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    VIVO Expeditions
    Great Green Macaw Nesting

    Boca Tapada · Operated with Edward Vargas

    Great Green Macaw Nesting

    Endangered Great Green Macaws nesting in almendro trees on private conservation land.

    • 3–4 hours
    • December – April (nesting)
    • 2–6 guests
    Request Availability · from $90 pp

    No payment is taken now.

    Duration

    3–4 hours

    Start time

    5:30 AM or 14:30 PM

    Season

    December – April (nesting)

    Group size

    2–6 guests

    Difficulty

    Easy · short walk to observation point

    Available months

    • Jan
    • Feb
    • Mar
    • Apr
    • May
    • Jun
    • Jul
    • Aug
    • Sep
    • Oct
    • Nov
    • Dec

    The experience

    The Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is Critically Endangered in Costa Rica — fewer than 300 individuals remain. The Northern Lowlands around Boca Tapada hold the country's largest breeding population, nesting almost exclusively in mature Dipteryx panamensis (almendro) trees. Edward monitors several active nests with permission from private landowners. Sessions include ~1.5 h of observation at an active nest tree from ~40 m distance plus additional feeding-flight opportunities. Behaviour observed: pair-bonding, food delivery, chick calls, defensive displays against Ornate Hawk-Eagles.

    Target species

    • Great Green Macaw

      Ara ambiguus

    • Mealy Parrot

      Amazona farinosa

    • White-crowned Parrot

      Pionus senilis

    • Keel-billed Toucan

      Ramphastos sulfuratus

    • Ornate Hawk-Eagle (occasional)

      Spizaetus ornatus

    Edward's field tips

    Peak activity is early morning (5:45–8:00) when parents deliver food. February–March offers loudest chick-calling. Please stay behind the marked line — nest disturbance can cause abandonment.

    Plan around early starts

    Where to stay in Boca Tapada

    Sessions start early — staying in the zone is strongly recommended. Transport is coordinated by VIVO inside the booking flow.

    Brown-hooded Parrot landing on the Laguna Lagarto Lodge deck

    Laguna Lagarto Lodge

    • ~45 min from Edward's sites
    Tree house at Maquenque Ecolodge

    Maquenque Ecolodge

    • ~30 min from Edward's sites
    Bungalows and gardens at Pedacito de Cielo Eco Lodge

    Pedacito de Cielo

    • ~20 min from Edward's sites

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