow Tanager, Yellow-eared Toucanet, and Blue-and-Gold Tanager. Watching for raptors soaring above the canopy in the mid-morning sun, we might even spot Ornate or Black Hawk-Eagles, and White Hawk among others. Antbirds will also be a focus here, as we work forest trails, with chances for Bicolored, Spotted, Ocellated, Dull-mantled, Zeledon’s and Dusky Antbird all possible.
PRICE & BOOKING INFO
Tour Price/person*: $4850
Deposit: $1000/person
Single supplement: $1235
Final payment due by: November 7, 2026 or upon registration if after
Group size: 6 to 10 guests
*Based on double occupancy at lodgings, with a group size of 6 to 10 registrants. Maximum group size is 10 registrants, plus guide(s) and driver(s). If there are fewer than 6 registrants, this tour may be canceled or re-negotiated. Note that if you want a roommate we can try to find you one, but we cannot guarantee all guests a roommate. If none is available, you will be charged the single supplement.
The tour price (fee) includes services from upon arrival on Day 1 into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica until your transfer to the airport on Day 9, including:
All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 9.
All accommodations from Day 1 through until Day 9.
All transport from arrival into the SJO on Day 1, and including transport back to SJO when guests depart on their international flight out of Costa Rica.
All guiding services, access permits and entrance fees to birding areas.
Tips for staff at hotels and restaurants.
Excluded from your tour fee are:
International flights. (We can advise, but Hillstar does not book international flights).
Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, charges for phone calls, and any other items of a personal nature.
Expenses associated with travel such as insurance, visa fees, airport taxes, airline baggage fees, vaccinations, etc.
Tips for guides and the driver.
The receipt of your tour deposit shall be deemed to be consent to our Terms and Conditions of Booking. Each tour participant and each parent or legal guardian of a tour participant under the age of 18 shall sign and deliver the release and indemnity agreement at the time of registration.
Documents
All travelers must have a current passport, valid for at least six months beyond the start date of this tour. Citizens from the US, Canada, the UK, and most European nations do not need a visa. If you are unsure about the entry requirements for your nationality, we advise checking on the Jamaican immigration website here: http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/51
Cancellation Policy
We strongly recommend all guests purchase travel insurance, including coverage for medical evacuation services and trip curtailment, in advance of this tour. It is important to protect against financial losses in the event that a registrant becomes unable to participate in the tour. Note that such coverage is often non-refundable so please check with the Hillstar Nature team before purchasing it, to confirm the tour is to proceed as planned.
If cancellation is received:
180 days or more prior to the start of the tour, a full refund minus a $500/person processing fee is issued to registrant(s).
Between 179 and 90 days prior to the start of the tour, half of the tour fee will be returned to the registrant.
89 days or less prior to departure, no refund of payments or deposits are issued.
The team at Hillstar Nature reserves the right to refuse service to any registrant/participant who acts disruptive, routinely disrespectful, or in a manner inconsistent with the goals of the company. All guests are expected to comply with the rules and agenda set forth by the guide(s) of the tour, and to behave in a way that is considerate and conducive to a quality group experience.
Pace, Rigor, Climate & Pests
Ranges from very warm to pleasant, with daytime highs between 75 and 85 F degrees.
Hot temps in the lowland zones, with daytime highs in the mid-80s to low 90s F
Food is excellent throughout, with all meals having great Gluten-free and Vegetarian options.
Accommodations are 3 to 4 stars.
No rigorous hiking required, most mornings of walking and birding along dirt roads and easy trails.
A couple drives of 4+ hours, otherwise mostly short drive times between sites.
Early mornings, up before dawn. Usually back to the hotel by 12pm for lunch.
Afternoon birding or relaxing after lunch, with a couple evenings of night birding.
Generally, nature enthusiasts visiting Costa Rica do not encounter diseases like Malaria, but it is possible, however extremely unlikely. We urge guests to consult a doctor about vaccinations and medications prior to travel.
All participants are recommended to have COVID-19 vaccinations.
The water is safe to drink everywhere in the country, but if you are ever unsure, we will make sure to get bottled/filtered water for you.
Packing
Please limit yourself to one suitcase/duffel and another daypack/backpack for daily outings from the lodge. Group travel dictates we consider our fellow traveler’s comfort, and this includes not over-packing.
Lightweight and breathable clothing good for warm climates is recommended, as well as neutral colors and earth tones to increase the chances of close bird encounters and reduce startling wildlife.
Long sleeved shirts and long pants are HIGHLY recommended to avoid insects and sun. Not really advised to bird in shorts and t-shirts.
Rain jackets/rain shells and ponchos are recommended as we may encounter light afternoon showers, but they usually don’t last long. If bringing an umbrella, make sure it’s a small travel-sized one.
Comfortable trail or hiking shoes are recommended, as well as light shoes or sandals for wearing around the lodge and on travel days.
Power outlets in Costa Rica are Type A (2-prong) and Type B (2-prong with ground), the same plug configuration as the United States and Canada.
View Hillstar Nature’s Terms & Conditions of Booking
