Dates: February 28-March 12, 2026

Leader: David Ascanio

E-bird

Total Species: 357 birds

Click Here to view list.

Overall Summary

Costa Rica always delivers, but this year’s tour went beyond expectations!

The Best of Costa Rica VENT tour traced a vivid path across the country’s most iconic habitats. In the cool highlands of Cerro de la Muerte, mist clung to mossy oaks as high-elevation species emerged at dawn. Resplendent Quetzals, Black Guan, and other cloud forest specialists gave the mountains a quiet, almost reverent feel.

Dropping toward the Pacific brought a dramatic shift at Carara. Dry forest blended into humid jungle, and bird activity surged. Scarlet Macaws crossed the sky in noisy pairs, while shaded trails held trogons, manakins, and antbirds. The contrast between habitats made every walk unpredictable and exciting.

The atmosphere softened in the mid-elevation cloud forest of Bosque de Paz, where close encounters with hummingbirds defined the experience. Feeders provided views of glistening birds, while tanagers added bursts of color, and the surrounding forest offered relaxed but rewarding birding in a peaceful setting.

At Arenal National Park, rainforest spread beneath the looming volcano. Quiet mixed-species flocks moved steadily through the canopy, with toucans, woodcreepers, and flycatchers, including a pair of confident Long-tailed Tyrants. The landscape itself added drama to every sighting.

The journey ended in the Caribbean lowlands, where humidity, sound, and abundance came together. Oropendolas, parrots, and toucans dominated the mornings, while rivers and forest edges revealed trogons, jacamars, and migrant songbirds. It was a fitting conclusion—lush, lively, and overflowing with birds—capturing the essence of Costa Rica’s remarkable diversity.

Day-by-Day Summary

March 1 - Hotel Bougainvillea to Savegre

Hotel gardens produced Lesson’s Motmot, Bicolored Hawk, and a roosting Mottled Owl. After breakfast, we drove up the Panamerican Highway to Cerro de la Muerte, stopping at Paraiso Quetzal where highlights included Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Golden-browed Euphonia, Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge, and Flame-throated Warbler—a strong start to the trip.

March 2 - Cerro de la Muerte / Savegre Valley

A pair of Resplendent Quetzals feeding in a wild avocado tree stole the show. The rest of the day along forest trails delivered classic cloud forest species like Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Tufted Flycatcher, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, and a mixed flock with Spangle-cheeked Tanager.

March 3 - To Carara National Park

Descending to the Pacific lowlands, we reached Carara and quickly found Turquoise-browed Motmot, Mantled Howler Monkeys, and parrots including Red-lored and Yellow-naped Amazons.

March 4 - Carara National Park

A full day in the park featured a Collared Forest-Falcon at eye level and an exciting army ant swarm with species like Bicolored Antbird and Tawny-winged Woodcreeper. Afternoon birding added Ruddy Quail-Dove and Great Tinamou, plus coastal views with frigatebirds.

March 5 - Tárcoles River

Boat trips on the river produced a wide variety of waterbirds, raptors, and mangrove species, including Mangrove Vireo and a close view of the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird.

March 6 - San Ramón to Bosque de Paz

In farmland near San Ramón, we heard (but didn’t see) Three-wattled Bellbird and saw Sunbittern. At San Luis, an army ant swarm gave us an unforgettable Rufous-bellied Ground-Cuckoo. Feeders added colorful tanagers and a nesting Collared Trogon before continuing to Bosque de Paz.

March 7 - Bosque de Paz

Hummingbird feeders were active with Violet Sabrewing and Green-crowned Brilliant, while trails produced Black-banded Woodcreeper and Costa Rican Warbler. Another ant swarm added more forest specialists.

March 8 - Arenal & Sarapiquí

Around Arenal, we saw Nightingale Wren, Black-capped Nightingale-Thrush, and open-area species like Crested Guan and Rufous-tailed Jacamar. Later, at Sarapiquí, a major highlight was a Margay with its kitten, plus Striped Owl and Russet-naped Wood-Rail.

March 9 - La Selva Biological Station

Rich Caribbean lowland birding included Black-crowned Antshrike, Spotted Antbird, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, and nesting Pale-billed Woodpeckers. Other highlights were Great Green Macaws, Bat Falcon, and brief views of White-throated Crakes.

March 10 - Cope’s & Aerial Tram

At Cope’s property we saw Crested Owl and Spectacled Owls. The Aerial Tram offered canopy views of Swallow-tailed Kite, Double-toothed Kite, and Carmiol’s Tanager, plus hummingbirds like Crowned Woodnymph.

March 11 - Return to San José

Morning birding added Slaty-tailed Trogon and Bright-rumped Attila. En route stops produced hummingbirds, barbets, and Zeledon’s Antbird. The trip ended perfectly with two male Resplendent Quetzals at Poás Volcano.

Wildlife Seen: 

Coyote

Canis latrans

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

Variegated Squirrel

Sciurus variegatoides

Red-tailed Squirrel

Sciurus granatensis

White-noed Coati

Nasua narica

American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

Spectacled Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Spiny-tailed Black Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

Green Spiny Lizard

Sceloporus malachiticus

Yellow-eared Slider

Trachemys sp. Eyelash Viper

Bothriechis schlegeli

Central America Spider Monkey

Monkey

Ateles geoffroyi

Striped Basilisk

Basiliscus vittatus

House Gecko

Hemidactylus frenatus

Black River Turtle

Rhinoclemmys funerea

White-lipped Turtle

Cryptochelis leucostoma

Cane Frog

Rhinella marina

Strawberry Poison Dart Frog

Oophaga pumilio

Halloween Crab

Gecarcinus quadratus

Costa Rican Redleg Tarantula / Orange-knee Tarantula

Addomegaphobema mesomelas

Machaca Fish

Brycon guatemalensis

  
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