Costa Rica Birding

Ten days of birdwatching: Dota, Pérez Zeledón, Bahía Drake with pelagic trip, Tárcoles, and Sarapiquí.

SalidaFeb 1–10, 2027

Duration10 days

Cupos4 spots left

Precio$4,640 p/p

Green HermitCosta Rica · Photo by Dennis Fernández

A coast-to-coast birdwatching route: highlands, South Pacific foothills, the sea off Drake, the Tárcoles dry forest, and the northern wetlands.

Led by Geo Expedition CR with Dennis Fernández as naturalist guide and photographer. Includes a 4-5 hour pelagic trip in the Pacific and a full day in the wetlands.

Upcoming departures

February 1–10, 2027

4 spots left

$4,640 per person
Deposit of $1,000 per person to reserve your spot. Balance due 30 days before departure.

Cancellation: no additional charge 60 or more days in advance. See the full policy below.

One day at a time

The itinerary

Day 01

Costa Rica Highlands

Pickup at Juan Santamaría Airport and travel to Dota. Highlights: Resplendent Quetzal, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Bat Falcon, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Spotted Tanager, Volcano Junco, and nightjars.

Day 02

Costa Rica Highlands

Breakfast at the lodge and travel to San Gerardo de Dota (40 min). Highlights: Ruddy-capped Spinetail, Ruddy Treerunner, Torrent Tyrannulet, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Stripe-backed Tanager, and Talamanca Hummingbird.

Day 03

Pérez Zeledón, foothills

About 2 hours to the second lodge, where we spend two nights. Highlights: Prong-billed Barbet, White-tailed Emerald, Speckled Tanager, Elegant Euphonia, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, White-crested Coquette, and Red-headed Barbet.

Day 04

Pérez Zeledón, second day

Specialties: Common Potoo, Orange-collared Manakin, vireos, Rufous Piha, Golden-crowned Spadebill, Long-billed Hermit, Olivaceous Piculet, and Velvet-fronted Grackle.

Day 05

Drake Bay, South Pacific

About 4 hours travel, perhaps more because we birdwatch along the way. Arrival at the lodge to prepare for the next day.

Day 06

Drake Bay, pelagic trip

Boxed breakfast and 4 to 5 hours in the Pacific looking for terns, petrels, gulls, phalaropes, shorebirds, Blue-footed Booby, and shearwaters.

Day 07

From Drake to Tárcoles

Travel to the Central Pacific, a good stop for dry forest birds. One night here. Highlights: Common Black Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, Scarlet Macaws, White-whiskered Puffbird, and Royal Flycatcher.

Day 08

From Tárcoles to Sarapiquí

Through the Central Valley, with a special stop for the Scintillant Hummingbird, Lancebill, Black-bellied Hummingbird, and Bat Falcon. Two nights in Sarapiquí.

Day 09

Wetlands Excursion

Very early departure to one of the best birding sites in the country: Snail Kite, kingfishers, Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron, rails, Yellow-headed Vulture, swallow-tailed kites, bitterns, and King Vulture. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.

Day 10

From Sarapiquí to the airport

Breakfast and transfer to the international airport in Alajuela (about 2.5 hours). We recommend afternoon or evening flights.

The photographs we seek

Also: Scarlet Macaw · Roseate Spoonbill · Blue-footed Booby · White-crested Coquette · Fiery-throated Hummingbird · Cusingo

Talamanca HighlandsSouth Pacific FoothillsOpen sea (pelagic)Central Pacific Dry ForestNorthern Wetlands

Included

Hotel accommodation
Reserve entrance fees and private tours
Private transportation
Local guides at selected sites
Naturalist guide and photographer
Breakfast every day

Not included

International flights
Laundry
Travel insurance
Lunches and dinners
Gratuities

Recommended gear

Binoculares
Telephoto lens camera if photographing
Rain protection
Cold weather clothing for the highlands
Sun protection at sea

Payments

Deposit of $1,000 USD per person to reserve your spot.
The full balance is due 30 days before the tour start.
All amounts in USD per person.
Failure to make timely payments may result in tour cancellation.
The deposit covers initial expenses such as hotels, permits, and local guides, which is why it is non-refundable.

Cancellation policy · expeditions

Cancellations made 60 days or more before the start of the photography tour: no additional charge.
Cancellations made between 59 and 30 days prior: 50% refund of the reservation, except for the initial deposit paid.
Cancellations made 29 days or less before the photography tour: no refund.
Early departures or late arrivals: no refund on the written reservation.
No-show: no refund for the reservation.

Geo Expedition CR