Central Valley and Caribbean Lowlands
Includes:
2 Nights in Poás Volcano Lodge
2 Nights in La Selva Biological Station
Entrance fees to National Park & La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Meals as indicated in itinerary (B,L,D)
Professional bilingual birding guide
Private Transportation
Day 1: Poás Volcano Lodge
You´ll be met at your San José area hotel by our bilingual birding guide and taken up into the Central Valley highlands. Our lodging will be at Poás Volcano Lodge, which consists of a lovely main building, built in the style of an English countryside manor, surrounded by several cozy cabins. From here, we´ll bird several different highland and middle-elevation sites, such as Poás Volcano National Park, San Rafael de Vara Blanca, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, and La Virgen del Socorro. (The exact order will depend in part on current weather conditions.) (L,D)
Day 2: Poás Volcano Lodge
A full day of highland birding based out of Poás Volcano Lodge. Our stay here could easily produce twenty different species of hummingbirds, among them endemics such as Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Magenta-throated Woodstar, and Volcano Hummingbird. Additionally, we´ll hope to see a large number of other highland endemics as well as more wide-ranging species, including the exquisite Resplendent Quetzal. A bit of nocturnal searching might produce Dusky Nightjar or Bare-shanked Screech-Owl. (B,L,D)
Day 3: La Selva Biological Station
We´ll leave the cool highland climate and descend to the warm and humid Caribbean lowlands, where we´ll spend two nights at the La Selva Biological Station. The more than 60 kilometers of excellent trails provide unparalleled access to tropical rain forest habitat that is home to such species as Great Tinamou, Great Curassow, Great Potoo and Great Antshrike -- what can we say, it´s "great" birding! (B,L,D)
Day 4: La Selva Biological Station
An entire day to explore La Selva in search of the regionally endemic Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Snowy Cotinga, Stripe-breasted Wren, and Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, along with other tropical denizens including various toucans, trogons, and tanagers.
Please note that La Selva is not a luxury tourist accomodation, but rather a tropical biological research station that allows natural history visitors the privilege of using the facility. Bathrooms are shared and meals are served cafeteria-style. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Return to San José
We return to San José via Braulio Carrillo National Park where, if time and weather permit, we may make one last birding stop in hopes of some Caribbean foothill specialties such as Snowcap, Lattice-tailed Trogon, Blue-and-gold Tanager, and Black-and-yellow Tanager. (B,L)
