Classic Costa Rica

Our “Classic” Costa Rica tour has been designed to sample most of the country’s major habitats while keeping travel time to an acceptable level. Targeting many of Costa Rica’s most charismatic bird species, we’ll travel to the steamy Caribbean lowlands, up through the foothills and cloudforests of the bird-rich eastern slopes, into the gorgeous oak forests and the scrubby paramo of the high Talamanca mountains, and down into the transitional forests in the Pacific coastal lowlands. All along the way, we’ll be staying in comfortable lodges, usually with fantastic birding right outside our cabin doors!

Some of the highlights on the Caribbean slope could include: Great Green Macaw and Snowy Cotinga in the vast forest reserve at La Selva, the striking Ocellated Antbird and scarce Lattice-tailed Trogon at Braulio Carrillo NP, the incredible Sunbittern and two exquisite tiny hummingbirds–Snowcap and Black-crested Coquette–at the renowned Rancho Naturalista, and Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Prong-billed Barbet in the cloudforests of Tapanti NP.

In the highlands we’ll seek out the spectacular Resplendent Quetzal and a host of Chiriqui specialties, from the delightful Collared Redstart to the dazzling Flame-throated Warbler and grumpy-looking Volcano Juncos. And on the Pacific slope, we’ll watch for local specialties like Orange-collared Manakin and Fiery-billed Aracari at Carara NP, the very local endemic Mangrove Hummingbird along the coast, Turquoise-browed Motmot and the odd Double-striped Thick-knee in the dry Guanacaste scrub, and the bizarre Three-wattled Bellbird in the famous cloudforests at Monteverde.

Come join us and discover for yourself all the reasons why Costa Rica has long been a favorite destination for our guides and clients alike!