Costa Rica: Beyond the Classic 2026

Costa Rica is a premier destination for birding and wildlife enthusiasts, offering a rich diversity of habitats that support an incredible array of species. This trip will take you to some of the country’s most celebrated wildlife areas—an ideal introduction to tropical America.

From lush lowland rainforests to misty mountain cloud forests, this journey showcases a range of Costa Rica’s natural wonders. Beginning near San José, we’ll head down to the wildlife-rich coastal lowlands, where colorful birds, monkeys, sloths, and other tropical species thrive. As we travel through the country’s vibrant ecosystems, each day will offer new encounters and surprises.

Our final days are spent in the cool highlands of the Talamanca Mountains, surrounded by ancient oak forests and breathtaking views. This region offers a completely different perspective on tropical birding—quiet trails, cooler air, and a chance to see iconic species like the resplendent quetzal. Throughout the week, your expert guides will help you spot, identify, and appreciate the incredible biodiversity all around you.

Whether you’re an experienced birder or new to tropical nature travel, this trip is designed to delight. With carefully selected lodges, small-group camaraderie, and access to some of Costa Rica’s best wildlife locations, it’s an adventure not to miss.

Join Wild Birds Unlimited of Santa Fe and Albuquerque and Reefs to Rockies on this fun, weeklong adventure through the wildest parts of beautiful Costa Rica!

About Your Naturalist Guide

ITINERARY

Day 1 (Sat, Aug 8): San José. Afternoon or evening arrival in San José, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel for the first night of our Costa Rican adventure. The hotel is nestled within an award-winning, 10-acre tropical botanical garden—widely recognized as one of the most beautiful in the country.

Accommodations: Hotel Bougainvillea

Meals: None

Trip starts and ends at the San José International Airport (SJO).

Day 2 (Sun, Aug 9): San José to Dominical. Not only are the hotel gardens stunning, but they also attract a variety of birds, making for a perfect introduction to Costa Rica’s avifauna. We’ll enjoy a morning of birding right outside our door, followed by a brief orientation over breakfast. Then we’ll begin our journey west to the Pacific coast. Along the way, we’ll stop at Carara National Park, home to one of the country’s largest populations of scarlet macaws. A walk through the coastal rainforest may reveal parrots, hummingbirds, trogons, antbirds, frogs, iguanas, monkeys, and more. By late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Dominical, a relaxed coastal town that will be our home base for the next three nights.

Accommodations: Villas Río Mar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 (Mon, Aug 10): Manuel Antonio. Today we visit Manuel Antonio National Park, famed for its mix of tropical beauty and abundant wildlife. With luck, we’ll encounter both two-toed and three-toed sloths, multiple monkey species, toucans, parrots, and a wide range of other birds and mammals. We’ll return to our hotel for a relaxing dinner and time to share highlights from the day.

Accommodations: Villas Río Mar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4 (Tues, Aug 11): Dominical. Another immersive day in the coastal rainforest awaits. Today’s destination is Hacienda Barú, a private wildlife refuge with a well-maintained trail system that offers easy access to the area’s rich flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and of course, more tropical birds. This afternoon, we’ll enjoy some downtime at the hotel, followed by an early dinner at one of our favorite venues in the region. This evening, we return to Hacienda Barú for a guided night tour—an exciting opportunity to experience the rainforest after dark and encounter a different cast of creatures. Don’t worry, we won’t stay out too late—rest is important!

Accommodations: Villas Río Mar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5 (Wed, Aug 12): Dominical to San Gerardo de Dota. After exploring the lowlands, it’s time to head into the mountains. As we ascend into the cloud forest, you’ll notice a dramatic change in climate and scenery. While the humidity persists, the air cools noticeably—pack warm clothes; you’ll be glad you did! At Paraíso Quetzal Lodge, we’ll be immersed in pristine cloud forest, home to a fascinating array of species, including the iconic resplendent quetzal. Hummingbird activity here is spectacular, both in diversity and sheer numbers. The contrast with the lowlands may have you wondering if we’re still in the same country!

Accommodations: Paraíso Quetzal Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 6 (Thurs, Aug 13): San Gerardo de Dota. We’ll begin the day with a gentle walk through the cloud forest in search of quetzals and other highland species. Later, we’ll visit additional hotspots in the area, including the renowned Batsù Garden—famous among birders and photographers for its feeding station that attracts colorful tanagers, thrushes, woodpeckers, and a dazzling variety of hummingbirds. We’ll return to the lodge for a cozy final evening together and our farewell dinner.

Accommodations: Paraíso Quetzal Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7 (Fri, Aug 14): San Gerardo de Dota to San José. After breakfast, we will travel back to San José to connect with our flights home.

Meals: Breakfast

Plan your departure flight from SJO Airport at 1 pm or later.

DETAILS

Price: $3975* per person based on two people sharing a double occupancy room. Add $665** if you prefer a private, single occupancy room.

Inclusions: accommodations; all meals starting with breakfast on Day 2 through breakfast on Day 7; private ground transportation; two naturalist guides; daily guided wildlife viewing with spotting scope available; activities as listed; and entrance fees. A donation to support bird conservation will be made on behalf of all participants.

Exclusions: flights; passport fees; travel insurance (we can provide a quote); dinner on arrival day; gratuities; activities not listed; and personal expenses.

*Reflects payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees assessed at time of payment based on card used.

**If you are a solo traveler that prefers to share a room, we’ll do our best to pair you. If we are unable to find a roommate for you, the private room supplement will apply.

Group Size: 5-8 participants + 1 naturalist guide + 1 WBU host. We are known for having smaller group sizes with a better participant to guide ratio than most companies offering similar itineraries.

Level of Difficulty – Moderate: Most of our birding will involve primarily nature walks on a variety of terrain, though mostly even at elevations between sea level and 10,000 feet above sea level. Most walks will be 1-3 miles in length with a total distance of up to five miles on a given day.

Reserve Your Spot Now!