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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11 days
10 nights
29 meals
10B 9L 10D
8
Transfer to San Gerardo de Dota, Cerro de la Muerte
San Gerardo de Dota
9
Birding Forest Trails, The Resplendent Quetzal
San Gerardo de Dota
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
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.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
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.
Birding in Southern Costa Rica: Motmots to Quetzals
Program Number: 20616
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica
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.
Nature of the Rainforest, Costa Rica and Beyond
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.
Tropical Nature
A lively, lucid portrait of the tropics as seen by two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists. Its 17 marvelous essays introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforest
Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths
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.
Costa Rica Birds
A handy, laminated fold-up card with full-color illustrations of birds commonly found in Costa Rica. Great for kids, too.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica, A Field Guide
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.
Green Phoenix, Restoring Tropical Forests of Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The vivid tale of the creation of the Guanacaste Conservation Area in Northwest Costa Rica
Costa Rican Spanish
A pocket guide to understanding idioms, slang and Spanish as it is spoken by the Ticos.
Wild Costa Rica
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.
A Bird-Finding Guide to Costa Rica
With bird lists, directions, descriptions and lodges for 53 sites in Costa Rica.
Culture Smart! Costa Rica
A guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
The Birds of Costa Rica
Built for the field, this great guide includes multiple illustrations for 820 species of birds.
Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide
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.
National Geographic Costa Rica
This stylish, informative and up-to-date travel resource features 200 photographs, many maps and good information on the country's history, nature and culture.
Costa Rica Reader: History, Culture, Politics
A lively, literate sourcebook on the politics, economy and society of Costa Rica
Costa Rican Wildlife
Put it in your pocket! This handy, fold-up card includes color illustrations of dozens of typical birds, mammals and reptiles.
Costa Rica Adventure Map
A double-sided map at a scale of 1:500,000.
The Monkey's Bridge, Mysteries of Evolution in Central America
Opening this absorbing account of the history and biogeography of the Central American isthmus with the tale of Columbus, Wallace 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.
Costa Rica, A Journey Through Nature
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, A Traveler's Literary Companion
A wonderful introduction to the character of the people, culture and land, this anthology brings together 26 stories by Costa Rican writers.
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