Costa Rica Birding with Canadian Geographic

Land Tour
Highlights

Highlights

  • In partnership with Canadian Geographic Adventures
  • Wonderful birdwatching at mid-to-low elevations awards us with a stunning diversity of not just birds, but mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and even fish!
  • A chance to see and photograph some of the world’s most colourful birds, but also some of the most elusive, such as antbirds.
  • Raptor migration with the passage of millions of hawks en route to their wintering grounds.
  • A chance to see nesting sea turtles or hatchlings shuffling into the Caribbean surf.
  • Devout coffee drinkers can enjoy a short tour of a family-run finca while sipping on a freshly-brewed café, and bring some home too!

Tour Overview

A small country that packs a giant biodiversity punch, Costa Rica is considered one of the most—if not the most—diverse country on the planet by land area! Owing to its tropical latitude, varied topography and microclimates, and an enviable amount of protected areas, there is no better place to enjoy a good day’s worth of birding for the level of effort involved. And within this magnificent country, there is nowhere more diverse than the Caribbean slope and lowlands.

From the highlands to the sandy shores of the Caribbean coast, to the slopes of the Arenal Volcano, we take in some of the most exciting birdwatching sites this country has to offer. At this time of year, raptor and passerine migration is in full swing and is an underestimated natural phenomenon that can provide hours of entertainment with the restless birds doing all the work! We combine seeing these alongside less familiar tropical resident birds such as the Resplendent Quetzal, macaws, toucans, owls and antbirds to name a few. We will soak in the vistas of the pyramidal Arenal Volcano and stay on the grounds of a top birding site, Arenal Observatory Lodge, where Great Curasows can be seen from the breakfast table. Along our relatively short route (we only cover one side of the country, after all!), we will have a special opportunity to visit a local farm and explore a wonderful array of tropical orchids.

On top of its astonishing diversity, Costa Rica offers a first-class health care system, comfortable accommodation, solid infrastructure and peaceful policies. This, in combination with the untapped naturalist’s dream that is the Caribbean side, prompts us to offer this exciting new Costa Rica Caribbean birding tour!

What's Included

Tour Price Includes

  • All accommodation and meals
  • Ground transportation (air conditioned bus with driver)
  • 6 - 8 Participants will be guided by one guide and an ambassador. 9 - 12 participants will be guided by two guides and an ambassador
  • All park, conservation and entrance fees
  • Gratuities to local drivers

Tour Price Does Not Include

  • Flights to and from San José
  • Travel Insurance
  • Items of a personal nature

What to Expect

Overview

The Costa Rica Birding with Canadian Geographic tour is a relaxed birding and wildlife tour. We have at least two nights in each birding zone so there will be some downtime between outings. Some days we offer optional walks before breakfast and after dinner; on other days we’ll pack up early for departure. In the tropics it is best to get out at dawn when bird activity is the highest. Often things slow down by noon when we may return to our hotel for lunch and a short siesta. The daily travel schedule will vary to account for weather and our activities and objectives for the day. 

Food

We generally have breakfast at the hotel before we head out for the day. We often take a picnic lunch in the field, but will occasionally stop at a restaurant for lunch. In the evening we eat at the hotel or lodge where we are staying. At this time we discuss the day’s activities, review the list of birds and other wildlife that we have seen and heard, and prepare for the next day.

Accommodation

Generally we stay in standard hotel rooms or rustic lodges, in remote locations, close to where we want to go exploring.  

Walking

The walking on this tour is rated easy to moderate. Generally we do not walk further than 5 km (3 miles), however the terrain can be uneven and muddy. The maximum elevation we will be walking at is approximately 3,000 m (10,000 ft), during our day on the Irazú Volcano. Our accommodations in the highlands sit at 2,200 m (7,200 ft), but other accommodations are at less than 1,500 m (5,000 ft). 

Driving

This trip involves a moderate amount of driving, as we relocate to several amazing locations throughout the tour. Most accommodations are 2-3 hours apart, except one which is an hour away and another four hours distant. We will take frequent rest stops and birding stops on these travel days. On the non-relocating days, we will drive just short distances to amazing birding locations. Throughout the tour, we travel on paved roads, however there will be some twisty roads when driving through the mountains.

Climate

Temperatures will range from warm to hot, with an often daily mixture of sun, cloud, showers and rain. In general, the Caribbean is a wetter area but showers are often at night. Mosquitoes are not usually a problem but can be active in the evenings or in certain areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of joining a tour with Canadian Geographic?
Eagle-Eye Tours and Canadian Geographic partnered in 2022 to develop some amazing tours in Canada and beyond. The Eagle-Eye Tours in-house logistics team still handles all of the details, and we still send one or two of our expert guides, so you can expect the same great experience you would have on our other tours. But in addition, you will be joined by a Canadian Geographic ambassador. The ambassador is selected from among the Society’s Explorers-in-Residence program, or its College of Fellows, or a Can Geo Photographer-in-Residence or Filmmaker-in-Residence. The ambassador serves as an extra resource during your tour. Whereas our EET guides will be expert birders and naturalists, the Can Geo ambassador will contribute insights in other areas such as history, exploration or culture. You will feel an amazing benefit from having these interesting individuals come along on your travels. Guest experiences are further enhanced by a pre-trip virtual meet-and-greet, customized digital libraries from Canadian Geographic’s award-winning story collection, a Can Geo welcome package and, if you choose to subscribe to the magazine, membership in the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Eagle-Eye Tours standard terms and conditions apply. A portion of the fees from every Canadian Geographic Adventure booked is donated to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to further its important programming.

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

  • Scarlet and Great-green Macaws
  • Black-crested Coquette
  • Sulphur-rumped Tanager
  • Swainson’s Hawk
  • Roseate Spoonbill
  • Keel-billed Motmot
  • Great Curassow
  • Three species of primates
  • Poison Arrow and Tree Frogs
  • Green Sea Turtle