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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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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.

What You'll Learn

  • 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 trip experts
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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.
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