Costa Rica Wildlife

Day 1: to San Jose

Late evening arrival in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, where you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Bougainvillea, set among 10 acres of lush tropical gardens in San Jose’s residential district of San Domingo de Heredia...Meals on your own

Day 2: Finca Ecológico / Monteverde Biological Cloud forest Reserve

We enjoy a welcome breakfast and a trip orientation at 7:00 am this morning in San Jose, then head out for a drive up into the highlands to the spectacular Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Reserve. Our journey is about 4.5 hours, passing through villages and farmlands. After lunch at our lodge in Monteverde, we set out for a walk on the trails of the Finca Ecológico, a private nature reserve just a 10-minute walk from our lodge. Overnight at the Monteverde Lodge, set at 4,600 feet in the Tilarán Mountain Range...BLD

Day 3: Monteverde Biological Cloud forest Reserve

We enjoy a full day at Monteverde, one of the outstanding nature reserves in the New World tropics. Monteverde was founded in 1951 by a small group of Quakers from Alabama, attracted to Costa Rica by its lack of an army and its peaceful policies that matched Quaker philosophy. The Quakers bought about 4,500 acres and brought dairy farming and cheese production to the region (Monteverde’s cheese is sold throughout the country). They preserved about a third of the land they purchased to protect the watershed above Monteverde. In 1972, after visiting biologists noted the richness of its flora and fauna, the Quakers turned it into the Monteverde Biological Cloudforest Reserve, operated by the Tropical Science Center of San Jose. In this “cloud forest,” the forest floor is carpeted in fern, mosses, and shade-loving plants, while high above is a thick, green canopy made by the branches of tall trees reaching for sunlight. More than 400 species of birds reside here, including toucans, tanagers, barbets, and bellbirds. The most famed is the resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), sacred and imperial bird of the Mayas and Aztecs and the largest member of the trogon family. This magical avian, with its iridescent green plumage and crimson breast, is found only in certain high-altitude cloud forests in Central America. 

Day 4: santa elena / Volcán Arenal / Hot Springs

We enjoy a morning hike on the nature trails of nearby Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, a community-administered reserve adjacent to Monteverde, then make a scenic 3.5-hour journey to Arenal, first by 4WD vehicle, then by private boat across Lake Arenal, where we have our first views of Volcán Arenal, the most active volcano in Costa Rica. A perfect cone shape emerging 5,300 feet from gentle green hills, Arenal first became active in 1968 when it erupted in a spectacular fashion. This afternoon, we head to a volcanic hot spring in a beautiful natural setting complete with thermal pools and a waterfall. It’s a great place for an optional soak, and later we savor a typical Costa Rican dinner here. Volcano views (clouds permitting) can be stunning from here. Our overnight is at the Lost Iguana Resort, nestled among 120 acres of primal rainforest overlooking the mountain...BLD

Day 5 Arenal / Hanging Bridges / LA FORTUNA WATERFALL

This morning we walk on a series of spectacular hanging bridges that give us access to the high rainforest canopy—a great way to enter the world of towering, orchid-draped trees in a 600-acre primary forest reserve. There are six bridges that lead us deep inside the canopy habitat. Views of Arenal can be particularly striking from these bridges. In the afternoon, we offer an optional hike through forests and meadows to the base of the spectacular, 200-foot-high La Fortuna Waterfall—the adventurous among us can take a refreshing dip in the cool waters below it. Overnight at the Lost Iguana Resort...BLD

Day 6: Tortuguero National Park / Tortuga Lodge

From the La Fortuna airstrip, we take an early morning 30-minute flight by light charter plane to Tortuguero National Park, a natural history wonderland of coastal forest and inland waterways. After settling into our lodge, we explore by boat along the park’s rivers and canals. Overnight at the charming Tortuga Lodge, set on 50 private acres on the Caribbean coast....BLD

Day 7: Tortuguero National Park / Tortuga Lodge

Tortuguero National Park protects one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. On our memorable day of boating in its secluded waterways and blackwater canals, we may see six-foot-long gar fish, turtles, manatees (an endangered species), crocodiles, caimans, river otters, and sloths, along with howler, spider, or white-faced monkeys. More than 320 species of birds have been recorded in the park, including all six species of kingfishers found in the New World, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the slaty-tailed trogon, whitecollared manakin, purple-throated fruitcrow, and white-fronted nunbird. Along the way, we have options to visit the tiny village of Tortuguero as well as the Green Turtle Research Station, where turtle migration and behavior have been studied since 1962 (the longest running continuous study of its kind in the world). The beach at Tortuguero is the most important seasonal nesting site of the endangered green sea turtle in the Western Hemisphere. Huge green turtles nest here in large numbers between July to October, and if you are here at this time, it’s a spectacular experience to watch them laying their eggs or see the eggs hatching. Although Tortuguero’s green turtles may wander as far as Florida and Venezuela to feed, none of the more than 28,000 turtles tagged at Tortuguero has ever been found to mate and nest at any other beach. Leatherback turtles also nest here, in smaller numbers, as do hawksbill turtles. Overnight at Tortuga Lodge...BLD

Day 8: Return to San Jose

From the Tortuguero airstrip, we fly to San Jose, Costa Rica’s modern capital city, and transfer to the hotel, with lunch on arrival. After a brief orientation tour of the city, the afternoon is free for independent exploration. We gather for a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight at Hotel Bougainvillea...BLD

Day 9: San Jose / Depart (or join one of our extensions)

Early morning transfer to the airport for homeward flights, or join our optional extensions to the Corcovado Rainforest on the Pacific Coast or a thrilling raft trip on the Pacuare River...B