- Group 4–6 · private
- Breakfast & lunch daily · dinners free
- Naturalist with spotting scope
- Private transport · fuel & tolls
- Three-wattled Bellbird
- manakins
- Guans
- curassows
- toucanets
- antbirds
- sloths
- owls
- Sunbittern
- coquettes
- frogs
- Nicaraguan Seed-Finch
- Nicaraguan Grackle
- bitterns
- Jabiru
- Sungrebe
The bellbird in San Ramón, the Arenal foothills, two wetlands by boat near the Nicaraguan border and the Tody Motmot in the Tenorio forest.
- San José · start
- San Ramón
- La Fortuna / Arenal
- Caño Negro
- Bijagua / Tenorio
- San José · end
Price per person
USD · all fees included · shared double rooms. For 1–3 or 7+ travelers we quote on request.
Superior hotels are not available in Caño Negro; those nights use the best Comfort lodge.
| Style · season | 4 travelers | 5 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort · green | $2,770 | $2,770 | $2,770 |
| Comfort · peak | $2,960 | $2,960 | $2,960 |
| Superior · green | $3,315 | $3,315 | $3,315 |
| Superior · peak | $3,685 | $3,685 | $3,685 |
Optional: Cinchona hummingbird café detour, +$250 per person (infants free).
Request this expeditionDay by day
Day 1 · San José → San Ramón → La Fortuna
San Ramón to Arenal
Stop in the San Ramón forests for the Three-wattled Bellbird at its lek, lunch on the road and arrival in Arenal.
Private transport
Target species: Three-wattled Bellbird, manakins
Breakfast: — · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 2 · La Fortuna
Arenal Observatory and Bogarín
Dawn in the national park; afternoon on the Bogarín Trail.
Arenal Observatory Birding · Bogarín Trail
Target species: Guans, curassows, toucanets, antbirds, sloths, owls
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 3 · La Fortuna
Ecocentro Danaus and a night walk
Wetland and regenerating forest by day, Papa's Place after dark.
Ecocentro Danaus Birdwatching · Papa's Place Night Tour
Target species: Sunbittern, coquettes, frogs
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 4 · La Fortuna → Caño Negro
Medio Queso to Caño Negro
Boat on Medio Queso lagoon, near the Nicaraguan border.
Medio Queso boat
Target species: Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, Nicaraguan Grackle, bitterns
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 5 · Caño Negro → Bijagua
Caño Negro at dawn
Early boat in the refuge, then on to the Tenorio foothills.
Caño Negro boat
Target species: Jabiru, Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron, Anhinga
Breakfast: On the route · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 6 · Bijagua
Tenorio foothills
Lodge trails and nearby forest; owls at dusk.
Route guide
Target species: Tody Motmot, Long-tailed Manakin, Snowcap, Yellow-eared Toucanet (possible)
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 7 · Bijagua → San José
Tenorio Volcano NP to San José
Morning at Río Celeste, then the drive to San José.
Park entrance
Target species: Foothill species
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 8 · San José
Departure
Hotel to airport.
Private transfer
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: — · Dinner: —
Breakfast & lunch every day
- Breakfast: at the hotel when it is included; served on the route on early starts or where the hotel does not include it; in the tour when the outing includes it.
- Lunch & on the road: lunch every day at a lodge or local soda (or in the tour), plus coffee, water and snacks in the vehicle.
- Dinner: free, so you choose where and when.
How this price is built
Per person · 4 travellers · Comfort · green season · all fees included
- Tours & entrances$744
- Transport & route guideestimate · shared by the group$1,065
- Lodgingestimate · shared by the group$751
- Mealsestimate · shared by the group$210
- Price per person$2,770
Best months
February–April: Caño Negro and Medio Queso at their best (low water)Three-wattled Bellbird: in the highlands March–September, lower the rest of the yearNo true dry season on the Caribbean slope; driest windows February–March and mid-August–October
Hotels by region
La Fortuna · Arenal · 3 nights
Comfort
Arenal Observatory Lodge
Comfort
Hotel Lomas del Volcán
Superior
Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs
Superior
Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Caño Negro · 1 nights
Comfort
Natural Lodge Caño Negro
Bijagua · Tenorio · 2 nights
Comfort
Celeste Mountain Lodge
Superior
Tenorio Lodge
San José · airport · 1 nights
Comfort
Hampton by Hilton SJO Airport
Superior
Hotel Bougainvillea
Included
- •Private naturalist guide with a spotting scope on every outing, who helps you photograph through it
- •Private transport with fuel, tolls and parking, plus airport transfers
- •Lodging in your chosen style (Comfort or Superior), shared double rooms
- •Breakfast every day: at the hotel, or served on the route on early starts and where the hotel does not include it
- •Lunch every day at a lodge or local soda, plus coffee, water and snacks on the road
- •All entrances, boats, hides and feeders in the program
- •Small group of 4 to 6 travelers
Not included
- •Dinner not included: we recommend places near each hotel
- •International flights
- •Travel and medical insurance
- •Alcohol, tips and personal expenses
- •Activities outside the program
Conditions
- •Departures for 4 to 6 travelers. For 7 or more, or for 1–3 travelers, we quote on request
- •50% non-refundable deposit to book; balance due 60 days before departure
- •Photography sessions are always private to your group
- •Children 5–10 pay 70% of tours and entrances, and the same as adults for lodging, meals and transport; infants 0–4 pay 20% of tours and entrances plus the full transport amount; infant lodging follows each hotel's policy and is not charged upfront
- •Hotels are references: the final property is the one shown or similar, subject to availability
- •Peak season (Dec 15–Apr 30 and July): drives can take up to 30 minutes longer
Frequently asked questions
How big is the group?
Standard departures are for 4 to 6 travellers. For 1–3 or 7 or more travellers we prepare a custom quote.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day, at the hotel or served on the route on early starts, and lunch every day at a lodge or local soda. Dinner not included.
Are the photography sessions private?
Yes. Photography sessions are always private to your group.
When is the best season?
The best months for this expedition are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
What is the deposit?
50% non-refundable to book, and the balance 60 days before departure. Nothing is charged until we confirm availability.