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Costa Rica

Birding in Southern Costa Rica: Motmots to Quetzals

Program No. 20616RJ
Go where the birds are, not where the birders are, as you spot Scarlet Macaws at Carara, the Resplendent Quetzal in San Gerardo de Dota, Motmots in San Vito and much more.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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itinerary
Please Note:
The itinerary for this program is different on certain dates.
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

Hotel Standard
Accommodation Details

Comfortable accommodations that meet our high standards.

Accommodation Details

Standard

May 10 - May 20, 2023
Hotel 2,749
 
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the May 20 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Oct 31 - Nov 10, 2023
Hotel 2,849
 
Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the Oct. 20 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Nov 11 - Nov 21, 2023
Hotel 2,849
 
Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the Nov. 1 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Dec 11 - Dec 21, 2023
Hotel 2,849
 
Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the Dec. 1 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Mar 2 - Mar 12, 2024
SOLD OUT
 
Standard 2,949
Apr 7 - Apr 17, 2024
 
Standard 2,949
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Apr 27 - May 7, 2024
 
Standard 2,949
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

May 17 - May 27, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Jul 17 - Jul 27, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Sep 14 - Sep 24, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Oct 18 - Oct 28, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

DATES & PRICES

Hotel Standard
Accommodation Details

Comfortable accommodations that meet our high standards.

Accommodation Details

Standard

May 10 - May 20, 2023
Hotel 2,979
 
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the May 20 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Oct 31 - Nov 10, 2023
Hotel 3,279
 
Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the Oct. 20 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Nov 11 - Nov 21, 2023
Hotel 3,279
 
Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the Nov. 1 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Dec 11 - Dec 21, 2023
Hotel 3,279
 
Itinerary Note

This departure can be combined with the Dec. 1 date of Program #22443- Birding in Northern Costa Rica: Tanagers to Toucans.

Jan 24 - Feb 3, 2024
SOLD OUT
 
Standard 3,379
Feb 2 - Feb 12, 2024
SOLD OUT
 
Standard 3,379
Mar 2 - Mar 12, 2024
SOLD OUT
 
Standard 3,379
Apr 7 - Apr 17, 2024
 
Standard 2,949
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Apr 27 - May 7, 2024
 
Standard 2,949
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

May 17 - May 27, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Jul 17 - Jul 27, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Sep 14 - Sep 24, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

Oct 18 - Oct 28, 2024
 
Standard 2,849
Special Offer

No added cost for single rooms! Free singles are limited. Please call for details.

At a Glance

In this small-group adventure, go off-the-beaten path to explore some of the less-visited birding hot spots in Costa Rica. In a range of habitats — Pacific lowland rainforest, dry deciduous forest, primary premontane forest, oak woodlands, cloud forests and more — spot myriad rare and vibrant species. Each unique and beautiful location offers the chance to identify numerous intriguing endemic and migratory birds in one of the world’s great birding destinations.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Daily early morning birding activities. Walking up to three miles daily over varied terrain in tropical conditions and long periods standing. Elevations up to 11,000 feet.
Micro Group
Micro Group
These adventures feature our smallest group size, with 12 participants or fewer.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Observe brilliantly colored Resplendent Quetzals while they feed on the fruit of the aguacatillo tree.
  • Spot nocturnal birds and mammals, including owls, on nighttime hikes.
  • Look for water birds and shore birds during a boat ride along the mangrove-lined banks of the Tarcoles River.

General Notes

This is a Micro Group program, with 12 or fewer participants. All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at www.aba.org/ethics.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Andrey Acosta
Andrey Acosta is a certified Costa Rican naturalist expedition leader and a birding enthusiast. The ocean was his first love, and his fondest childhood memories involve swimming and playing with friends at the beach in his hometown of Puntarenas. He discovered the joys of birdwatching while studying ecotourism at the Universidad de Costa Rica. As cash-strapped students, Andrey and friends birded on a budget, assisting in bird counts and volunteering. He has been leading educational groups since 2015 and is also a licensed scuba diver.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Andrey Acosta
Andrey Acosta View biography
Andrey Acosta is a certified Costa Rican naturalist expedition leader and a birding enthusiast. The ocean was his first love, and his fondest childhood memories involve swimming and playing with friends at the beach in his hometown of Puntarenas. He discovered the joys of birdwatching while studying ecotourism at the Universidad de Costa Rica. As cash-strapped students, Andrey and friends birded on a budget, assisting in bird counts and volunteering. He has been leading educational groups since 2015 and is also a licensed scuba diver.
Profile Image of Daniel Martinez
Daniel Martinez View biography
Daniel Martinez is a Costa Rican tropical biologist with a specialty in ornithology. He has spent more than two decades conducting field research, including bird monitoring and bird counts, throughout Latin America. Through his research, Daniel hopes to contribute to the conservation and protection of birds and their natural habitats. He currently lives in Cartago province, in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains and forested landscapes. In his free time, he enjoys going to Tapanti National Park to bird and hike with his family.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
by David Rains Wallace
Opening this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, Wallace often weaves his own travels in the region with a crisp overview of exploration, nature and evolution. Natural history buffs and ecologically minded travelers will appreciate this valuable resource.
The Birds of Costa Rica
by Richard Garrigues, Robert Dean (Illustrator)
This new edition covers 903 species of birds with hundreds of new, supplemental or revised color illustrations by Robert Dean and revised color-coded range maps.
A Bird-Finding Guide to Costa Rica
by Barrett Lawson
With bird lists, directions, descriptions and lodges for 53 sites in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Adventure Map
by National Geographic
A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000.
Culture Smart! Costa Rica
by Jane Koutnik
History, religion, daily life, food, health and safety are all covered in this accessible pocket guide to Costa Rican customs, etiquette and culture.
National Geographic Costa Rica
by Christopher P. Baker
This stylish and informative travel resource features 200 photographs, many maps and good information on the country's history, nature and culture.
Costa Rican Wildlife
by Pocket Naturalist
Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles. We also carry plastic cards for Costa Rica Birds (Item CRC56) and Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths (Item CRC57), $5.95 each.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
by Adrian Forsyth, E.O. Wilson (Introduction), Michael Fogden (Photographer)
Our favorite biologist-writer returns to the Neotropics in this beautifully illustrated, oversized overview of the rainforest. With chapters on Monteverde and Guanacaste, plants, frogs and snakes, birds, monkeys and jaguars, the sloth, peculiar insects and biodioversity; A marvelous, anecdotal introduction to ecology, evolution and conservation.
Wild Costa Rica
by Adrian Hepworth
This beautiful, informative survey of the habitats, wildlife and protected areas of Costa Rica features 200 color photographs and chapters on natural history and conservation.
Green Phoenix, Restoring Tropical Forests of Guanacaste, Costa Rica
by William Allen
The vivid tale of the creation of the Guanacaste Conservation Area in Northwest Costa Rica
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
by Adrian Hepworth
Dividing the book by ecosystem and geographic area, BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Hepworth's color photographs showcase the diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife and habitats.
Costa Rica Birds
by James Kavanagh
A handy, laminated fold-up card with full-color illustrations of birds commonly found in Costa Rica. Great for kids, too.
Costa Rican Spanish
by Lonely Planet
A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
by Twan Leenders, Robert Dean, Jim Zook, Fiona Reid
This guide includes 450 of the most common, interesting and charismatic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods that you are likely to encounter. Each has exquisite full-color illustrations.
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica
by F. Gary Stiles, Alexander Skutch, Dana Gardner (Illustrator)
A masterfully researched and comprehensive field guide to the birds of Costa Rica, including an overview of geography, habitats and avifauna. Covers 800 species and features 52 color plates.
Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide
by L.H. Emmons
Compact enough to slip into your daypack, this field guide to the mammals of Central and South American features 29 color plates of more than 200 species.
Costa Rica, A Traveler's Literary Companion
by Barbara Ras
These 26 well-chosen stories by Costa Rican writers introduce the people, culture and land.
Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics
by Steven Palmer (Editor), Ivan Molina (Editor)
A lively, literate sourcebook on the politics, economy and society of Costa Rica
Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths
by James Kavanagh
A handy, laminated fold-up card with color illustrations of Costa Rica’s more visible species of butterflies and moths. Includes the distinguishing markings or behaviors of each species.
Tropical Nature
by Adrian Forsyth, Ken Miyata
Two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists offer a lucid portrait of the tropics through 17 marvelous essays that introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforests.





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