- Group 4–6 · private
- Breakfast & lunch daily · dinners free
- Naturalist with spotting scope
- Private transport · fuel & tolls
- Rufous-naped Wren
- Lesson's Motmot
- Hummingbirds
- Prong-billed Barbet
- toucans
- oropendolas
- Great Green Macaw
- Snowy Cotinga
- Great Curassow
- Great Potoo
- owls
- honeycreepers
- tanagers
- Scarlet Macaw
- King Vulture
- Resplendent Quetzal
One week with both sides of the country: the Caribbean lowlands of Sarapiquí and La Selva, and the quetzal in the Talamanca mountains.
- San José · start
- Cinchona
- Sarapiquí
- San Gerardo de Dota
- San José · end
Price per person
USD · all fees included · shared double rooms. For 1–3 or 7+ travelers we quote on request.
| Style · season | 4 travelers | 5 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort · green | $2,115 | $2,115 | $2,115 |
| Comfort · peak | $2,270 | $2,270 | $2,270 |
| Superior · green | $2,290 | $2,290 | $2,290 |
| Superior · peak | $2,495 | $2,495 | $2,495 |
Day by day
Day 1 · San José
Arrival in San José
Transfer to the hotel; garden birding if time allows.
Private transfer
Target species: Rufous-naped Wren, Lesson's Motmot
Breakfast: — · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 2 · San José → Sarapiquí
Cinchona to Sarapiquí
Cinchona feeders, lunch on the road and down to the Caribbean.
Cinchona feeders
Target species: Hummingbirds, Prong-billed Barbet, toucans, oropendolas
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 3 · Sarapiquí
La Selva Biological Station
Lowland rainforest with a local guide.
La Selva entrance
Target species: Great Green Macaw, Snowy Cotinga, Great Curassow
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 4 · Sarapiquí
Tirimbina and surroundings
Trails, bridges and roost searches.
Tirimbina entrance
Target species: Great Potoo, owls, honeycreepers, tanagers
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 5 · Sarapiquí → San Gerardo
Sarapiquí to San Gerardo de Dota
Stops along the Sarapiquí River.
Route guide
Target species: Scarlet Macaw, King Vulture
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 6 · San Gerardo de Dota
Los Quetzales NP and Savegre
Quetzal at dawn and highland species.
Park entrance
Target species: Resplendent Quetzal, Volcano Junco, Volcano Hummingbird
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 7 · San Gerardo → San José
Savegre to San José
Last quetzal attempt and back to the city.
Route guide
Target species: Resplendent Quetzal (second chance)
Breakfast: At the hotel · Lunch: Lodge or local soda · Dinner: Free
Day 8 · San José
Departure
Transfer to the 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$113
- Transport & route guideestimate · shared by the group$1,166
- Lodgingestimate · shared by the group$635
- Mealsestimate · shared by the group$196
- Price per person$2,115
Best months
December–April: best window overall; quetzal nesting February–MayGreat Green Macaw nesting: December–JanuaryMigrants: September/October to March/April
Hotels by region
San José · airport · 1 nights
Comfort
Hampton by Hilton SJO Airport
Superior
Hotel Bougainvillea
Sarapiquí · 3 nights
Comfort
Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge
Superior
Selva Verde Lodge
San Gerardo de Dota · 2 nights
Comfort
Trogon Lodge
Superior
Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa
Comfort
Quetzals Paradise (km 70)
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, Dec.
What is the deposit?
50% non-refundable to book, and the balance 60 days before departure. Nothing is charged until we confirm availability.