Day 1
ARRIVAL IN SAN JOSE
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel El Refugio de los Artistas. Located just 15 minutes from the airport in the lush rolling green hills, this lovely B&B offers spacious comfortable rooms set among terraces, pool, and exquisite art galleries.

Day 2
TRANSFER TO PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI
After breakfast at the hotel, we will be met by our guide and driver. After a short introductory meeting, we will travel the road to Sarapiqui through the Cloud and Rain forests with a stop at the Hummingbird Station and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, allowing us to see the diversity of plant and animal life and more than 20 butterfly species. We will stay at the Selva Verde Lodge, a complex of covered walkways in the lowland rain forest reserve that blends in with the natural landscape and provides myriad birding opportunities. Options: Rafting

Day 3
LA SELVA BIRDING ACTIVITIES
Various nature/birding activities in the area.
Options: Horseback Riding

Day 4
LA FORTUNA-ARENAL AREA
After breakfast we will travel to the La Fortuna area located at the foot of the towering Arenal Volcano. We will do bird watching at various sites and visit the magical Hot Springs.

Day 5
ARENAL AREA BIRDING
Birding activities in the area Tour of Hanging Bridges, two miles of loop trails crossing 15 bridges in the primary rain forest.

Day 6
ARENAL - LA ENSENADA
After breakfast we will transfer to La Ensenada, a comfortable villa located in a natural wildlife refuge on the Pacific Coast Gulf of Nicoya. Ideal for bird watchers and nature lovers

Day 7
LA ENSENADA AREA
Boat trip to Mangrove area bird refuge and nesting ground for many showy water birds.

Day 8
LA ENSENADA - PACIFIC SLOPE - CARARA, PUNTA LEONA After breakfast we will drive to the Central Pacific Slope. Here, on the border of Carara National Park is a meeting of several habitats — tropical dry forest, coastal marsh and southern rain forest. We will spend three nights at the Punta Leona Hotel — a unique development which combines environmental conservation, tourism, and research — very comfortable with many birds and access to clean and safe white-sand beaches.

Day 9
PUNTA LEONA - CARARA AREA
Visit to Carara National Park, home to 360 different birds, toucans, monkeys, and Villa Lapas Skyway — a 2.5 kilometer system of downward sloping trails and hanging bridges - a wonderful place to bird watch.

Day 10
PUNTA LEONA PACIFIC COAST
Birding and Beach activities Optional: Canopy Tour

Day 11
RETURN TO SAN JOSE AREA
After breakfast we will return to the Hotel El Refugio

 
Day 12
TRANSFER TO AIRPORT OR TRIP EXTENSIONS TO OSA PENINSULA OR TORTUGUERO.

ITINERARY FOR SEPTEMBER 16 - 27, 2009 

Day 1
ARRIVAL IN SAN JOSE
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel El Refugio de los Artistas. Located just 15 minutes from the airport in the lush rolling green hills, this lovely B&B offers spacious comfortable rooms set among terraces, pool and exquisite art galleries.

Day 2
TRANSFER TO PUERTO VIEJO DE SARAPIQUI
After breakfast at the hotel we will be met by our guide and driver. After a short introductory meeting, we will travel the road to Sarapiqui through the Cloud and Rain forests with a stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, allowing us to see the diversity of plant and animal life and more than 20 butterfly species. We will stay at the Selva Verde Lodge, a complex of covered walkways in the lowland rain forest reserve that blends in with the natural landscape and provides myriad birding opportunities.

Day 3
LA SELVA BIRDING ACTIVITIES
Various nature/birding activities in the area. Options: Horseback Riding, Rafting

Day 4
SARAPIQUI/SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN AREA
Early morning birding and optional half-day outdoors activities combining tubing, horseback riding, canopy in Sarapiqui. After lunch we will transfer to the Caribbean area. Bird watching activities.

Day 5
Birding activities
Hawk Migration observations
Options: Snorkeling and Beach

Day 6
Following the Falcons
From one of only three sites in the world where more than 1 million raptors are counted each season, we will observe the amazing migration spectacle as raptors travel to wintering grounds through the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Beach time

Day 7
TURRIALBA AREA
After breakfast transfer to Turrialba Caribbean slope area know worldwide as a premier bird watching site. Birding activities during the day. Two nights lodging in Turrialba area.

Day 8
Full day of bird watching activities

Day 9
SAN GERARDO DE DOTA - TALAMANCA MOUNTAINS.
After breakfast we will transfer to the San Gerardo de Doto mountains, — a narrow, pristine, mountain valley in the Talamanca Mountains that has become a mecca for birders (home of Resplendent Quetzal), hikers, and trout fishers.

Day 10
Bird Watching activities.
Options - Horseback Riding

Day 11
RETURN TO SAN JOSE AREA
After breakfast we will return to the San Jose area for our Farewell Dinner.