Costa Rica
Dates: November 15 - 23, 2025
Leaders: David Ascanio, Local Leader
E-bird
Total Species: 243 birds
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Overall Summary
Our Relaxed & Easy® tour of magical Costa Rica provided everything we could hope for, from the Resplendent Quetzal to an amazing 28 species of hummingbirds. We also enjoyed a family group of Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridges, trogons, toucans, and 17 tanager species—an indescribably riotous mix of beautiful colors!
A warm morning welcomed us to the gardens of the Hotel Bougainvillea, where a Mottled Owl was at roost inside a stand of bamboo. Photos and videos were followed by a walk on the paved path leading through a wonderful assortment of plants, from bromeliads to orchids and scattered trees. In the bushes here, we spotted the unique White-eared Ground-Sparrow and a number of boreal migrants, including Yellow-throated and Philadelphia vireos and Tennessee and Northern Yellow warblers.
Leaving the central valley of San Jose, we started our ascent of the Pan-American Highway toward Cerro Buenaventura (or Cerro de la Muerte), the land where quetzals reign.
Once we reached the cloud forest, we made a detour to Paraiso Quetzal for amazing views over lunch of Fiery-throated and Talamanca hummingbirds, two species found only in this part of Costa Rica and adjacent Panama. We also added Volcano Hummingbird, Lesser Violetear, and White-throated Mountain-gem to our growing tally. After lunch, we explored the grounds of the restaurant and were astonished to find a pair of Golden-browed Chlorophonias and the Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge. Not so long ago, one could only dream of seeing the wood-partridge, but thanks to the decade-long efforts of the family that manages this property to protect birds and their habitats, it is now possible for visitors to see these birds at close range.
After a cup of wonderful coffee, we returned to the highway and drove on to the highest elevation of our tour. Above tree line, the Antenna Road area is dominated by native shrubs and extensive stands of native bamboo. Our searching paid off with superb views of Volcano Junco and Timberline Wren. After a very productive day, it was time to drive back down to Hotel Savegre, our home for the next two nights.
Our next day began in the cool high-elevation cloud forests of Cerro de la Muerte. The crisp air and moss-draped trees were the stage for one of the most iconic sights in birding: the Resplendent Quetzal. It was pure magic to watch that emerald plumage shimmer in the morning light. Among the other winged marvels we met up with were the White-throated Mountain-gem, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Collared Redstart, Silver-throated Tanager, Flame-throated Warbler, and our bonus for the day, the Black-thighed Grosbeak.
The following day was one of contrasts as we drove from the mountains down into the San Jose Valley and then to the Caribbean lowlands. Our drive on the highway through amazing rain forest was breathtaking, just as spectacular as our lunch in the Pierella Gardens. Here in the tropical zone, years of conservation work have helped wildlife survive, and the number of birds we saw was amazing, ranging from the tiny American Pygmy Kingfisher to the gorgeous Wood Thrush, a boreal migrant. We also observed Broad-billed Motmots and had daytime encounters with two nocturnal species, the Spectacled Owl and the Common Pauraque (a species of nightjar).
Three full days followed in the amazingly bird-rich lowlands of the Caribbean, where we birded such disparate locations as the world-famous La Selva Biological Station—one of the crown jewels of tropical ecology—and the superb Aerial Tram. We also had the privilege of spending a morning with Cope, a great artist, who took us to see a pair of Crested Owls after we had fallen in love with his Shangri-La of a garden, where White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer darted from feeder to feeder.
And there was even more to come. Our tour concluded with visits to the mid-elevation canyon of La Virgen del Socorro and to the famed feeders of Cinchona. At La Virgen del Socorro, we enjoyed another magical moment when a White-tipped Sicklebill visited a stand of heliconias. Later, in Cinchona, against a backdrop of waterfalls and verdant slopes, we watched feeders attracting such dazzling birds as the Red-headed Barbet, Emerald Toucanet, and a kaleidoscope of hummingbirds. It was a perfect finale.
I want to express my gratitude to Esteban Biamonte, our Costa Rican ambassador. His impressive knowledge of the avifauna of his home country exceeded everyone's expectations and added a lot to our joy and understanding of this beautiful land.
Day-by-Day Summary
16-Nov-25 Gardens of Hotel Bougainvillea Road to Cartago Panamerican Highway to Paraiso Quetzal. Antenna road, Cerro Buenavista. Road to San Gerardo de Dota Optional night outing to the Panamerican Highway Los Quetzales NP. Savegre.
17-Nov-25 Los Monge Farm. The pioneers trail. Road to the trout Farm - San Gerardo de Dota. Savegre.
18-Nov-25 Savegre gardens. Panamerican Highway Side track along the ridge Los Quetzales National Park. Cartago - San Jose Braulio Carrillo road Caribbean lowland. Pierella Butterfly garden. La Quinta de Sarapiqui.
19-Nov-25 La Quinta Lodge. La Selva - OTS. Polideportivo Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. La Quinta de Sarapiqui.
20-Nov-25 Cope's. Guapiles. La Selva Entrance. La Quinta de Sarapiqui.
21-Nov-25 Aerial Tram, buffer zone of Braulio Carrillo NP. Lunch at El Yugo. Boat trip to Sarapiqui and Puerto Viejo rivers. La Quinta de Sarapiqui.
22-Nov-25 La Virgen road. Cinchona. San Rafael road. Xandari.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Bradypus variegatus
Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth, Choloepus hoffmanni
White-throated Capuchin, Cebus capuchinus
Mantled Howler Monkey, Alouatta palliata
Red-tailed Squirrel, Sciurus granatensis
Variegated Squirrel Sciurus variegatoides
Central American Agouti, Dasyprocta punctata
Long-nosed (Proboscis) Bat, Rhynchonycteris naso
White-lined Sac-winged Bat, Saccopteryx bilineata
Honduran White (Tent-making) Bat, Ectophylla alba
Plain-nosed Bats Vespertilionidae
Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata
White-nosed Coati, Nasua narica
Collared Peccary, Pecari tajacu
REPTILES:
Black River Turtle, Rhinoclemmys funerea
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, Oophaga pumilio
Red-eyed Treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas
Forrer's Leopard Frog, Lithobates forreri
Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus
Common House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus
Green Iguana, Iguana iguana
Slender Anole, Anolis fuscoauratus
Middle American Ameiva, Holcosus festivus
Casque-headed Lizard, Corytophanes cristatus
Green Basilisk Lizard, Basiliscus plumifrons
Vine Snake, Oxybelis brevirostris