Costa Rica
BirdingBirding
We are currently only offering this tour as a Custom Tour. Please Contact Us for more information
While it may be on the beaten track, the outrageously beautiful quetzals, great lodges, and friendly people are just some of the reasons why people come back to Costa Rica again and again. This tiny Central American country has far more than its share of beautiful scenery, not to mention a rich assortment of birds unequalled by any other country its size. This short tour takes in the top birding spots in comfort and style and is timed to maximize your vacation time. The easy trails, great lodges, and fantastic birds make this a great introduction to the addictive wonders of Neotropical birding.
Price
From $5780
Length
11 Days
Physical Difficulty
Moderate
Pace
Moderate
Focus
Birding
Group size
9 + 1 Leader
You will be picked up at the airport and taken to a nearby hotel for the night. The exact hotel depends on availability, but when possible we try to pick hotels with good birding on the grounds, so you can start getting your eye in while you wait for the rest of the group to arrive.
After some pre-breakfast birding near our hotel, we’ll drive through the enormous Braulio Carillo National Park and onto the Caribbean slope. We’ll visit a private forest reserve near the park, which has hummingbird feeders, and often roosting nightbirds. Spectacled Owl is the most regular of these, but sometimes Crested Owl and Great Potoo are around too. Besides these birds, there will be plentiful birds on our first day in the so-called ‘Bird Country’ of Costa Rica. Chestnut-headed and Montezuma Oropendolas both nest on the property, and the forest and edges are home to Russet-naped Wood-Rail, Collared Aracari, Yellow-throated and Keel-billed Toucans, and Red-legged and Green Honeycreepers. We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then drive another hour or so to Puerto Viejo, where we spend two nights in the La Selva Biological Station (or one of several lodges nearby if unavailable). In the afternoon, there should be enough time to begin birding the Caribbean lowlands, picking up some of the regular species like Scarlet-rumped and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Black-faced Grosbeak, and Olive-backed Euphonia; while keeping an eye in the surrounding treetops may yield Yellow-throated or Keel-billed Toucans, or a Collared Aracari. Note: on some tours, we stay at a lodge near Puerto Viejo for the nights of day 2 and day 3 and visit La Selva as a day trip.
Bird activity around the cabins and cafeteria can be so intense in the early morning that it is hard to make any progress down the trails, and often the day is over before you know it. Montezuma Oropendolas, White-crowned Parrots, and Keel-billed and Yellow-throated Toucans are some of the more impressive species, but the smaller and more brightly colored birds are also mesmerizing. Scarlet-rumped and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Blue Dacnis, several euphonias, Mistletoe Tyrannulet, Black-cowled Oriole, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar can often be easy to see here. We might also see one of the tame Crested Guans around the edge of the clearing as well. This area can also be good for finding White-collared Manakin, and Black-cheeked, Cinnamon and Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers. Venturing farther into the reserve, we’ll walk some of the wide, flat trails, where we get into tall rainforest where we’ll search for other species like Great Tinamou, Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, Gartered and Slaty-tailed Trogons, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, White-ringed Flycatcher, and the local Plain-colored Tanager. We’ll also search the open country at the edge of the forest for the rare Great Green Macaw, and also check here for Laughing Falcon, Gray Hawk, and Yellow-crowned Euphonia. As well as birds we’ll be on the lookout for sloths, howler monkeys, agoutis, and peccaries too. It is also a great place to see the Strawberry Poison Frog.
We’ll have a final morning in this area targeting whatever we still need, before departing for Savegre in the Talamanca mountains. Much of the afternoon will be spent driving, although there should be time to check out some hummingbird feeders shortly after arrival. The hummer feeders in the area regularly attract Talamanca Hummingbirds and Lesser Violetear. We’ll spend two nights at one of several lodges in or near the Savegre Valley.
The Savegre Valley is dominated by magnificent oak cloudforests, home to many species restricted to the high mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, (known as “Chiriquí endemics”). Mixed species flocks here can be fantastic, with many of these special birds moving together, including Collared Redstart, Black-cheeked and Flame-throated Warblers, Ochraceous Wren, Ruddy Treerunner, Flame-colored and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, and Yellow-thighed Brushfinch. The real star of Savegre is the astounding Resplendant Quetzal, without a doubt one of the world’s most spectacular birds. There are usually several stakeouts in the valley at this time, and nowhere else do we stand a better chance of finding Costa Rica’s flagship species. Our main focus of the day will be to track down this must-see bird. Other species we may also find while birding the valley include Band-tailed Pigeon, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Yellow-winged and Brown-capped Vireos, Acorn Woodpecker, Mountain Elaenia, Black-capped Flycatcher, Mountain Thrush, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-billed and Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrushes, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, and Sooty-capped Chlorospingus.
Today, after breakfast, we’ll pack up and head up to the stunted treeline forest and páramo habitat just over 10,000 ft (3000 m), which will be the highest point reached on the tour. The weather can be forbidding, and only a few hardy birds, like Volcano Hummingbird, Sooty Thrush, Timberline Wren, Slaty Flowerpiercer, and Volcano Junco can make a living up here. If we’re lucky we may also track down some of the scarcer residents in the area, like Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, or Peg-billed Finch. We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant where we should see the lovely Fiery-throated Hummingbird too. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll drive on to Carara, in the lowlands of the Pacific Coast, where we’ll stay for the following two nights.
Before breakfast, we’ll bird within the hotel grounds, the river often holds Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, and the scattered trees Black-headed Trogon or Pale-billed Woodpecker. Black-hooded Antshrike can also be found in the property, as can Fiery-billed Aracari, although a little luck is needed to find the latter species, which is scarce in this area. After breakfast we’ll drive a short distance (10 minutes) to one of the forest trails within the national park. A huge list of target birds is found in the area, and we’ll be on the lookout for Baird’s Trogon, Riverside Wren, Orange-collared Manakin, Great Tinamou, Gray-chested Dove, White-whiskered Puffbird, Barred Anthshrike, Dot-winged Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Lesser Greenlet, Rufous-breasted Wren, and White-shouldered and Bay-headed Tanagers. If we are lucky, and we encounter an army ant swarm, we may also find Gray-headed Tanager, Bicolored Antbird or Tawny-winged Woodcreeper in attendance. After lunch, we’ll take a relaxing, private, afternoon boat cruise on the Tarcol estuary and in the nearby mangroves, adding swathes of new birds. We’ll be on the lookout for Double-striped Thick-knee, Southern Lapwing, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-headed Caracara, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Common Black-Hawk, “Mangrove” (Yellow) Warbler, and Mangrove Vireo. If we are very lucky, we may even run into the rare Mangrove Hummingbird. Note: due to tides, we sometimes take the boat trip in the morning instead of the afternoon.
We have another morning to bird in Carara, trying different trails for any missing birds. Later, we’ll drive back north, where the lower Pacific slope mountains have some drier habitat with different birds like Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, White-fronted Parrot, Cinnamon Hummingbird, Streak-backed Oriole, and the spectacular White-throated Magpie-Jay. The vegetation becomes lush and green as we climb higher into the mountains, eventually arriving at Monteverde, a small mountain town on the Pacific slope near the Continental Divide, where we stay for two nights. There will be a little time to bird around the lodge on arrival, which could produce Emerald Toucanet, Rufous-and-white Wren, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush or Rufous-capped Warbler. The verbena shrubs in the garden can also attract both Steely-vented Hummingbird or Canivet’s Emerald.
Some pre-breakfast birding on the grounds of our lodge will give us a chance at picking up White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Chestnut-capped Warbler or Rufous-and-white Wren. The lodge’s fruit feeders may host Brown Jay, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, and Lesson’s Motmot. We’ll then head to one of the reserves in the Monteverde area and spend the rest of the morning slowly walking the easy trails. Mixed flocks in the reserve hold Prong-billed Barbet, Common Chloropsingus, Slate-throated Redstart, Red-faced Spinetail, Costa Rican Warbler, Slaty Antwren, and others. Less conspicuous species that are regularly seen include Black Guan, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Yellowish Flycatcher, Black-faced Solitaire, Ochraceous Wren, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. There are also quetzals here if we got unlucky in Savegre. After a morning working the trails, and lunch at an on-site restaurant, we’ll check out their hummingbird feeders, which regularly attract Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Green Hermit, Green-crowned Brilliant, Magenta-throated Woodstar, and Violet Sabrewing. After that we will bird one of the other reserves in the area, which could yield birds like Collared Trogon or Long-tailed Manakin.
We have another morning at one of the reserves in the Monteverde area; the exact location we visit will depend on what we are still looking for. After lunch, we’ll head back to San José for the night. The exact hotel we use depends on availability – sometimes it is the same hotel we used on the first night, while other times it is a hotel near the airport with a convenient airport shuttle.
The tour ends this morning as you are taken to the airport to meet your departing flight.
Note: The itinerary is sometimes run in a different order than listed here due to availability in the lodges.
Day 1: Arrival in San José
You will be picked up at the airport and taken to a nearby hotel for the night. The exact hotel depends on availability, but, when possible, we try to pick hotels with good birding on the grounds, so you can start getting your eye in while you wait for the rest of the group to arrive. The first official tour activity is a dinner at around 6:30pm on this night, so please try and arrive there in time for that.
Day 2: San José to Puerto Viejo
After some pre-breakfast birding near our hotel, we’ll drive through the enormous Braulio Carillo National Park and onto the Caribbean slope. We’ll visit a private forest reserve near the park, which has hummingbird feeders, and often roosting nightbirds. Spectacled Owl is the most regular of these, but sometimes Crested Owl and Great Potoo are around too. Besides these birds, there will be plentiful birds on our first day in the so-called ‘Bird Country’ of Costa Rica. Chestnut-headed and Montezuma Oropendolas both nest on the property, and the forest and edges are home to Russet-naped Wood-Rail, three species of toucan, and Red-legged and Green Honeycreepers.
We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then drive another hour or so to Puerto Viejo, where we spend two nights in the La Selva Biological Station (or one of several lodges nearby if unavailable). In the afternoon, there should be enough time to begin birding the Caribbean lowlands, picking up some of the regular species like Scarlet-rumped and Golden-hooded Tanagers, Black-faced Grosbeak, and Olive-backed Euphonia; while keeping an eye in the surrounding treetops may yield Yellow-throated or Keel-billed Toucans, or a Collared Aracari. Note: on some tours, we stay at a lodge near Puerto Viejo for the nights of day 2 and day 3 and visit La Selva as a day trip, due to lack of availability at this popular destination.
Day 3: La Selva
Bird activity around the cabins and cafeteria can be so intense in the early morning that it is hard to make any progress down the trails, and often the day is over before you know it. White-crowned Parrots, Blue Dacnis, several euphonias, Mistletoe Tyrannulet, Black-cowled Oriole, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar can often be easy to see here. We might also see one of the tame Crested Guans around the edge of the clearing as well. This area can also be good for finding White-collared Manakin, and Black-cheeked, Cinnamon and Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers. Venturing farther into the reserve, we’ll walk some of the wide, flat trails, where we get into tall rainforest where we’ll search for other species like Great Tinamou, Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, Gartered Violaceous and Slaty-tailed Trogons, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, White-ringed Flycatcher, and the local Plain-colored Tanager. We’ll also search the open country at the edge of the forest for the rare Great Green Macaw, and also check here for Laughing Falcon, Gray Hawk, and Yellow-crowned Euphonia. As well as birds we’ll be on the lookout for sloths, howler monkeys, agoutis, and peccaries too. It is also a great place to see the striking Strawberry Poison Frog.
Day 4: Puerto Viejo to Savegre
We’ll have a final morning in this area targeting whatever we still need, before departing for Savegre in the Talamanca mountains. Much of the afternoon will be spent driving, although there should be time to check out some hummingbird feeders shortly after arrival. The hummer feeders in the area regularly attract Talamanca Hummingbirds and Lesser Violetear. We’ll spend two nights at one of several lodges in or near the Savegre Valley.
Day 5: Savegre Valley
The Savegre Valley is dominated by magnificent oak cloudforests, home to many species restricted to the high mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, (known as “Chiriquí endemics”). Mixed species flocks here can be fantastic, with many of these special birds moving together, including Collared Redstart, Flame-throated Warbler, Ruddy Treerunner, Flame-colored and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, and Yellow-thighed Brushfinch. The real star of Savegre is however, the astounding Resplendant Quetzal, without a doubt one of the world’s most spectacular birds. There are usually several stakeouts in the valley at this time, and nowhere else do we stand a better chance of finding Costa Rica’s flagship species. Our main focus of the day will be to track down this must-see bird. Other species we may also find while birding the valley include Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Yellow-winged Vireo, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-billed and Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrushes, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, and Sooty-capped Chlorospingus.
Day 6: Cerro de la Muerte to Carara
Today, after breakfast, we’ll pack up and head up to the stunted treeline forest and páramo habitat just over 10,000 ft (3000 m), which will be the highest point reached on the tour. The weather can be forbidding, and only a few hardy birds, like Volcano Hummingbird, Sooty Thrush, Timberline Wren, Slaty Flowerpiercer, and Volcano Junco can make a living up here. If we’re lucky, we may also track down some of the scarcer residents in the area, like Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, or Peg-billed Finch. We’ll stop at a nearby restaurant where we should see the lovely Fiery-throated Hummingbird too. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll drive on to Carara, in the lowlands of the Pacific Coast, where we’ll stay near the national park there for the following two nights.
Day 7: Carara Area
Before breakfast, we’ll bird within the hotel grounds, where we night find a Black-headed Trogon or Pale-billed Woodpecker, among others. After breakfast we’ll drive a short distance (15 minutes) to one of the forest trails within the national park. A huge list of target birds is found in the area, and we’ll be on the lookout for Baird’s Trogon, Riverside Wren, Orange-collared Manakin, White-whiskered Puffbird, Barred Anthshrike, Dot-winged Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Rufous-breasted Wren, and White-shouldered and Bay-headed Tanagers. If we are lucky, and we encounter an army ant swarm, we may also find Gray-headed Tanager, Bicolored Antbird or Tawny-winged Woodcreeper in attendance.
After lunch, we’ll take a relaxing, private, afternoon boat cruise on the Tarcol estuary and in the nearby mangroves, adding swathes of new birds. We’ll be on the lookout for Double-striped Thick-knee, Southern Lapwing, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow-headed Caracara, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Common Black-Hawk, Mangrove Yellow Warbler, and Mangrove Vireo. If we are very lucky, we may even run into the rare Mangrove Hummingbird.
Note: due to tides, we sometimes take the boat trip in the morning instead of the afternoon.
Day 8: Carara to Monteverde
We have another morning to bird in Carara, trying different trails for any missing birds. Later, we’ll drive back north, where the lower Pacific slope mountains have some drier habitat with different birds like Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, White-fronted Parrot, Streak-backed Oriole, and the spectacular White-throated Magpie-Jay. The vegetation becomes lush and green as we climb higher into the mountains, eventually arriving at Monteverde, a small mountain town on the Pacific slope near the Continental Divide, where we stay for two nights.
Day 9: Monteverde Area
After some pre-breakfast birding and breakfast itself, we’ll head to one of the many reserves in the Monteverde area and spend most of the morning slowly walking some trails. Mixed flocks in the cloudforest here hold Common Chloropsingus, Slate-throated Redstart, Red-faced Spinetail, Costa Rican Warbler, Slaty Antwren, and others. Less conspicuous species that are regularly seen include Black Guan, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Yellowish Flycatcher, Black-faced Solitaire, Ochraceous Wren, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. There are also quetzals in this area, if we were very unlucky earlier in Savegre.
After a morning working the trails, and lunch at an on-site restaurant, we’ll check out their hummingbird feeders, which regularly attract Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Green Hermit, Green-crowned Brilliant, Magenta-throated Woodstar, and Violet Sabrewing. After that we will bird one of the other reserves in the area, which could yield birds like Collared Trogon or, if we are very fortunate, Long-tailed Manakin.
Day 10: Monteverde to San José
We have another morning at one of the reserves in the Monteverde area; the exact location we visit will depend on what we are still looking for following the previous day’s activities in the area. After lunch, we’ll head back to San José for another night, (the hotel used on this night might be different from the one used on the first night).
Day 11: Departure
The tour ends this morning. Transport to the airport will be provided, usually via a hotel shuttle bus.
PACE: Moderate. This tour is designed to be an introduction to Neotropical birds, and the guide will attempt to show you representatives of all the major neotropical families, even if they are common birds. While finding the regional endemics is a secondary focus of the tour, you will still see quite a lot of them, and you certainly do not have to be a novice to enjoy this trip. Lodges in Costa Rica don’t usually offer early breakfasts, and depending on breakfast times, there may be an optional pre-breakfast walk around 05:30-6:00am, with breakfast usually starting at around 6:30am or 7:00am; after breakfast the main morning birding will begin. On a few days, there will be some downtime after lunch to relax, but most days are quite full. There will be a couple of nightbirding outings, but they are completely optional if you prefer to relax in the lodge instead. Drives of four hours are necessary on two or three days.
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Moderate. Most of the birding at the lowland sites will be on flat or slightly inclined tracks and trails (and many of the trails at La Selva are paved). Three days of the trip will also involve some trails in the mountains, but they are well-made and there are only a few steep sections. A walking stick can help prevent slips on the mountain trails. You can expect to walk around 2-3 miles (3.2-4.8 km) per day on average, and the walking is done at a rather slow pace. A few hours of one morning will be spent at high elevation (10,500 ft/3200 m), however all accommodation is located at 8800 ft (2700 m) or lower.
CLIMATE: Quite variable; in the lowlands (La Selva and Carara), it is quite humid and often hot; temperatures in these areas usually vary from about 68°-95°F (20°-35°C). At the higher elevations it is much cooler, with temperatures ranging from about 46°-75°F (8°-24°C); note that it can be quite chilly in the morning, so extra layers are needed. Some rain can be expected. The Introtours are always timed for the dry season. However, even in the dry season, the Caribbean sites can be wet, as that sound of the mountains does not really have a distinct dry season. Specifically, this refers to the sites of Puerto Viejo and La Selva
ACCOMMODATION: Very good to excellent, all have private, en-suite bathrooms, full-time hot water, and 24h electricity. Wi-fi is also available in all lodges, though often it only works in the public areas and not the rooms. On most of the tours, we try to stay at La Selva Biological Station, which is of a slightly lower standard to the other hotels and lodges on the tour, (but by no means rustic). We do this in order to stay right where the birds are. The rooms all have full-time electricity, hot water, and en-suite bathrooms but are not fancy, and meals are taken in a communal area shared with the researchers working on site.
PHOTOGRAPHY: This is a birding tour, but casual photographers will have great opportunities to photograph birds at feeders in a few places, and on the mangrove boat tour. Photography inside the forest is much more challenging. Serious bird photographers should check out our Costa Rica Photo Tour.
WHEN TO GO: We usually offer this tour in January-February and July, and both are great times to visit. Jan-Feb is the high season in Costa Rica, and it averages drier (though some rain can still be expected, especially at La Selva). The July tour is timed for when there is often a mini “dry season” in the middle of the rainy, or “green” season. You can still expect more rain on average than in February, but it usually comes in short bursts, and when it is not raining, the birds can be more active; sites and lodges are also significantly less crowded at this time. Tours can be done at other times of year (e.g., March is also a good time). Therefore, if these times do not suit you, we can likely run Costa Rica custom tours at a time that suits you. The wettest months of the year are generally September and October.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required for entry into Costa Rica. It must be valid for at least six months past the time of your scheduled return. A tourist visa is not required for citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia, South Africa, and many other countries; for those, please contact your nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate for entry requirements. By law you are required to carry your passport with you at all times, though while in San José it is recommended that you only carry a photocopy of it and leave your passport in the hotel safe. Please see this website for the latest guidelines for traveling to Costa Rica: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements
WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to drivers, local guides, and lodge/restaurant staff; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night day 10; meals from dinner on day 1 (unless you arrive too late for dinner service) to breakfast on day 11 (if you have a very early departing flight, you may miss the included breakfast on the last day); safe drinking water and/or juice during meals (if eating at a restaurant that includes no drinks reasonable non-alcoholic beverages will be provided for that meal); Tropical Birding tour leader with scope and audio gear from dinner on Day 1 to the evening of day 10; one arrival and one departure airport transfer per person (transfers may be shared with other participants of the same tour if they are on the same flight; if the San José hotel has a free airport shuttle, you will be expected to use it and private transfers will not be provided). Ground transport for the group to all sites in the itinerary from day 2 to day 10 (for smaller groups the guide will drive and, for larger groups there will be a driver); one mangrove boat tour on the Tarcol River for the group; entrance fees to birding sites mentioned in the itinerary; a printed and bound checklist to keep track of your sightings (given to you at the start of the tour – only electronic copies can be provided in advance).
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Optional tips to the tour leader; tips for luggage porters if you require their services; flights; airport departure tax; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included.
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Gael C. –
The Costa Rica Introtour far exceeded my expectations. In all four different regions on the itinerary, there were certain birds expected to be found. When it was a bird that can be difficult to see, if our guide heard it, he could lure it into view. His experience combined with that of other Tropical Birding guides who lead Costa Rica tours has led to building a network of local guides. That network is invaluable in tracking down the more difficult to see birds, e.g., the Lesser Ground Cuckoo. Our local guide directed us to a remote location where he knew the Lesser Ground Cuckoo was currently roaming. Within about twenty minutes, he and our TB guide lured it into view when, otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have seen it. When you sign on with Tropical Birding, you don’t just get the obvious; they are committed to flushing out the shyest, most challenging birds to see. A lot of the value of touring with Tropical Birding can’t be quantified because it is found in the world of experience the guide brings to the trip. Trust that you are dealing with professionals. As far as the logistics of the trip, the guide will tell you every day what to expect, and between the written description online and the day-to-day briefings by the guide, there should be no surprises. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and I couldn’t imagine experiencing it for the first time any other way than by touring with the Tropical Birding Costa Rica Introtour.
Sue –
Fabulous birding tour! Jose was an excellent guide leading us to over 350 different species of birds. The bus was comfortable with lots of room and I was very happy with the accommodations. This was my first trip travelling on my own and I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had nothing to worry about. The trip exceeded my expectations in every aspect and I will definitely travel with Tropical Birding Tours again.
Jeff –
My wife and I had a wonderful experience. The tour was well thought out and well executed. The lodgings were all excellent. The bus was roomy and comfortable. Our guide, Jose, was phenomenal. We saw all the birds we were hoping to see and more, 350 plus species for the trip. The pace was comfortable. We never felt rushed or exhausted. I can’t wait to go on another trip with Tropical Birding.
Dave Taliaferro –
The Cost Rica Introtour trip was well designed and had a good pace. The Tour Leader Sam Woods was superb at getting the whole group on birds, especially the shy skulkers. Plus, Sam was hard-working, funny and an expert birder as well. Our group had varying experience in international birding, and Sam took the time to make sure everyone enjoyed the trip. And the birds were fantastic!
Kelly Voorhees –
This was my first organized bird trip AND my first trip to the neotropics it was an absolutely wonderful experience! Sam Woods, are tour leader, was an excellent guide and clearly an expert on Costa Rica birds. It’s evident by the number of birds (and wildlife!) that we saw that Sam put a lot of effort and dedication into planning all of the trip details down to each stop. And while this is a bird trip, I really appreciated that Sam made time for folks who were interested to explore and learn about the wildlife and ecosystems in Costa Rica from the insects, to frogs, to mammals, and snakes! He offered breaks for those who wanted them while also offering extra night or afternoon walks for folks like me who wanted to soak up all Costa Rica had to offer 🙂 I would highly recommend this trip to others and will definitely be coming back to Tropical Birding for a future trip!
Jake L. –
Sam was an excellent tour leader. He is incredibly knowledgeable in bird identification and distribution, and worked tirelessly to find as many endemic and new bird species as possible. Overall, this was a great introductory birding tour to Costa Rica, and Sam was a first-rate guide. Highly recommended!
Rich & Carole B. –
This was a first rate birding expedition with a first rate guide, Sam Woods. Sam worked tirelessly every day from before dawn until after dark to locate and bring even the most reluctant birds into view. He has an unbelievably acute sense of hearing and auditory memory of bird song – which was critical for homing in on target species. All told over 350 different species were identified on the Intro Tour! Logistics of the trip were well planned and exceeded our expectations. We’re anxious to book future birding tours with Tropical Birding Tours.
Tom McCoppin, McQueeney, Texas –
The Tropical Birding Introtour was my first time to visit Costa Rica, and my first international birding trip. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a better group. Sam Woods was energetic, passionate, kind, extremely knowledgeable, and went out of his way to make sure each of our tour participants had a great experience. The logistics were impeccable. Well thought out and well executed. The accommodations and meals were perfect for our needs. I would recommend Sam Woods as a guide, without reservation. I am very grateful he was our guide, and I hope to take another trip with him in the future!
Patti Myers –
The Tropical Birding Intro tour from Feb 4-14, was my first international birding trip and my first visit to Costa Rica. The trip did not disappoint and has left me eager to enjoy more. We had a great group of people! The accommodations, meals and logistics of transportation were fantastic! No detail was left to chance. Sam was an absolutely fantastic and knowledgeable guide. He went above and beyond to find birds and to make sure everyone got to see them. I would highly recommend Tropical Birding and would definitely take another trip with Sam as the guide!
Bob and Patti P. –
The Costa Rica Intro Tour February 15-25th was a fantastic experience for our first international birding tour. Costa Rica is such a beautiful country and it’s diversity of habitats yielded so many amazing birds! Sam is an incredible tour leader. His knowledge of bird songs, habitats and field identification marks is unsurpassed. He has an excellent eye for locating birds too. Sam is quite patient and works hard to make sure everyone has a chance to see every bird. He is also very personable, tells great stories and has a great sense of humor. Would love to go on another tour with him as our guide. We highly recommend Tropical Birding!