Costa Rica Birding 2016 Itinerary
Costa Rica Birding
July 2-‐12, 2016
Join Tropical Audubon’s Brian Rapoza and a Tropical Birding guide for this eleven-day, ten-night trip to Costa Rica, beginning and ending in San Jose. This tour involves nine full days of birding and is designed for birders of all ability levels. Costs: $3,650.00 per person double occupancy, $220.00 single supplement. Cost includes all ground transportation and lodging, guides and all meals while in Costa Rica. Not included is airfare to San Jose, tips, laundry costs and other incidental expenses. All trip participants are responsible for their own personal travel insurance to cover accidents, medical expenses or loss of personal belongings. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended. All participants must indicate upon booking any medical conditions that could limit participation in the tour. Resplendent Quetzal Reservation Requirements: To reserve your space, a deposit of $500.00 must be received within 30 days of booking. Make out a check to Tropical Audubon Society and mail, along with a completed trip application and agreement, to: Brian Rapoza, TAS Field Trip Coordinator 14525 SW 88 Street, J-207 Miami, FL 33186 Balance of payment must be received by January 31, 2016 to ensure your reservation. No refunds for cancellations after January 31, 2016, unless your slot is filled. Again, trip cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended.
Introduction While it may be on the beaten track, the outrageously beautiful quetzals, great lodges, and friendly people are just some of the reasons why people come back to Costa Rica again and again. This tiny Central American country has far more than its share of beautiful scenery, not to mention a rich assortment of birds unequalled by any other country its size. This tour takes in the top birding spots in comfort and style, and is timed to maximize your vacation time. The easy trails, great lodges, and fantastic birds make this a great introduction to the addictive wonders of Neotropical birding. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
Itinerary (Subject to change to due to weather, road conditions, access, and other real world factors. The order of the trips may also change. Should a location become unviable, we will make every effort to visit an equivalent location. Though most bird species are listed for only one or two locations, they may also be seen in proper habitat at other locations.) Day 1, Saturday, July 2: Arrival in San José. After a late morning/early afternoon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to a nearby hotel. In the afternoon we will bird near the hotel for a few hours. The hotel is located conveniently near the airport, in the Central Valley, with birds like Ferruginous PygmyOwl, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, Striped Cuckoo, Spot-breasted Oriole, and Stripe-headed Sparrow all possible. Travel times: San Jose Airport to Hotel Robledal: 20 minute drive. Strawberry Poison Frog Meals: Dinner is the only meal included on this day (at our San Jose hotel). Night: Hotel Robledal, Alajuela (near San Jose airport) http://www.hotelrobledal.com/index.php/en/ Day 2, Sunday, July 3: Braullio Carrillo National Park & El Tapir to La Selva area. Our first morning will be spent in the lower ranges of this enormous national park, birding a forest trail that is about one hour drive from our hotel. As this will be our only time in the Caribbean middle elevations, our main targets will be foothill specialties like Lattice-tailed Trogon, Black-headed NightingaleThrush, and Streak-crowned Antvireo. At this site many species can be found by searching through mixed canopy flocks; while this can be challenging the rewards are great, with birds like Emerald, Black-and-yellow, Blue-and-gold, Speckled, and Carmiol’s Tanagers sometimes found with these flocks along with other species like White-throated ShrikeTanager, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Spotted Woodcreeper, and Russet Antshrike. Of course, we rarely pick up all of these species on every visit, but this is merely a selection of what might be found within this mobile, mixed bird parties. After birding the forest trail for much of the morning, a pre-lunch stop a further five minutes further down the road, will see us visit the El Tapir Hummingbird Gardens. The banks of lilac verbena blooms (Porterweed) attract good numbers of hummingbirds, which are usually easy to view as they forage below eye-level at close range. Here, we have a chance of finding the amazing Black-crested Coquette, the striking Snowcap, and, sometimes too the Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer. Other, more regularly occurring hummingbirds include Crowned Woodnypmph, Green Thorntail, and Violetheaded Hummingbird. We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant after 30 minutues or so at El Tapir, then drive another hour or so to La Selva Field Station, our base for the next two nights. In the afternoon, there should be enough time to begin birding near La Selva, picking up some of the regular species along the entrance road, like Band-backed Wren, Long-tailed Tyrant, Passerini’s and Golden-hooded Tanagers, and Black-faced Grosbeak;
while keeping an eye in the surrounding treetops may yield Black-mandibled or Keel-billed Toucans, or a Collared Aracari. Travel times: San Jose – Braulio Carrillo NP 1 hour drive Braulio Carrillo NP – La Selva 1 hour drive Meals: Breakfast at the Hotel Robledal; lunch at a restaurant en-route to La Selva; dinner at Hacienda Sueno Azul. Night: Hacienda Sueno Azul http://www.suenoazulresort.com/ Day 3, Monday, July 4: La Selva. We will leave our hotel early, in order to reach La Selva shortly after daybreak. We will have breakfast and lunch at La Selva itself, on this day to maximize our time there, at one of Costa Rica’s premier birding destinations. The day will involve a mixture of trail birding and birding the forest edge around the headquarters clearing at La Selva. The trails are flat and easy to walk at La Selva, with some even being paved. Bird activity around the cabins and cafeteria can be so intense in the early morning that it is hard to make any progress down the trails, and often the day is over before you know it. Montezuma Oropendolas, White-crowned Parrots, and Keel-billed and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans are some of the more impressive species, but the smaller and more brightly-colored birds are also mesmerizing. Passerini’s, and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Blue Dacnis, several euphonias, Paltry Tyrannulet, Black-cowled Oriole, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar are all usually easy to see here. If we are lucky we might also see one of the tame Crested Guans or Great Curassows around the edge of the clearing too. This area can also be good for finding White-collared Manakin, and Black-cheeked, Cinnamon and Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers. Venturing farther into the reserve, we’ll walk some of the wide, flat trails, where we get into tall rainforest where we’ll search for other species like Great Tinamou, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, Violaceous and Slaty-tailed Trogons, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, White-ringed Flycatcher, both Stripe-breasted and Black-throated Wrens, and the local Plain-colored Tanager. We’ll also search the open country at the edge of the forest for the rare Great Green Macaw, and also check here for Laughing Falcon, Gray Hawk, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, and Graycrowned Yellowthroat. As well as birds we’ll be on the lookout for sloths, howler monkeys, agoutis, and peccaries there too. It is also a great place to see the Strawberry Poison Frog. Travel times: Sueno Azul-La Selva 20 minute drive. Meals: Breakfast and lunch at La Selva Biological Station (buffet style); dinner at Hacienda Sueno Azul. Night: Hacienda Sueno Azul http://www.suenoazulresort.com/
Day 4, Tuesday, July 5: La Selva to Savegre. We’ll have a final morning in La Selva targeting whatever we still need, before departing for Savegre in the Talamanca mountains, after lunch. Much of the afternoon will be spent on the road, getting there, although there should be time to check out some hummingbird feeders shortly after arrival. The hummer feeders in the area regularly attract Scintillant and Magnificent Hummingbirds, Green Violet-ear, and White-throated Mountain-gem. On this night or the following night, there will be an optional night foray to look for Dusky Nightjar or the scarce Bare-shanked Screech-Owl. Travel times: La Selva – Savegre 4 hour drive Meals: Breakfast and lunch at La Selva; dinner in Savegre Mountain Lodge. Night: Savegre Mountain Lodge http://www.savegre.com/ Day 5, Wednesday, July 6: Savegre. The Savegre Valley is surrounded by magnificent oak forests, home to many species restricted to the high mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, (known as Chiriqui endemics). Mixed species flocks here can be fantastic, with many of these special birds moving together, including Black-cheeked and Flame-throated Warblers, Ochraceous Wren, Ruddy Treerunner, Flame-colored and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, and Yellow-thighed Finch. The real star of Savegre is the astounding Resplendant Quetzal, without a doubt one of the world’s most spectacular birds. There are usually several stakeouts in the valley at this time, and nowhere else do we stand a better chance of finding Costa Rica’s flagship species. Our main focus of the day will be to track down this must-see bird. Other species we are may find while birding the valley include Band-tailed Pigeon, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Yellow-winged and Brown-capped Vireos, Acorn Woodpecker, Mountain Elaenia, Black-capped Flycatcher, Mountain Thrush, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-billed and Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Long-tailed SilkyFlycatcher, Yellow-bellied Siskin, and Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager). Some of the rare species in the area include Silvery-throated Jay, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, and Ochraceous Pewee. Travel times: Most of the birding is local, with the furthest drive expected to be 30 minutes. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Savegre Mountain Lodge. Night: Savegre Mountain Lodge http://www.savegre.com/ Day 6, Thursday, July 7: Cerro de la Muerte to Carara. Today, after breakfast, we’ll pack up and then leave in order to concentrate on the stunted treeline forest and grassy páramo over 10,000 ft (3000 m), which will be the highest point reached on the tour. The weather can be forbidding, and only a few hardy birds, like Volcano Hummingbird, Sooty Thrush, Timberline Wren, Slaty Flowerpiercer, and Volcano Junco can make a living up here. If we’re lucky we may also track down some of the scarcer residents in the area, like Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, or Peg-billed Finch.
We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant where we should see the lovely Fiery-throated Hummingbird, and a quick look down a short (around 1650ft/500m), but steep trail, may give us the chance for a Wrenthrush or Buffy Tuftedcheek. After a full morning in this area, and lunch at a restaurant in the area, we’ll drive on to Carara, in the lowlands of the Pacific Coast, where we’ll stay for the following two nights. After checking in to the Hotell Villa Lapas in the afternoon, there may be a little late afternoon birding time around their sprawling grounds, which hold our best chance of the stunning Fierybilled Aracari, and could also produce our first views of the impressive Scarlet Macaw. Travel times: Savegre – Cerro de la Muerte 40 minutes Cerro de la Muerte – Carara 3 hours Meals: Breakfast at Savegre Mountain Lodge; lunch at a restaurant en-route to Carara; dinner at Hotel Villa Lapas, near Carara Night: Hotel Villa Lapas, Carara http://www.villalapas.com/ Day 7, Friday, July 8: Carara. Before breakfast (at 06:00am) there will be an optional short walk around the grounds of the hotel. These grounds can show up a huge variety of birds. We’ll check the blooming shrubs for any hummingbirds, like Rufous-tailed and Steely-vented Hummingbirds, or Bluethroated Goldentail, while other parts of the property may hold Muscovy Duck, Rose-throated Becard, Painted Bunting, or Riverside Wren. We’ll also keep an eye overhead for Costa Rican Swifts hawking above. After breakfast we’ll drive ten minutes to one of the near forest trails within the national park. In the afternoon we’ll visit an area of mangroves, before taking a very relaxing boat ride along the Tarcol estuary and into some more mangroves. This lowland forest park of Carara and its surroundings provide arguably the best birding in the country. The forest can be pumping throughout the day, and shy birds seem easier to see here than many other places. We’ll spend the morning walking one of the easy, flat trails in the area, and then spend the late afternoon taking an afternoon cruise There are a number of specialties shared only between south-west Costa Rica and nearby Panama, including Black-hooded Antshrike, Baird’s Trogon, Riverside Wren, and Orange-collared Manakin. A huge list of target birds are found in the area, and we’ll be on the lookout for Great Tinamou, Gray-chested Dove, White-whiskered Puffbird, Barred Anthshrike, Dot-winged Antwren, Dusky and Chestnut-backed Antbirds,, Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Black-bellied and Rufous-breasted Wrens, Longbilled Gnatwren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, and Bay-headed Tanager. If we are lucky, and encounter an army ant swarm, we may even find Gray-headed Tanager, Bicolored Antbird or Tawny-winged Woodcreeper in attendance. An afternoon boat ride on the Tarcol estuary and nearby mangroves will add swathes of new birds, and also being a very relaxing way to spend the late afternoon. On the boat ride, while on the estuary, we’ll be on the lookout for Southern Lapwing, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-headed Caracara, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and Boat-billed
Heron; while in the mangroves we’ll be hoping for Common (“Mangrove”) Black-Hawk, Panama Flycatcher, “Mangrove” (Yellow) Warbler, or Mangrove Vireo. If we are very lucky we may even run into the rare Mangrove Hummingbird too. Travel times: Hotel Villa Lapas – Carara NP 10 minute drive Hotel Villa Lapas – Tarcol River cruise dock 20 minute drive Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Hotel Villa Lapas, near Carara Night: Hotel Villa Lapas, Carara http://www.villalapas.com/ Day 8, Saturday, July 9: Carara to Monteverde. We have another morning to bird in Carara, trying different trails for any missing birds. Later, we’ll drive back north, where the lower Pacific slope mountains have some drier habitat with different birds like Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, White-fronted Parrot, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Streak-backed Oriole, and the spectacular White-throated Magpie-Jay. The vegetation becomes lush and green as we climb higher into the mountains, eventually arriving at Monteverde, a small mountain town on the Pacific slope near the Continental Divide, where we stay for two nights. There will be a little time to bird around the lodge on arrival, which could produce Emerald Toucanet, Rufous-and-white Wren, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Collared Redstart or Rufous-capped Warbler. The verbena shrubs in the garden can also attract both Steely-vented Hummingbird or Canivet’s Emerald. Travel times: Carara – Monteverde 3 hours Meals: Breakfast and lunch at Hotel Villa Lapas; dinner at Cala Lodge in Monteverde, or in a local restaurant. Night: Cala Lodge, http://www.calalodge.com/ Day 9, Sunday, July 10: Monteverde. Some pre-breakfast birding on the grounds of Cala Lodge will give us a great chance at picking up Golden-olive Woodpecker or White-eared Ground-Sparrow, while their fruit feeders often host Hoffman’s Woodpecker, Brown Jay, and Blue-crowned Motmot. After a cooked breakfast at Cala Lodge, we’ll drive to Monteverde reserve, arriving just after opening time. We’ll spend much of the morning slowly walking the easy trails within the reserve, before taking lunch on site, checking out their hummingbird feeders, and then visiting another, very different, nearby reserve on the afternoon. The untouched cloud forest of Monteverde with enormous trees is amazing to walk through, and the trails are easy going. Mixed flocks in the reserve hold Common Chloropsingus (Bush-Tanager), Slate-throated Redstart, Red-faced Spinetail, Three-striped Warbler, Slaty Antwren, and sometimes Prong-billed Barbet too. Less conspicuous species within the reserve that are regularly seen include Black Guan, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Yellowish Flycatcher, Black-faced Solitaire, Ochraceous Wren, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. After a morning working the trails, and lunch at the on site restaurant, we’ll check out their hummingbird feeders, which regularly attract Coppery-headed Emerald, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Green Hermit, Green-crowned Brilliant. Magenta-throated Woodstar and Violet Sabrewing. After
soaking up the hummingbirds we’ll head back in the direction of our hotel, but stop in at some vastly different dry forest en-route, where we’ll try to track down one of the male Long-tailed Manakins. This is also a good site for Orange-bellied Trogon, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-and-white Wren, and Rufous-capped Warbler. Travel times: Cala Lodge – Monteverde 15minutes Meals: Breakfast at Cala Lodge; lunch at a restaurant in Monteverde; dinner at a restaurant close to Cala Lodge or at Cala Lodge itself. Night: Cala Lodge, http://www.calalodge.com/ Day 10, Monday, July 11: Monteverde to San José. We have another morning at one of the reserves in the Monteverde area, which will be decided at the time, depending on what we are still looking for. After a morning on site, and lunch locally we’ll head back to San José for the night, about a 4 hour drive. We’ll stay at an airport hotel with a 24-hour shuttle. Travel times: Monteverde – San Jose 4hrs Meals: Breakfast at Cala Lodge; lunch at a restaurant in Monteverde; dinner in San Jose. Night: Hotel Robledal, Alajuela (near San Jose airport) http://www.hotelrobledal.com/index.php/en/ Day 11, Tuesday, July 12: Departure from San Jose. The tour ends this morning (there is no birding planned for this day). A transfer from the hotel to the airport will be arranged for the group. Meals: Only breakfast is included on this day (unless you are leaving very early). PACE AND DIFFICULTY OF THE TOUR This tour is designed to be an introduction to Neotropical birds, and is run at a fairly relaxed pace, since the guides will attempt to show you representatives of all the neotropical families, even if they are common birds. While finding the regional endemics is a secondary focus of the tour, you will still see quite a lot of them, and you certainly do not have to be a novice to enjoy this tour. It is not unusual for more experienced birders join this tour, since it is a shorter and less expensive trip than most. Although this is a bird-focused tour, there are regular opportunities to see other wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, frogs, and crocodiles on the boat trip. This is a fairly easy tour, and most of the birding will be along easy trails or dirt roads. While there is a fair amount of walking required, it will be done at a slow pace. In the lowland areas, the trails are flat, and some of them are even paved. The one exception is the trail at Braulio Carrillo National Park; this is perhaps the most difficult trail of the trip. This is because the trail has some short steep sections (both up and down), and is narrow, and many of the birds at this one site (which we only visit for one morning), are often up in the canopy. For this reason this can be the most challenging of the sites visited. It is conveniently en-route between San Jose and La Selva, and offers a whole group of birds only possible at this site, and is therefore included. The trail there is however very well maintained, with steps on the steep sections, and is trail is short-1.6km/0.9mi-and an entire morning will be spent walking this very slowly, so people rarely have any major issues here. The trails in the mountains naturally have some up and down, but they are typically well built and not very steep, apart from some very short sections, where a walking pole would be recommended for some participants. One morning on the main tour is spent at high elevation (up to 10,500ft/3200m), but the birding is along a road and it is rare that visitors have any altitude issues here. Anyone of reasonable fitness level can do this tour, although if you have any doubts, please contact Brian Rapoza for further advice. There are some longer drives included on this tour (e.g. 3 - 4hrs), such as the drives between La Selva and Savegre, and the one between Monteverde and San Jose at the end of the tour
PHOTOGRAPHY Seeing the birds will always take priority over getting photos. We do allow photography on our tours, but the tour leaders will not allow photographers to move in front of the group for a photo, or use flash, until everyone has had a good look at the bird. All of Tropical Birding’s guides are also amateur photographers, so they are happy to help you out within these limitations. There are some very good opportunities for photos on this tour, especially at hummingbird feeders at Savegre and Monteverde, on the mangrove boat trip near Carara, and around the headquarters at La Selva. FLIGHTS It is your responsibility to book and pay for your international flights to and from San José, Costa Rica (SJO), though Brian Rapoza can offer assistance in choosing which flights to book. Arrival: Please book flights that arrive no later than early afternoon of July 2 (there are a few hours of birding local to our San Jose hotel on the first day, so it is best to arrive before 1PM). Departure: Your departing flights should leave no earlier than the morning of July 12. A very late flight (9pm or after) on 11 July could also work, as we expect to get back into San Jose on this day by 6pm. There are many daily flights to San José from a variety of US cities (e.g. Miami, Houston, Atlanta,). You shouldn’t have any problems finding a flight, but feel free to contact Brian Rapoza for help if needed. Please send your full flight schedules after you buy your ticket, so that Tropical Birding can arrange the appropriate airport transfers. What’s included: • All accommodation from the night of July 2 to the night of July 11. • Meals from dinner on July 2 (unless you arrive very late) to breakfast on July 12 (unless you leave very early). • Water; it is safe to drink the tap water almost everywhere in Costa Rica. Please check though, before drinking the tap water with your guide to make sure, at that particular site, it is safe to do so. We suggest bringing a refillable bottle to use throughout the trip. • Tour leaders from the evening of July 2 to the evening of July 11. • All necessary ground transport in a van or small bus, with a local driver. • Two-hour boat-cruise along the Tarcol River, near Carara, on the afternoon of July 8. • One group airport transfer at each end of the trip; (i.e. one group transfer on arrival on July 2, and one group transfer for departure on July 12). • All entry fees to the sites in the itinerary. • Tips for local driver, local guides, lodge staff, and restaurants. • A bound bird list to keep track of your records. This list will be given to you on the first day of the tour; we’ll also email you an electronic copy before the tour. What’s not included: • Snacks (if you need snacks, you might want to bring some with you from home). • Additional drinks apart from those included. • Alcoholic beverages. • Tips for hotel porters and the main tour leader. • Excursions not included in the tour itinerary
• • • • • •
Travel insurance. Extras in hotels such as laundry service, telephone calls, and personal items. Medical fees. Expenses that could arise due to circumstances beyond tour operator’s control (weather, flight delays/cancellations, lost luggage, road closures, etc.) International airport departure tax, currently $29 per person, payable at the airport in San Jose. Extra airport transfers, for arrivals and departures, which are not on the designated arrival (July 2), and departure days (July 12).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A valid passport is required for entry into Costa Rica. It must be valid for at least six months past the time of your scheduled return. A visa is not required for citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, and most Western European countries. For other nationalities, please contact your nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate for entry requirements. By law you are required to carry your passport with you at all times, though while in San José it is recommended that you only carry a photocopy of it, and leave your passport in the room safe. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS We recommend that you review the itinerary with your physician to discuss personal health needs. There are no inoculations required for travel to Costa Rica. However, it is always wise to keep your basic shots such as tetanus, polio, and diphtheria up to date. Some travelers choose to receive a vaccination against Hepatitis A. Yellow Fever is no longer a significant risk in Costa Rica. Please be aware, that if you are traveling to Costa Rica from an area where Yellow Fever occurs, you will need to present a certificate showing you have been vaccinated for this, on arrival at immigration. Although this will not apply to most people (i.e. if coming from USA, UK or Canada), we must make this clear as you would be turned away without it. Occurrence of Malaria is now extremely low, but occasionally your doctor may recommend prophylaxis. Keep in Mind: • Sunscreen and insect repellent are essential (chiggers are present in the lowland areas). • We ask that there be no smoking in dining areas, vehicles, and any enclosed place where the group gathers. CURRENCY Costa Rica’s currency is the Colon, though the US dollar is accepted in most lodges, restaurants, and hotels. You can keep most of your currency in dollars, and change a small amount into Colones for the few places that don’t accept dollars. Don’t bring $50 or $100 bills as most places will refuse to accept them. Credit cards are also widely accepted, and ATM machines work with most international cards for getting both further US dollars or Colones, as long as you know your PIN. The Colón is usually worth around 500 to the US dollar – check here for the latest rate or to check other currencies: http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/#from=USD;to=CRC;amt=1 DEPARTURE TAXES There is an international airport departure tax of approximately $29 per person that must be paid before you check in for your departing flight (US dollars, Colones, or major credit cards accepted). This tax is not included in your tour fee. Note that this fee is subject to change at little notice by the Costa Rican authorities.
TIPPING Price include tips to the local driver, local guides, lodge staff, and restaurants. Tips for hotel porters are not included. Porters are usually happy with $0.50 to $1.00 per bag depending on how far they had to carry it. Tips for the Tropical Birding tour leader are not included. TB tour leaders are paid well, but they do put in long hours and work hard to get you the birds and make sure you have a great trip, and tips are still always appreciated. The decision to tip and the amount is a personal decision; our tour leaders often receive anywhere from a few dollars up to ten dollars per day, per client. CLIMATE AND ALTITUDE July is a moderately wet month, and some rain can be expected, especially on the Caribbean slope and around La Selva. Rain gear should be carried on most outings. Monteverde is in the lower mountains, at around 1500m/4920ft. Temperatures range from 72ºF 84ºF (22ºC – 29ºC) at this time of year. Savegre is in the upper mountains at around 2200m/7220ft; temperatures range from about 48ºF 75ºF (9ºC – 24ºC). It can be very chilly early in the morning until the sun climbs up over the edge of the valley, and a good jacket and gloves are recommended. Cerro de la Muerte is in the upper mountains, and will be the highest (3200m/10,500ft) and potentially coldest place visited on the tour. The temperatures can drop to as low as 40ºF/5ºC, and it can also be wet and windy at these high elevations. Only a few hours of the time will be spent at this site, and the walking is easy, on wide-open dirt roads. For the mountains, it is best to dress in layers, as although it can be cold in the early mornings it heats up quickly. Therefore, while a warm jacket, fleece, gloves and warm hat might be required for the first few hours of the day; by mid-morning you could be down to a t-shirt, and no further need for gloves and hat until the evening again. Carara and La Selva are in the humid lowlands and accordingly these are the hottest places we will visit. Temperatures vary from about 72ºF (22 ºC) at night to a maximum of around 90ºF (32 ºC) during the day, and humidity levels often exceed 80%. TRANSPORT The vehicle we use for the trip will be a van or small bus (Toyota Coaster or similar) with an experienced, locally hired driver. The exact type of vehicle used is subject to availability and cannot be promised, but we always use good, comfortable vehicles. You may leave things in the vehicle while out birding, as the driver will always stay with it and safeguard your belongings. At night, all belongings should be removed from the vehicle. Most of the roads are paved, but you’ll have to drive along a few rough, unpaved roads to get to some of the birding sites. LUGGAGE Please limit your luggage to one checked bag and one standard carry-on. The carry-on should include essential items such as medications, all your money, passport and tickets, binoculars and camera, bathroom kit, and one change of clothes. By taking these precautions, it won’t be such a major difficulty if your bag is delayed. All luggage, including carry-on, should have identification, on both the outside and the inside.
CLOTHING Dress casually and pack lightly. Bring clothing for the cold morning at high altitudes (i.e. Monteverde, Savegre, and Cerro de la Muerte). Some areas will be quite hot and humid so warm weather clothing is a must too, (i.e. La Selva and Carara). In general, lightweight, fast-drying clothing is preferable. Rain gear is essential and should be carried during most outings. At the minimum this should be a raincoat or poncho, but a mini-umbrella is also a good idea to keep water off your binoculars, and rain covers for cameras too. Recommended Clothing List •
Several long sleeved lightweight "travel-style" shirts.
•
T-shirts.
•
Lightweight "travel-style" trousers for most situations. Shorts may be nice for relaxing around the lodge, but generally should be avoided in the field due to sharp vegetation and annoying and potentially dangerous insects.
•
For high altitudes, a pair of heavy trousers or jeans.
•
Lightweight rain gear.
•
Sun hat with a wide brim.
•
Sturdy hiking boots. Rubber boots are not necessary.
•
A pair of sandals or light shoes to change into in the evenings.
•
Plenty of long cotton socks, and of course, undergarments.
•
A jacket or heavy sweater for the cold morning at high altitude.
•
Warm gloves and maybe a wool hat if you are sensitive to cold.
OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS •
Binoculars
•
Insect Repellent
•
Sunscreen (SPF 30 is recommended) and lip balm with sunscreen.
•
Field guide (see reading list below)
•
Small knapsack or waist pack.
•
Small flashlight with spare batteries.
•
Alarm clock – outside of San José, wakeup calls are usually not available.
•
Moist wipes/hand sanitizer if you are concerned about hygiene.
•
Personal first aid kit with band-aids, aspirin, motion sickness pills, blister pads, anti-itch cream, etc.
•
Over-the counter remedies and prescription medications in their original containers packed in your carry-on bag. Take along a copy of the prescription in your suitcase.
•
An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses if you are dependent on them.
•
Reading and writing materials.
•
A photocopy of you passport.
Optional •
Spotting scope. The TB leader will carry a good scope, but feel free to bring your own, as it can be useful at many of the sites.
•
Spare pair of binoculars. If your binoculars break, it will not be easy to replace them.
•
Camera. The hummingbirds make great targets, and are tame enough that you don't need a huge lens.
•
Shock-resistant walking stick. A couple of trails are steep and slippery, and this can help prevent falls.
•
Swimwear – the Hotel Villa Lapas has a pool.
ELECTRIC CURRENT The current is the same as the USA: 110 volts AC, 60 cycles. Receptacles are also US-style and take flat- pinned plugs. Electricity is available everywhere on this tour.
TIME Costa Rica is in the same time zone as the central US (GMT -6), but does not use daylight savings time. FOOD AND DRINK Most hotels and lodges are used to catering to foreign tourists, so serve an excellent variety of both local and international cuisine. Vegetarians are also catered for. All the food that you will be served on this tour will be washed in clean water and will be totally safe to eat. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please inform as soon as possible. In most of the hotels and lodges that we will stay in, we will have either set meals or buffet style meals that include drinking water or juice and tea/coffee. Other soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available at the bar, but these are not included in the tour fee. The tap water is safe to drink in much of Costa Rica, but we recommend that you check with the tour leader before drinking tap water at a lodge. In areas where the tap water is not potable, the tour leader will provide bottled water for you to keep in your room. The tour leader will provide a bottle, which you can use for the entire tour and refill from the tap. Drinking water will also be provided in the vehicle throughout. ACCOMMODATIONS All accommodations are of a good standard, with private bathrooms, full time hot water showers, and 24-hour electricity. COMMUNICATION Phone and Internet service are available in most lodges and hotels. Although all hotels have WIFI, sometimes it is only available in the lobby, and not in your room. VALUABLES
You are encouraged to leave your jewelry at home. Such valuables as you will need - cash, passports, watches, etc., should not be left in the lodge rooms during the day while you are in the field, except for the lodges/hotels that provide in-room safes. LAUNDRY SERVICE Laundry service is available in most hotels, usually at reasonable prices. On this tour, where only short stays are used at each place, it is perhaps best to plan to have laundry done at Savegre or Carara. Usually if laundry is handed in during the morning, it is ready by that evening. SUGGESTED READING LIST The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide. Richard Garrigues & Robert Dean. Cornell University Press, 2014 (Second edition). A superb, small field guide that is widely available and highly recommended. Don’t get on the plane without it! A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Stiles, Skutch and Gardner. Cornell University Press, 1989. The standard reference on Costa Rican birds for nearly two decades, this book is now a bit outdated in some aspects, such as taxonomy. However, it is still the authority on the natural history of the country’s birdlife and could be of interest to anyone who wants more detailed information on aspects such as nesting. The casual observer will be fine with just the Garrigues and Dean field guide mentioned above. Birds of Tropical America. Steven Hilty. University of Texas Press, 2005. A fascinating collection of essays providing a brilliant introduction to birds and birding in the New World tropics. Highly recommended. A Neotropical Companion. John Kricher. Princeton University Press, 1999. A great introduction to the landscapes, natural history, and wildlife of the New World tropics, with emphasis placed on rainforest ecosystems. Pretty darn readable for a textbook! A Bird-Finding Guide to Costa Rica. Barrett Lawson. Cornell University Press, 2009. If you are keen to study ahead of time this book provides site lists for some of the areas we will visit on the tour and also a solid overview of the various biogeographical regions of the country. The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide. Mark Wainwright and Oscar Arias. Zona Tropical Publications. 2007. The best mammal guide for the country. A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. Jeffrey Glassberg. Sunstreak Books. 2007 If you are keen on butterflies this is the best comprehensive book available for the butterflies of Costa Rica. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica: A Guide to Native and Exotic Flora. Willow Zuchowski and Turid Forsyth. Zona Tropical Publications. 2007. A great book for those with a fervor for botany. Excellent for both the amateur and experienced plant fan. Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Pocket Guide. Federico Munoz Chacon and Richard Dennis Johnston. Zona Tropical Publications. 2013. While not comprehensive, it is small, and handy-sized and covers the most likely species found on this tour.
PLEASE NOTE: There are many gift shops in Costa Rica (e.g. at La Selva, Savegre, and at Monteverde, which often sell some of these titles, should you wish to wait until you are in country) BIRD LIST A bound bird list will be provided by the Tropical Birding tour leader on the first night of the tour. If you would also like to get an advance copy of this by e-mail, please e-mail the Tropical Birding office. AUDIO RECORDINGS The tour leader will have all necessary sound recordings for the region. Should you wish to listen to some beforehand, you can download bird recordings for free from the website http://www.xenocanto.org/. Another option is to buy the Costa Rica MP3 collection by Peter Boesman, available here: http://www.birdsounds.nl/index.php?pg=productsitem&gr=0&id=1109&jsd=1
July 2-‐12, 2016
Join Tropical Audubon’s Brian Rapoza and a Tropical Birding guide for this eleven-day, ten-night trip to Costa Rica, beginning and ending in San Jose. This tour involves nine full days of birding and is designed for birders of all ability levels. Costs: $3,650.00 per person double occupancy, $220.00 single supplement. Cost includes all ground transportation and lodging, guides and all meals while in Costa Rica. Not included is airfare to San Jose, tips, laundry costs and other incidental expenses. All trip participants are responsible for their own personal travel insurance to cover accidents, medical expenses or loss of personal belongings. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended. All participants must indicate upon booking any medical conditions that could limit participation in the tour. Resplendent Quetzal Reservation Requirements: To reserve your space, a deposit of $500.00 must be received within 30 days of booking. Make out a check to Tropical Audubon Society and mail, along with a completed trip application and agreement, to: Brian Rapoza, TAS Field Trip Coordinator 14525 SW 88 Street, J-207 Miami, FL 33186 Balance of payment must be received by January 31, 2016 to ensure your reservation. No refunds for cancellations after January 31, 2016, unless your slot is filled. Again, trip cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended.
Introduction While it may be on the beaten track, the outrageously beautiful quetzals, great lodges, and friendly people are just some of the reasons why people come back to Costa Rica again and again. This tiny Central American country has far more than its share of beautiful scenery, not to mention a rich assortment of birds unequalled by any other country its size. This tour takes in the top birding spots in comfort and style, and is timed to maximize your vacation time. The easy trails, great lodges, and fantastic birds make this a great introduction to the addictive wonders of Neotropical birding. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker
Itinerary (Subject to change to due to weather, road conditions, access, and other real world factors. The order of the trips may also change. Should a location become unviable, we will make every effort to visit an equivalent location. Though most bird species are listed for only one or two locations, they may also be seen in proper habitat at other locations.) Day 1, Saturday, July 2: Arrival in San José. After a late morning/early afternoon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to a nearby hotel. In the afternoon we will bird near the hotel for a few hours. The hotel is located conveniently near the airport, in the Central Valley, with birds like Ferruginous PygmyOwl, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, Striped Cuckoo, Spot-breasted Oriole, and Stripe-headed Sparrow all possible. Travel times: San Jose Airport to Hotel Robledal: 20 minute drive. Strawberry Poison Frog Meals: Dinner is the only meal included on this day (at our San Jose hotel). Night: Hotel Robledal, Alajuela (near San Jose airport) http://www.hotelrobledal.com/index.php/en/ Day 2, Sunday, July 3: Braullio Carrillo National Park & El Tapir to La Selva area. Our first morning will be spent in the lower ranges of this enormous national park, birding a forest trail that is about one hour drive from our hotel. As this will be our only time in the Caribbean middle elevations, our main targets will be foothill specialties like Lattice-tailed Trogon, Black-headed NightingaleThrush, and Streak-crowned Antvireo. At this site many species can be found by searching through mixed canopy flocks; while this can be challenging the rewards are great, with birds like Emerald, Black-and-yellow, Blue-and-gold, Speckled, and Carmiol’s Tanagers sometimes found with these flocks along with other species like White-throated ShrikeTanager, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Spotted Woodcreeper, and Russet Antshrike. Of course, we rarely pick up all of these species on every visit, but this is merely a selection of what might be found within this mobile, mixed bird parties. After birding the forest trail for much of the morning, a pre-lunch stop a further five minutes further down the road, will see us visit the El Tapir Hummingbird Gardens. The banks of lilac verbena blooms (Porterweed) attract good numbers of hummingbirds, which are usually easy to view as they forage below eye-level at close range. Here, we have a chance of finding the amazing Black-crested Coquette, the striking Snowcap, and, sometimes too the Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer. Other, more regularly occurring hummingbirds include Crowned Woodnypmph, Green Thorntail, and Violetheaded Hummingbird. We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant after 30 minutues or so at El Tapir, then drive another hour or so to La Selva Field Station, our base for the next two nights. In the afternoon, there should be enough time to begin birding near La Selva, picking up some of the regular species along the entrance road, like Band-backed Wren, Long-tailed Tyrant, Passerini’s and Golden-hooded Tanagers, and Black-faced Grosbeak;
while keeping an eye in the surrounding treetops may yield Black-mandibled or Keel-billed Toucans, or a Collared Aracari. Travel times: San Jose – Braulio Carrillo NP 1 hour drive Braulio Carrillo NP – La Selva 1 hour drive Meals: Breakfast at the Hotel Robledal; lunch at a restaurant en-route to La Selva; dinner at Hacienda Sueno Azul. Night: Hacienda Sueno Azul http://www.suenoazulresort.com/ Day 3, Monday, July 4: La Selva. We will leave our hotel early, in order to reach La Selva shortly after daybreak. We will have breakfast and lunch at La Selva itself, on this day to maximize our time there, at one of Costa Rica’s premier birding destinations. The day will involve a mixture of trail birding and birding the forest edge around the headquarters clearing at La Selva. The trails are flat and easy to walk at La Selva, with some even being paved. Bird activity around the cabins and cafeteria can be so intense in the early morning that it is hard to make any progress down the trails, and often the day is over before you know it. Montezuma Oropendolas, White-crowned Parrots, and Keel-billed and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans are some of the more impressive species, but the smaller and more brightly-colored birds are also mesmerizing. Passerini’s, and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Blue Dacnis, several euphonias, Paltry Tyrannulet, Black-cowled Oriole, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar are all usually easy to see here. If we are lucky we might also see one of the tame Crested Guans or Great Curassows around the edge of the clearing too. This area can also be good for finding White-collared Manakin, and Black-cheeked, Cinnamon and Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers. Venturing farther into the reserve, we’ll walk some of the wide, flat trails, where we get into tall rainforest where we’ll search for other species like Great Tinamou, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, Violaceous and Slaty-tailed Trogons, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, White-ringed Flycatcher, both Stripe-breasted and Black-throated Wrens, and the local Plain-colored Tanager. We’ll also search the open country at the edge of the forest for the rare Great Green Macaw, and also check here for Laughing Falcon, Gray Hawk, Yellow-crowned Euphonia, and Graycrowned Yellowthroat. As well as birds we’ll be on the lookout for sloths, howler monkeys, agoutis, and peccaries there too. It is also a great place to see the Strawberry Poison Frog. Travel times: Sueno Azul-La Selva 20 minute drive. Meals: Breakfast and lunch at La Selva Biological Station (buffet style); dinner at Hacienda Sueno Azul. Night: Hacienda Sueno Azul http://www.suenoazulresort.com/
Day 4, Tuesday, July 5: La Selva to Savegre. We’ll have a final morning in La Selva targeting whatever we still need, before departing for Savegre in the Talamanca mountains, after lunch. Much of the afternoon will be spent on the road, getting there, although there should be time to check out some hummingbird feeders shortly after arrival. The hummer feeders in the area regularly attract Scintillant and Magnificent Hummingbirds, Green Violet-ear, and White-throated Mountain-gem. On this night or the following night, there will be an optional night foray to look for Dusky Nightjar or the scarce Bare-shanked Screech-Owl. Travel times: La Selva – Savegre 4 hour drive Meals: Breakfast and lunch at La Selva; dinner in Savegre Mountain Lodge. Night: Savegre Mountain Lodge http://www.savegre.com/ Day 5, Wednesday, July 6: Savegre. The Savegre Valley is surrounded by magnificent oak forests, home to many species restricted to the high mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, (known as Chiriqui endemics). Mixed species flocks here can be fantastic, with many of these special birds moving together, including Black-cheeked and Flame-throated Warblers, Ochraceous Wren, Ruddy Treerunner, Flame-colored and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, and Yellow-thighed Finch. The real star of Savegre is the astounding Resplendant Quetzal, without a doubt one of the world’s most spectacular birds. There are usually several stakeouts in the valley at this time, and nowhere else do we stand a better chance of finding Costa Rica’s flagship species. Our main focus of the day will be to track down this must-see bird. Other species we are may find while birding the valley include Band-tailed Pigeon, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Yellow-winged and Brown-capped Vireos, Acorn Woodpecker, Mountain Elaenia, Black-capped Flycatcher, Mountain Thrush, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-billed and Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Long-tailed SilkyFlycatcher, Yellow-bellied Siskin, and Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager). Some of the rare species in the area include Silvery-throated Jay, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, and Ochraceous Pewee. Travel times: Most of the birding is local, with the furthest drive expected to be 30 minutes. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Savegre Mountain Lodge. Night: Savegre Mountain Lodge http://www.savegre.com/ Day 6, Thursday, July 7: Cerro de la Muerte to Carara. Today, after breakfast, we’ll pack up and then leave in order to concentrate on the stunted treeline forest and grassy páramo over 10,000 ft (3000 m), which will be the highest point reached on the tour. The weather can be forbidding, and only a few hardy birds, like Volcano Hummingbird, Sooty Thrush, Timberline Wren, Slaty Flowerpiercer, and Volcano Junco can make a living up here. If we’re lucky we may also track down some of the scarcer residents in the area, like Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, or Peg-billed Finch.
We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant where we should see the lovely Fiery-throated Hummingbird, and a quick look down a short (around 1650ft/500m), but steep trail, may give us the chance for a Wrenthrush or Buffy Tuftedcheek. After a full morning in this area, and lunch at a restaurant in the area, we’ll drive on to Carara, in the lowlands of the Pacific Coast, where we’ll stay for the following two nights. After checking in to the Hotell Villa Lapas in the afternoon, there may be a little late afternoon birding time around their sprawling grounds, which hold our best chance of the stunning Fierybilled Aracari, and could also produce our first views of the impressive Scarlet Macaw. Travel times: Savegre – Cerro de la Muerte 40 minutes Cerro de la Muerte – Carara 3 hours Meals: Breakfast at Savegre Mountain Lodge; lunch at a restaurant en-route to Carara; dinner at Hotel Villa Lapas, near Carara Night: Hotel Villa Lapas, Carara http://www.villalapas.com/ Day 7, Friday, July 8: Carara. Before breakfast (at 06:00am) there will be an optional short walk around the grounds of the hotel. These grounds can show up a huge variety of birds. We’ll check the blooming shrubs for any hummingbirds, like Rufous-tailed and Steely-vented Hummingbirds, or Bluethroated Goldentail, while other parts of the property may hold Muscovy Duck, Rose-throated Becard, Painted Bunting, or Riverside Wren. We’ll also keep an eye overhead for Costa Rican Swifts hawking above. After breakfast we’ll drive ten minutes to one of the near forest trails within the national park. In the afternoon we’ll visit an area of mangroves, before taking a very relaxing boat ride along the Tarcol estuary and into some more mangroves. This lowland forest park of Carara and its surroundings provide arguably the best birding in the country. The forest can be pumping throughout the day, and shy birds seem easier to see here than many other places. We’ll spend the morning walking one of the easy, flat trails in the area, and then spend the late afternoon taking an afternoon cruise There are a number of specialties shared only between south-west Costa Rica and nearby Panama, including Black-hooded Antshrike, Baird’s Trogon, Riverside Wren, and Orange-collared Manakin. A huge list of target birds are found in the area, and we’ll be on the lookout for Great Tinamou, Gray-chested Dove, White-whiskered Puffbird, Barred Anthshrike, Dot-winged Antwren, Dusky and Chestnut-backed Antbirds,, Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Lesser Greenlet, Black-bellied and Rufous-breasted Wrens, Longbilled Gnatwren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, and Bay-headed Tanager. If we are lucky, and encounter an army ant swarm, we may even find Gray-headed Tanager, Bicolored Antbird or Tawny-winged Woodcreeper in attendance. An afternoon boat ride on the Tarcol estuary and nearby mangroves will add swathes of new birds, and also being a very relaxing way to spend the late afternoon. On the boat ride, while on the estuary, we’ll be on the lookout for Southern Lapwing, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-headed Caracara, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and Boat-billed
Heron; while in the mangroves we’ll be hoping for Common (“Mangrove”) Black-Hawk, Panama Flycatcher, “Mangrove” (Yellow) Warbler, or Mangrove Vireo. If we are very lucky we may even run into the rare Mangrove Hummingbird too. Travel times: Hotel Villa Lapas – Carara NP 10 minute drive Hotel Villa Lapas – Tarcol River cruise dock 20 minute drive Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Hotel Villa Lapas, near Carara Night: Hotel Villa Lapas, Carara http://www.villalapas.com/ Day 8, Saturday, July 9: Carara to Monteverde. We have another morning to bird in Carara, trying different trails for any missing birds. Later, we’ll drive back north, where the lower Pacific slope mountains have some drier habitat with different birds like Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, White-fronted Parrot, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Streak-backed Oriole, and the spectacular White-throated Magpie-Jay. The vegetation becomes lush and green as we climb higher into the mountains, eventually arriving at Monteverde, a small mountain town on the Pacific slope near the Continental Divide, where we stay for two nights. There will be a little time to bird around the lodge on arrival, which could produce Emerald Toucanet, Rufous-and-white Wren, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Collared Redstart or Rufous-capped Warbler. The verbena shrubs in the garden can also attract both Steely-vented Hummingbird or Canivet’s Emerald. Travel times: Carara – Monteverde 3 hours Meals: Breakfast and lunch at Hotel Villa Lapas; dinner at Cala Lodge in Monteverde, or in a local restaurant. Night: Cala Lodge, http://www.calalodge.com/ Day 9, Sunday, July 10: Monteverde. Some pre-breakfast birding on the grounds of Cala Lodge will give us a great chance at picking up Golden-olive Woodpecker or White-eared Ground-Sparrow, while their fruit feeders often host Hoffman’s Woodpecker, Brown Jay, and Blue-crowned Motmot. After a cooked breakfast at Cala Lodge, we’ll drive to Monteverde reserve, arriving just after opening time. We’ll spend much of the morning slowly walking the easy trails within the reserve, before taking lunch on site, checking out their hummingbird feeders, and then visiting another, very different, nearby reserve on the afternoon. The untouched cloud forest of Monteverde with enormous trees is amazing to walk through, and the trails are easy going. Mixed flocks in the reserve hold Common Chloropsingus (Bush-Tanager), Slate-throated Redstart, Red-faced Spinetail, Three-striped Warbler, Slaty Antwren, and sometimes Prong-billed Barbet too. Less conspicuous species within the reserve that are regularly seen include Black Guan, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Yellowish Flycatcher, Black-faced Solitaire, Ochraceous Wren, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. After a morning working the trails, and lunch at the on site restaurant, we’ll check out their hummingbird feeders, which regularly attract Coppery-headed Emerald, Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Green Hermit, Green-crowned Brilliant. Magenta-throated Woodstar and Violet Sabrewing. After
soaking up the hummingbirds we’ll head back in the direction of our hotel, but stop in at some vastly different dry forest en-route, where we’ll try to track down one of the male Long-tailed Manakins. This is also a good site for Orange-bellied Trogon, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-and-white Wren, and Rufous-capped Warbler. Travel times: Cala Lodge – Monteverde 15minutes Meals: Breakfast at Cala Lodge; lunch at a restaurant in Monteverde; dinner at a restaurant close to Cala Lodge or at Cala Lodge itself. Night: Cala Lodge, http://www.calalodge.com/ Day 10, Monday, July 11: Monteverde to San José. We have another morning at one of the reserves in the Monteverde area, which will be decided at the time, depending on what we are still looking for. After a morning on site, and lunch locally we’ll head back to San José for the night, about a 4 hour drive. We’ll stay at an airport hotel with a 24-hour shuttle. Travel times: Monteverde – San Jose 4hrs Meals: Breakfast at Cala Lodge; lunch at a restaurant in Monteverde; dinner in San Jose. Night: Hotel Robledal, Alajuela (near San Jose airport) http://www.hotelrobledal.com/index.php/en/ Day 11, Tuesday, July 12: Departure from San Jose. The tour ends this morning (there is no birding planned for this day). A transfer from the hotel to the airport will be arranged for the group. Meals: Only breakfast is included on this day (unless you are leaving very early). PACE AND DIFFICULTY OF THE TOUR This tour is designed to be an introduction to Neotropical birds, and is run at a fairly relaxed pace, since the guides will attempt to show you representatives of all the neotropical families, even if they are common birds. While finding the regional endemics is a secondary focus of the tour, you will still see quite a lot of them, and you certainly do not have to be a novice to enjoy this tour. It is not unusual for more experienced birders join this tour, since it is a shorter and less expensive trip than most. Although this is a bird-focused tour, there are regular opportunities to see other wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, frogs, and crocodiles on the boat trip. This is a fairly easy tour, and most of the birding will be along easy trails or dirt roads. While there is a fair amount of walking required, it will be done at a slow pace. In the lowland areas, the trails are flat, and some of them are even paved. The one exception is the trail at Braulio Carrillo National Park; this is perhaps the most difficult trail of the trip. This is because the trail has some short steep sections (both up and down), and is narrow, and many of the birds at this one site (which we only visit for one morning), are often up in the canopy. For this reason this can be the most challenging of the sites visited. It is conveniently en-route between San Jose and La Selva, and offers a whole group of birds only possible at this site, and is therefore included. The trail there is however very well maintained, with steps on the steep sections, and is trail is short-1.6km/0.9mi-and an entire morning will be spent walking this very slowly, so people rarely have any major issues here. The trails in the mountains naturally have some up and down, but they are typically well built and not very steep, apart from some very short sections, where a walking pole would be recommended for some participants. One morning on the main tour is spent at high elevation (up to 10,500ft/3200m), but the birding is along a road and it is rare that visitors have any altitude issues here. Anyone of reasonable fitness level can do this tour, although if you have any doubts, please contact Brian Rapoza for further advice. There are some longer drives included on this tour (e.g. 3 - 4hrs), such as the drives between La Selva and Savegre, and the one between Monteverde and San Jose at the end of the tour
PHOTOGRAPHY Seeing the birds will always take priority over getting photos. We do allow photography on our tours, but the tour leaders will not allow photographers to move in front of the group for a photo, or use flash, until everyone has had a good look at the bird. All of Tropical Birding’s guides are also amateur photographers, so they are happy to help you out within these limitations. There are some very good opportunities for photos on this tour, especially at hummingbird feeders at Savegre and Monteverde, on the mangrove boat trip near Carara, and around the headquarters at La Selva. FLIGHTS It is your responsibility to book and pay for your international flights to and from San José, Costa Rica (SJO), though Brian Rapoza can offer assistance in choosing which flights to book. Arrival: Please book flights that arrive no later than early afternoon of July 2 (there are a few hours of birding local to our San Jose hotel on the first day, so it is best to arrive before 1PM). Departure: Your departing flights should leave no earlier than the morning of July 12. A very late flight (9pm or after) on 11 July could also work, as we expect to get back into San Jose on this day by 6pm. There are many daily flights to San José from a variety of US cities (e.g. Miami, Houston, Atlanta,). You shouldn’t have any problems finding a flight, but feel free to contact Brian Rapoza for help if needed. Please send your full flight schedules after you buy your ticket, so that Tropical Birding can arrange the appropriate airport transfers. What’s included: • All accommodation from the night of July 2 to the night of July 11. • Meals from dinner on July 2 (unless you arrive very late) to breakfast on July 12 (unless you leave very early). • Water; it is safe to drink the tap water almost everywhere in Costa Rica. Please check though, before drinking the tap water with your guide to make sure, at that particular site, it is safe to do so. We suggest bringing a refillable bottle to use throughout the trip. • Tour leaders from the evening of July 2 to the evening of July 11. • All necessary ground transport in a van or small bus, with a local driver. • Two-hour boat-cruise along the Tarcol River, near Carara, on the afternoon of July 8. • One group airport transfer at each end of the trip; (i.e. one group transfer on arrival on July 2, and one group transfer for departure on July 12). • All entry fees to the sites in the itinerary. • Tips for local driver, local guides, lodge staff, and restaurants. • A bound bird list to keep track of your records. This list will be given to you on the first day of the tour; we’ll also email you an electronic copy before the tour. What’s not included: • Snacks (if you need snacks, you might want to bring some with you from home). • Additional drinks apart from those included. • Alcoholic beverages. • Tips for hotel porters and the main tour leader. • Excursions not included in the tour itinerary
• • • • • •
Travel insurance. Extras in hotels such as laundry service, telephone calls, and personal items. Medical fees. Expenses that could arise due to circumstances beyond tour operator’s control (weather, flight delays/cancellations, lost luggage, road closures, etc.) International airport departure tax, currently $29 per person, payable at the airport in San Jose. Extra airport transfers, for arrivals and departures, which are not on the designated arrival (July 2), and departure days (July 12).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A valid passport is required for entry into Costa Rica. It must be valid for at least six months past the time of your scheduled return. A visa is not required for citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, and most Western European countries. For other nationalities, please contact your nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate for entry requirements. By law you are required to carry your passport with you at all times, though while in San José it is recommended that you only carry a photocopy of it, and leave your passport in the room safe. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS We recommend that you review the itinerary with your physician to discuss personal health needs. There are no inoculations required for travel to Costa Rica. However, it is always wise to keep your basic shots such as tetanus, polio, and diphtheria up to date. Some travelers choose to receive a vaccination against Hepatitis A. Yellow Fever is no longer a significant risk in Costa Rica. Please be aware, that if you are traveling to Costa Rica from an area where Yellow Fever occurs, you will need to present a certificate showing you have been vaccinated for this, on arrival at immigration. Although this will not apply to most people (i.e. if coming from USA, UK or Canada), we must make this clear as you would be turned away without it. Occurrence of Malaria is now extremely low, but occasionally your doctor may recommend prophylaxis. Keep in Mind: • Sunscreen and insect repellent are essential (chiggers are present in the lowland areas). • We ask that there be no smoking in dining areas, vehicles, and any enclosed place where the group gathers. CURRENCY Costa Rica’s currency is the Colon, though the US dollar is accepted in most lodges, restaurants, and hotels. You can keep most of your currency in dollars, and change a small amount into Colones for the few places that don’t accept dollars. Don’t bring $50 or $100 bills as most places will refuse to accept them. Credit cards are also widely accepted, and ATM machines work with most international cards for getting both further US dollars or Colones, as long as you know your PIN. The Colón is usually worth around 500 to the US dollar – check here for the latest rate or to check other currencies: http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/#from=USD;to=CRC;amt=1 DEPARTURE TAXES There is an international airport departure tax of approximately $29 per person that must be paid before you check in for your departing flight (US dollars, Colones, or major credit cards accepted). This tax is not included in your tour fee. Note that this fee is subject to change at little notice by the Costa Rican authorities.
TIPPING Price include tips to the local driver, local guides, lodge staff, and restaurants. Tips for hotel porters are not included. Porters are usually happy with $0.50 to $1.00 per bag depending on how far they had to carry it. Tips for the Tropical Birding tour leader are not included. TB tour leaders are paid well, but they do put in long hours and work hard to get you the birds and make sure you have a great trip, and tips are still always appreciated. The decision to tip and the amount is a personal decision; our tour leaders often receive anywhere from a few dollars up to ten dollars per day, per client. CLIMATE AND ALTITUDE July is a moderately wet month, and some rain can be expected, especially on the Caribbean slope and around La Selva. Rain gear should be carried on most outings. Monteverde is in the lower mountains, at around 1500m/4920ft. Temperatures range from 72ºF 84ºF (22ºC – 29ºC) at this time of year. Savegre is in the upper mountains at around 2200m/7220ft; temperatures range from about 48ºF 75ºF (9ºC – 24ºC). It can be very chilly early in the morning until the sun climbs up over the edge of the valley, and a good jacket and gloves are recommended. Cerro de la Muerte is in the upper mountains, and will be the highest (3200m/10,500ft) and potentially coldest place visited on the tour. The temperatures can drop to as low as 40ºF/5ºC, and it can also be wet and windy at these high elevations. Only a few hours of the time will be spent at this site, and the walking is easy, on wide-open dirt roads. For the mountains, it is best to dress in layers, as although it can be cold in the early mornings it heats up quickly. Therefore, while a warm jacket, fleece, gloves and warm hat might be required for the first few hours of the day; by mid-morning you could be down to a t-shirt, and no further need for gloves and hat until the evening again. Carara and La Selva are in the humid lowlands and accordingly these are the hottest places we will visit. Temperatures vary from about 72ºF (22 ºC) at night to a maximum of around 90ºF (32 ºC) during the day, and humidity levels often exceed 80%. TRANSPORT The vehicle we use for the trip will be a van or small bus (Toyota Coaster or similar) with an experienced, locally hired driver. The exact type of vehicle used is subject to availability and cannot be promised, but we always use good, comfortable vehicles. You may leave things in the vehicle while out birding, as the driver will always stay with it and safeguard your belongings. At night, all belongings should be removed from the vehicle. Most of the roads are paved, but you’ll have to drive along a few rough, unpaved roads to get to some of the birding sites. LUGGAGE Please limit your luggage to one checked bag and one standard carry-on. The carry-on should include essential items such as medications, all your money, passport and tickets, binoculars and camera, bathroom kit, and one change of clothes. By taking these precautions, it won’t be such a major difficulty if your bag is delayed. All luggage, including carry-on, should have identification, on both the outside and the inside.
CLOTHING Dress casually and pack lightly. Bring clothing for the cold morning at high altitudes (i.e. Monteverde, Savegre, and Cerro de la Muerte). Some areas will be quite hot and humid so warm weather clothing is a must too, (i.e. La Selva and Carara). In general, lightweight, fast-drying clothing is preferable. Rain gear is essential and should be carried during most outings. At the minimum this should be a raincoat or poncho, but a mini-umbrella is also a good idea to keep water off your binoculars, and rain covers for cameras too. Recommended Clothing List •
Several long sleeved lightweight "travel-style" shirts.
•
T-shirts.
•
Lightweight "travel-style" trousers for most situations. Shorts may be nice for relaxing around the lodge, but generally should be avoided in the field due to sharp vegetation and annoying and potentially dangerous insects.
•
For high altitudes, a pair of heavy trousers or jeans.
•
Lightweight rain gear.
•
Sun hat with a wide brim.
•
Sturdy hiking boots. Rubber boots are not necessary.
•
A pair of sandals or light shoes to change into in the evenings.
•
Plenty of long cotton socks, and of course, undergarments.
•
A jacket or heavy sweater for the cold morning at high altitude.
•
Warm gloves and maybe a wool hat if you are sensitive to cold.
OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS •
Binoculars
•
Insect Repellent
•
Sunscreen (SPF 30 is recommended) and lip balm with sunscreen.
•
Field guide (see reading list below)
•
Small knapsack or waist pack.
•
Small flashlight with spare batteries.
•
Alarm clock – outside of San José, wakeup calls are usually not available.
•
Moist wipes/hand sanitizer if you are concerned about hygiene.
•
Personal first aid kit with band-aids, aspirin, motion sickness pills, blister pads, anti-itch cream, etc.
•
Over-the counter remedies and prescription medications in their original containers packed in your carry-on bag. Take along a copy of the prescription in your suitcase.
•
An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses if you are dependent on them.
•
Reading and writing materials.
•
A photocopy of you passport.
Optional •
Spotting scope. The TB leader will carry a good scope, but feel free to bring your own, as it can be useful at many of the sites.
•
Spare pair of binoculars. If your binoculars break, it will not be easy to replace them.
•
Camera. The hummingbirds make great targets, and are tame enough that you don't need a huge lens.
•
Shock-resistant walking stick. A couple of trails are steep and slippery, and this can help prevent falls.
•
Swimwear – the Hotel Villa Lapas has a pool.
ELECTRIC CURRENT The current is the same as the USA: 110 volts AC, 60 cycles. Receptacles are also US-style and take flat- pinned plugs. Electricity is available everywhere on this tour.
TIME Costa Rica is in the same time zone as the central US (GMT -6), but does not use daylight savings time. FOOD AND DRINK Most hotels and lodges are used to catering to foreign tourists, so serve an excellent variety of both local and international cuisine. Vegetarians are also catered for. All the food that you will be served on this tour will be washed in clean water and will be totally safe to eat. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please inform as soon as possible. In most of the hotels and lodges that we will stay in, we will have either set meals or buffet style meals that include drinking water or juice and tea/coffee. Other soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available at the bar, but these are not included in the tour fee. The tap water is safe to drink in much of Costa Rica, but we recommend that you check with the tour leader before drinking tap water at a lodge. In areas where the tap water is not potable, the tour leader will provide bottled water for you to keep in your room. The tour leader will provide a bottle, which you can use for the entire tour and refill from the tap. Drinking water will also be provided in the vehicle throughout. ACCOMMODATIONS All accommodations are of a good standard, with private bathrooms, full time hot water showers, and 24-hour electricity. COMMUNICATION Phone and Internet service are available in most lodges and hotels. Although all hotels have WIFI, sometimes it is only available in the lobby, and not in your room. VALUABLES
You are encouraged to leave your jewelry at home. Such valuables as you will need - cash, passports, watches, etc., should not be left in the lodge rooms during the day while you are in the field, except for the lodges/hotels that provide in-room safes. LAUNDRY SERVICE Laundry service is available in most hotels, usually at reasonable prices. On this tour, where only short stays are used at each place, it is perhaps best to plan to have laundry done at Savegre or Carara. Usually if laundry is handed in during the morning, it is ready by that evening. SUGGESTED READING LIST The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide. Richard Garrigues & Robert Dean. Cornell University Press, 2014 (Second edition). A superb, small field guide that is widely available and highly recommended. Don’t get on the plane without it! A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Stiles, Skutch and Gardner. Cornell University Press, 1989. The standard reference on Costa Rican birds for nearly two decades, this book is now a bit outdated in some aspects, such as taxonomy. However, it is still the authority on the natural history of the country’s birdlife and could be of interest to anyone who wants more detailed information on aspects such as nesting. The casual observer will be fine with just the Garrigues and Dean field guide mentioned above. Birds of Tropical America. Steven Hilty. University of Texas Press, 2005. A fascinating collection of essays providing a brilliant introduction to birds and birding in the New World tropics. Highly recommended. A Neotropical Companion. John Kricher. Princeton University Press, 1999. A great introduction to the landscapes, natural history, and wildlife of the New World tropics, with emphasis placed on rainforest ecosystems. Pretty darn readable for a textbook! A Bird-Finding Guide to Costa Rica. Barrett Lawson. Cornell University Press, 2009. If you are keen to study ahead of time this book provides site lists for some of the areas we will visit on the tour and also a solid overview of the various biogeographical regions of the country. The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide. Mark Wainwright and Oscar Arias. Zona Tropical Publications. 2007. The best mammal guide for the country. A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. Jeffrey Glassberg. Sunstreak Books. 2007 If you are keen on butterflies this is the best comprehensive book available for the butterflies of Costa Rica. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica: A Guide to Native and Exotic Flora. Willow Zuchowski and Turid Forsyth. Zona Tropical Publications. 2007. A great book for those with a fervor for botany. Excellent for both the amateur and experienced plant fan. Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Pocket Guide. Federico Munoz Chacon and Richard Dennis Johnston. Zona Tropical Publications. 2013. While not comprehensive, it is small, and handy-sized and covers the most likely species found on this tour.
PLEASE NOTE: There are many gift shops in Costa Rica (e.g. at La Selva, Savegre, and at Monteverde, which often sell some of these titles, should you wish to wait until you are in country) BIRD LIST A bound bird list will be provided by the Tropical Birding tour leader on the first night of the tour. If you would also like to get an advance copy of this by e-mail, please e-mail the Tropical Birding office. AUDIO RECORDINGS The tour leader will have all necessary sound recordings for the region. Should you wish to listen to some beforehand, you can download bird recordings for free from the website http://www.xenocanto.org/. Another option is to buy the Costa Rica MP3 collection by Peter Boesman, available here: http://www.birdsounds.nl/index.php?pg=productsitem&gr=0&id=1109&jsd=1
