SUGAR LAND GARDEN CLUB
COSTA RICA 9-Day [PRIVATE] Birds, Butterflies, Orchids and more!
TOUR FOCUS
BIRDS & WILDLIFE
SCHEDULED TOURS
TRIP LEADERS
TOUR COST
From: $3,300 (See details)
Cost is per person, double occupancy from San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
GROUP SIZE
8 - 20 Participants
AVAILABILITY
5 spaces available
PRIVATE TOUR OPTION
This tour is available as a private trip for any size group. The tour cost will vary with the number of people and any custom requests.
TESTIMONIALS
Highlights of COSTA RICA 9-Day [PRIVATE] Birds, Butterflies, Orchids and more!
Description of COSTA RICA 9-Day [PRIVATE] Birds, Butterflies, Orchids and more!
Costa Rica has become one of the most popular wildlife destinations in the Americas thanks to the abundance of birds and other wildlife. Thanks to Costa Rica’s incredible habitat diversity, and its location as part of the land-bridge between North and South America, it is home to over 900 species of birds that have been recorded within Costa Rica’s borders.
Visiting multiple diverse habitats, the highlands of Cerro de la Muerte is drenched with mosses, lichens and orchids while the Caribbean lowlands are lush with bromeliads and heliconias. Throughout the trip we will look for enjoy the incredible flora as we seek monkeys, frogs and beautiful birds like Rufous Motmot, Snowcap Hummingbird, Black-crested Coquet, Fiery-throated Hummingbird and, of course, the revered Resplendent Quetzal.
Length of Tour
9-Days/8-Nights
Brief Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival / Hotel Bougainvillea
Days 2 through 4 – Caribbean lowlands
Days 5 through 7 – Highlands of Savegre
Day 8 – Return to Hotel Bougainvillea
Day 9 – Flights Home
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1 Arrival in Costa Rica
Participants may be arriving in Costa Rica at varying times throughout the day. After a relaxing dinner we will have a brief orientation to Costa Rica and the tour. Then have a good night’s rest and prepare for an early rise to begin our amazing journey!
Day 2 To Caribbean Lowlands
AM Breakfast before departing for the Caribbean lowlands (about 2 hours with stops). Stop along the way include a wonderful hummingbird feeder location as well as La Paz Waterfall and Hummingbird Gardens.
Exploring La Paz, we will not only enjoy the many hummingbirds coming to the feeders, but also the beautiful butterfly house and incredible waterfalls and gardens lush with heliconia, bromeliads and orchids. Lunch at La Paz before continuing on.
PM Afternoon arrival at our lodge and with time to explore the property before dinner.
The rainforest surrounding our lodge provides habitat for over 300 bird species, 120 species of mammals, 48 amphibian species, 89 reptile species and approximately 1,500 species of orchids, 330 species of trees and countless plants.
On a tour of Costa Rica’s rainforest it is possible to find between 50 and 100 different tree species in a few acres. You will also find a wide diversity of plants, birds and animals. There are approximately 1,500 species of orchids alone.
The gardens around the lodge are also home to the beautiful Red-eyed Tree Frog!
Day 3 Caribbean Lowlands
AM After breakfast at the lodge we will head to the La Selva Research Station for a full day of exploration. The station offers 1,600 hectares of well-preserved old-growth and recovering wet lowland tropical forest that abuts the Braulio Carrillo National Park. The 4 to 6 km wide forested corridor that connects La Selva at 35 m above sea level to the Barva Volcano at 2,906 m is one of the best-preserved elevational gradients in the tropics..
PM We will have lunch at the station so we can continue to explore the grounds before returning to our lodge for dinner.
Day 4 Caribbean lowlands
AM Today’s birding will begin along the Rio San Jose, through gallery forests in search of the many birds that can be found here. Afterward we will enjoy Reserva El Tapir, known as the “Old Butterfly Garden,” full of butterflies, of course, but also many hummingbirds… including the much sought after Snowcap and Black-crested Coquet.
PM After a lunch on the road, we will enjoy the feeders and trails at Cope’s Gardens. Here we will seek numerous bird, reptile and mammal species including, Crested Owl, Spectacled Owl, Helmeted Basilisk lizard, Tent-making Bats and the incredible, all white Ghost Bats.
Dinner back at the lodge.
Day 5 Drive to The highlands of Savegre
AM Early Breakfast before departing for the Savegre Valley, about 6 hours with stops, including lunch on the way.
PM Arrival at lodge, after check-in we will enjoy the grounds of the lodge.
NOTE: At this higher elevation, please take walks slow and steady!
Our lodge, set into the hillside at about 7000 feet, offers comfortable rooms, with heaters as it gets very cool at night at this elevation. The restaurant offers excellent meals that often include fresh trout.
Surrounded by one of the finest examples of highland pine-oak cloud forest on the planet, the ride into the valley is spectacular! The surrounding private nature reserve is the best place in the world to see the Resplendent Quetzal—one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas. Other “hot” finds here may include Flame-colored Tanager, Fiery-throated Hummingbird and Flame-throated Warbler.
Day 6 Savegre
AM Pre-breakfast birding, breakfast at the lodge.
After breakfast we will get a ride to the top of the mountain above the lodge. This is a bumpy truck ride, so hang on! Specialties here include Costa Rican Pygmy Owl and Silvery-throated Jay amidst the lush understory filled with dwarf palms, tree ferns and cyclanths.
PM Lunch at the lodge before afternoon of exploration in search of American Dipper along the crystal clear Savegre River, line with of colorful flowers and towering oak trees. Dinner at the lodge.
Day 7 Savegre
AM Pre-breakfast birding, breakfast at the lodge.
After breakfast we will walk along the river and explore the waterfall trail full of color and life.
PM Lunch at the lodge before departure. We will explore along the river and entrance road into higher elevations.
Day 8 San Jose / Hotel Bougainvillaea
AM After breakfast at the lodge we will pack up and begin our drive back to San Jose, again, with some wonderful stops along the way for waterfalls and lush vistas.
PM Lunch along the way. Early afternoon we will continue our drive to San Jose (about 2 hours not including additional stops). We will have dinner at Hotel Bougainvillea.
Today’s drive will offer more spectacular views as we return to San Jose for our farewell dinner and a good night’s sleep before returning to the USA.
Day 9 Return to USA
Departures to USA throughout the day.
Cost
Cost is $3,300 per person, based upon double occupancy, from San Jose, Costa Rica (Airport code SJO).
This trip ends in San Jose, Costa Rica (Airport code SJO).
Single Supplement
If a single room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $600 will be assessed.
Deposit Requirements
A $1,000 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.
Minimum Number
If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.
How to Book
In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.
Final Payment
For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.
For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.
NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.
Hotel Bougainvillea
Hotel Bougainvillea lies 45 minutes north of San Jose in the “suburb” of Heredia. A typical hotel large hotel, the Bougainvillea offers all the expected amenities. However, the hotel is well known for its lush gardens which are well kept and home to many birds! This stop makes a great first and/or last night for any birding trip.
Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve and Spa
Savegre Hotel sits at about 7000 feet on the side of a mountain, surrounded by cloud forest, along the Savegre River. The lodge offers comfortable rooms with en suite facilities and heaters, which are sometimes needed at this elevation. Keep a rain jacket handy however, as you are in the clouds.
La Quinta de Sarapiquí Inn
La Quinta de Sarapiquí Inn lies in the Caribbean lowlands only a few hours from San Jose. Its lush forest offers great birding opportunities along its many muddy trails. Bungalows are comfortable with en suite facilities. Delicious meals are served in the main building.
Activity Level Rating: 2 (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)
Mostly easy trails, though often muddy. Some higher elevation walking (7000ft-10,000ft). Don’t worry, we move slow to see more!
Recommended Field Guide:
The Birds of Costa Rica
(2007, Cornell University Press)
By Richard Garrigues & Robert Dean
Purchasing Flights
Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.
Detailed Trip Information
Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.
Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.
Travel Insurance
As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.
Passport & Visa
US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.
Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.
Itinerary Changes
The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.
TRIP REPORTS:
