Costa Rica Feather Trail

Our adventure begins in the Central Valley, where just 30 minutes away from the airport the birds are already waiting. 

A transfer from Juan Santamaria airport will take us to our first hotel 

If time allows we start birding in the gardens, sometimes producing our first endemic bird: Cabanis-ground Sparrow.

A welcome briefing introduces the concept of the tour: targeting species restricted to Costa Rica and the border countries.

Here are some of the birds likely to be seen today:

Mottled Owl, White-eared Ground-sparrow, Gray Hawk, common squirrel-Cuckoo, White-tailed Kite, Crimson-fronted Parakeet, Hoffman's woodpecker, Rufous-Backed wren, Cabanis Wren, Chesnut-capped Warbler, Cinnamon-bellied Saltator, Blue-gray Tanager.

We depart early towards the cloud forest edge.

Cinchona offers one of the best introductions to near-endemics, with feeders attracting multiple hummingbird species and highland tanagers.

Mixed flocks moving through the canopy may include key regional specialties.

By afternoon, we continue birding along foothill forests before settling in our lodge in Sarapiqui.

Some of the birds we can spot are :

 Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, Black Guan ,White-bellied Mountain-gem,Black-bellied Hummingbird, Coppery-headed Emerald, Prong-billed Barbet, Green crowned brilliant, Red headed Barbet., Silver Throated Tanager, Common Chlorospingus, crimson-collared Tanager, Green Hermit.

A full day dedicated to one of Costa Rica’s richest birding regions.

We explore forest trails, riversides, and lodge grounds, where bird activity is constant. Expect encounters with toucans, trogons, antbirds, and manakins, along with mixed-species flocks moving through the canopy.

Midday breaks allow time to enjoy feeders and photograph species at close range.

Afternoon birding focuses on river edges and secondary growth habitats.

We’ll be based in Sarapiqui for the night

Possible birds: 

Slaty breasted Tinamou, Broad billed Motmot, Rufous-winged woodpecker, Olive-backed Quail-Dove, Ocellated Antbird, black hawk-Eagle, Middle american Screech-Owl, Central American Pygmy-Owl, Snowy Cotinga, Keel-Billed Toucan, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Canebrake Wren, Spectacled Owl.

Having breakfast in the Caribbean lowlands surrounded by birds is already a wonderful experience—but it becomes even more extraordinary when, after that great meal, we set out in search of one of Costa Rica’s most enigmatic and elusive species the Bare-necked Umbrellabird.

At Centro Manu, we will spend the morning walking its trails, where there are excellent chances of encountering this remarkable and highly endemic bird.

After lunch, we continue our journey to a town nestled on the foothills of Arenal Volcano, one of favorite places. 

We’re staying the night around Arenal.

These are some of the species we may encounter during the day:

Golden-hooded tanager, Great Potoo, Snowcap, Bronze-Tailed Plumeteer, Bare-Necked Umbrellabird, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Spectacled Owl, White-whiskered Puffbird, Violet-headed Hummingbird,Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Fasciated Antshrike, Red-throated Ant-Tanager.

We spend the day exploring the rich foothill habitats around Arenal.

This region is known for its incredible diversity due to the mix of ecosystems forest, lake edges, and secondary growth all within short distances.

Birding includes trails, roadside stops, and productive viewpoints.

The rich mix of habitats allows Caribbean lowland and mid elevation species to overlap, making Arenal one of the premier destinations for birdwatching in Costa Rica.

We’re overnighting in Arenal.

This are some Potential birds during the day:

Slaty-tailed Trogon, Keel-billed Motmot, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Carmiol’s and White-throated Shrike-Tanagers, Streak-crowned Antvireo, Dull-mantled Antbird , Spotted Antbird, Great Curassow, Long-Tailed Tyrant, White-collared Manakin, White-fronted Nunbird, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant.

We depart early from La Fortuna, leaving behind the lush foothill forests of Arenal and beginning our journey toward the Tilarán mountain range.

The morning is dedicated to strategic birding along the route, taking advantage of elevational changes that often produce a great mix of species in a relatively short distance. Roadside stops and forest patches can be surprisingly productive, with chances for mixed flocks, raptors, and edge species.

As we approach Monteverde, the habitat shifts noticeably cooler temperatures, misty air, and dense cloud forest vegetation signal our arrival into one of Costa Rica’s most iconic ecosystems.

Night in Monteverde.

Some of the key birds are:

Long-tailed Manakin, White-throated Spadebill, Olive-Streaked Flycatcher,Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Chiriqui-Quail Dove, Golden-crowned Warbler, Costa Rican Warbler, Slaty-Backed Nightingale- thrush, White-eared Ground-Sparow, Black-breasted Wood-Quail, Coppery-headed Emerald, Three-wattled Bellbird, Golden-Browed Chlorophonia, White-throated thrush.

We depart early from Monteverde, descending from the cool cloud forests into the warmer, drier lowlands of the Pacific slope.

As we lose elevation, bird diversity shifts dramatically.

Targeting species adapted to drier habitats and open landscapes.

By mid-morning, we reach the coastal plains around Chomes, one of the most productive wetland and salt flat systems in the country.

We arrive in the Tárcoles area in the afternoon for a river tour, then settle into our lodge near the river and mangroves.

Possible sightings during the day:

Panama flycatcher, Mangrove rail, Mangrove vireo, White-Throated magpie Jay, Nuttings Flycatcher, Mangrove hummingbird, Wood Stork, Mangrove Swallow, Rufous-and-white Wren, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Crane Hawk, Black-necked Stilt, Lesser-ground Cuckoo, Double-Stripe Thick-Knee, Ringed, Amazon, American-Pigmy, Green Kingfishers, Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Pacific-Screech Owl.

An early start takes us into Carara National Park, one of the most reliable locations in Costa Rica to observe spectacular birds.

This unique transition zone creates an exceptional overlap of species from two distinct ecosystems, making Carara one of the most productive birding sites in the country. It is one of the few places where you can observe both dry forest specialists and humid forest birds within the same morning.

We will move slowly along the trails, scanning the understory, mid-levels, and canopy for mixed-species flocks and ant-following birds. 

After lunch, we continue our journey toward the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biodiverse regions in Costa Rica. Night in Osa. 

Species expected during the day:

Bicolored antbird, Streak-Chested Antpitta, Scarlet Macaw, Orange-Collared Manakin, Scaly-Throated Leaftosser, White-Whiskered Puffbird, Bairds Trogon, Slaty-Tailed Trogon, Velvety Manakin, Chesnut-Backed Antbird, Black-Faced Antthrush, Fiery-Billed Aracari, Dot-Winged Antwren, Golden-Naped Woodpecker, Northern-Barred Woodcreeper, Black-Hooded Antshrike.

We wake up in the heart of the wild Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically rich regions on Earth, and a true highlight of any Costa Rica birding journey.

The Osa Peninsula offers some of the best opportunities in the country to observe large, charismatic species alongside a remarkable diversity of forest specialists. The morning chorus here is unforgettable, with macaws, parrots, and trogons calling through the canopy. 

We’ll be sleeping in Rincon Area. 

Possible birds during the day:

Wedge-Billed Woodcreeper, Black-Cheeked Ant-Tanager, Charming Hummingbird, Red-Capped Manakin, Scaly-Breasted Wren, Marbled-Wood Quail, White-Throated Shrike- Tanager, Little Tinamou, Great Tanager, Bronzy Hermit, Western Woodhaunter, Tawny-Winged Woodcreeper, Turquoise Cotinga, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Black-Bellied Wren, Red-Legged Honeycreeper, King Vulture, Band-Tailed Barbthroat, Yellow-Throated Toucan, Tiny Hawk, Lineated Woodpecker.

We’ll start early in the biodiverse lowlands of the Osa Peninsula, enjoying some final birding around our lodge grounds. 

After breakfast, we begin our journey north toward the highlands, with some stops along the way. As we pass through areas like Palmar Norte, Durika Hills, San Isidro Town and continue toward the foothills, we’ll make stops in transitional habitats where lowland and mid-elevation species overlap. Night at Cerro de la Muerte. 

Possible sightings during the day:

Yellow-billed Cotinga, Bran-Colored Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Yellow-Bellied Seedeater, Isthmian Wren, Rufous-Breasted Wren, Ocellated Crake, Wedge-Tailed Grass-Finch, Pale-Breasted Spinetail, Scrub Greenlet, Turquoise Cotinga, Gray-Capped Flycatcher, Roadside Hawk, Streaked Saltator, Pearl Kite, Spot-Crowned Euphonia, Gartered Violaceous Trogon, Costa Rican Brushfinch, Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Bare-Shanked Screech-Owl, Dusky Nightjar.

This is our favorite place on Earth where we grew up as kids and first became birders. Few places combine such breathtaking views with such a high concentration of endemic species.

This mountain range includes some of the highest peaks in Costa Rica and supports an exceptional level of endemism in both flora and fauna.

With cool temperatures ranging between 41–64°F (5–18°C), we begin the day in search of the Prince of the Cloud Forest, the Resplendent Quetzal. As activity continues, we explore forest edges and trails in search of mixed-species flocks.

We’re staying the night in Cerro de la muerte.

Species expected during the day:

Ruddy treerunner, Wrenthrush, Spotted-Wood Quail, Long-Tailed silky-Flycatcher, Sotty-capped Chlorospingus, Ruddy Pigeon, Buff-Fronted Quail-Dove, Costa Rican Pigmy-Owl, Streak-Breasted Treehunter, Ochraceus Wren, Black and yellow Phainoptila, Spangle-Cheeked tanager, American Dipper, White Winged Tanager, Flame-Throated Warbler, Dark Pewee, Ochreceus Pewee, Spotted Barbital, Talamanca , Fiery- Throated, Scintillant, White-Throated, Stripe-Tailed Humminbirds, Lesser Violetear, Unspotted saw-Whet Owl, Black-billed Nightingale Thrush, Sooty Thrush.

After breakfast, we begin our scenic drive back to the Central Valley, descending from the highlands toward the capital.

The journey offers beautiful views as we transition from cloud forest to agricultural landscapes and urban areas.

Depending on departure times, we may enjoy a final short birding session in the awesome highlands  of Cerro de la Muerte.