This tiny country is about the size of West Virginia but hosts nearly as many bird species as all of North America! They pride themselves on their eco-tourism and visiting naturalists are one of the staples of the economy here. Not surprisingly Costa Rica has an abundance of top tier eco-lodges as well as huge natural preserves. All this and more makes Costa Rica one of the premier destinations for birdwatchers worldwide! Join BRANT as we explore the cloud-locked peaks and endless lowland forests of Costa Rica. You’re sure to be echoing the local greeting, “Pura vida” which means “good life” by the end of this trip!
12 Days & 11 Nights $2,995 (+7% tax)
2015: January 20th – 31st See pricing details under the ”Payments” tab
2016: January Dates TBA
After arrival we will transfer to Hotel Bougainvillea. This hotel hosts a large and very birdy garden where we will start our birding. Brown Jays, Blue-gray Tanagers and Collared Aracari’s are always nice but our real target will be the extremely local Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow.
Night at Bougainvillea.
After breakfast we will make another pass through the gardens to see the Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow before heading off to La Selva Biological Preserve where we will spend the next 3 nights. Along the way, we’ll make a quick stop at a secret spot for the Snowcap, a hummingbird that is on every birder’s wish list. La Selva Biological Preserve itself is a fantastic birding site and hosts an assortment of Caribbean-slope specialties. Some of the notable species here are Agami Heron, Snowy Cotinga, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, multiple raptor species, and a plethora of tanagers and antbirds. One of the mornings we will bird a local jungle patch where we have the possibility of Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer and the rare Great Green Macaw. This is the same area where we find Green Ibis and Sunbittern. On the other full day in this area we will bird at the Virgin del Socorro Park and La Paz Waterfall Garden where we can find such birds as White Hawk, Black-and-Yellow, Emerald and Speckled Tanagers. At the waterfall gardens we will be treated with up-close and personal views of Coppery-headed Emerald (a Costa Rican endemic), Black-bellied Hummingbird (a regional endemic) and Violet Sabrewing, a large, flashy hummingbird of the middle elevations. We will also have many opportunities to search for owls and other night creatures in the area.
Nights at La Selva Biological Station.
Today we will do some clean-up birding on the Caribbean slope before heading to Savegre Lodge in the Central Highlands. We will spend the next 3 nights in the high and middle elevation forests of this area searching through mixed species flocks. This amazing could forest is home to the Resplendent Quetzal, the banner species of the Central American cloud forests! On one of our trips we had a male feeding in an avocado tree just outside our bedroom! These forests are also great places for finding multiple species of Nightingale-Thrushes, Ground-Sparrows, Finches, warblers, and more. On one of the days we will drive to the higher peaks in this area where we will see such specialties as the Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Wrenthrush, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Black-capped Flycatcher, Prong-billed Barbet, Flame-throated Warbler and more.
Nights at Savegre Lodge.
On the 8th morning we will head down slope towards the pacific lowlands. We will spend the next 4 nights at two great lodges in the southwest corner of Costa Rica. This region is home to some of the most pristine old growth tropical forest in the world! Target species here will be the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager as well as other specialties such as Yellow-billed Cotinga (highly endangered), Little Tinamou, Turquoise Cotinga, Scarlet Macaw, and White-tipped Sicklebill.
Nights at Esquinas Jungle Lodge & Bosque Del Rio Tigre.
Today we will transfer back to Bougainvillea in San Jose were we will have one more opportunity to bird the gardens there before our final dinner.
Tour ends this morning in San Jose.
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U.S. citizens are required to have a tourist card (issued by your airline) and a U.S. passport. As a general rule for international travel, your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. Citizen’s from other countries will need to check with the Costa Rican Embassy (click link to see their webpage) for requirements to enter the country. If at any point you require it, BRANT can provide a letter for you to use to verify that you are participating in this tour.
There is an approximately $35 exit tax when departing Costa Rica. This fee must be paid in cash before you are allowed to leave the country. High Dessert Birding Adventures does not cover this fee so make sure you have the money at the end of the trip! Some airlines will include this fee when you book your flight however not all airlines do this so make sure to check with you airline after you book your flight.
Costa Rica is a stable and safe place to visit and has been for some time. It is one of the only countries in the world that does not have a standing military and they pride themselves on a non-violent culture. The national language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish although English is also widely spoken in the ecotourism industry. Costa Rica is a small country about the size of West Virginia and for it’s area, is the one of the most biodiverse countries in the world! For more information visit the U.S. Department of State’s Costa Rica relations page here.
There are no required inoculations when visiting Costa Rica. However, it is a good idea to make sure your tetanus vaccinations are up to date. According to the CDC there is some risk of malaria in rural Costa Rica as well as typhoid and hepatitis A. Vaccinations are available for both typhoid and hepatitis A and there is malaria prophylaxis drug available for malaria prevention. Note that Malaria is very rare in Costa Rica and malarial medication can have side effects. Liberal use of insect repellent is probably enough to avoid malaria infection You should consult your doctor to decide whether or not these medications are appropriate for you. Special medications (your prescriptions) may not be available during the tour so it is important that you bring enough to cover your needs for the entire trip plus additional time in case of emergency or unexpected travel delays. You can review the CDC latest advisories here.
The water system in Costa Rica is very good and water is potable nearly anywhere you go. Just to be on the safe side, we suggest that you drink only bottled water when away from the lodges. Please bring your own water bottle to use while hiking throughout the trip.
Costa Rica’s climate is as diverse as the birds. We will be spending significant time at high altitudes (8,000+ feet) where temperatures may be quite cool (high 40′s) especially at night. You will definitely want to bring a light jacket or sweater. These higher elevations are also often misty and light rain jacket is recommended. At lower elevations is will be HOT (upper 80′s) during the day and very humid. Lightweight, fast drying (non-cotton) clothing is recommended. Rain is possible at this time of year but does not usually affect the trip.
Dress is casual throughout. Being in a tropical environment, it is a good idea to bring lots of light weight non-cotton clothing. Once cotton is wet, it will not dry! While shorts and t-shirts will be okay for lodges and leisurely hikes, it is always a good idea to bring lightweight pants and long-sleeve shirts to help prevent bug bites and protect from the sun. A sturdy, sun protective hat is also important in the harsh tropical sun. Be sure to bring a lightweight rain jacket in case of rain and/or a chilly evening, and of course sturdy boots for hiking. Sturdy sandals are also a good idea for some hikes that feature shallow stream crossings.
Maximum group size is 12 participants. We typically have 2 to 3 guides for this tour.
As with any birding tour, we will have many early mornings and full days. Most of our birding will be on short, fairly easy hikes but some outings may be as long as 2 to 3 miles. Hikes through the jungle often feature lots of tree roots, slippery rocks and occasional mud so it is important to have proper footwear! We will be at rather high elevations for part of the trip and we can expect slightly more steep trails in the mountains. It is also important to bring study sandals on this trip as we may be wading through some shallow streams (rather refreshing) for one of our hikes.
Most of our meals will be taken at the lodges with the exception of a few lunches during longer travel days. The lodges provide excellent, local meals with fresh, local produce and vegetarian options available. Travel lunches will be either a pack lunch from the lodge or will be taken a local, well reputed restaurants.
Transportation will be in a large comfortable bus owned and driven by a local driver (who also knows his birds)! It is important that all participants be able to sit in any seat in the tour vehicle.
Accommodations are at locally run eco-lodges throughout trip. All of our lodges cater specifically to birders and are well known for their pleasant and helpful staff, excellent food, and best of all the great birds and bird feeders right on site! Single occupancy is limited please contact us for more information if you desire single occupancy.
The tour price includes all travel from the point of departure (Juan Santamaria International Airport, Costa Rica), all lodging while on the trip, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials, and all services of the tour leaders. Tips for included meals, porters, drivers, and other service providers are also included.
Lodging is booked on double occupancy, most lodging in the U.S. can allow us to arranged for single rooms at an additional charge; lodging outside of the U.S. is usually in small locally-owned lodges and will almost always be double occupancy. If you are traveling single we will match you to appropriate roommates and can discuss any changes once the group has established. Double occupancy means that you are sharing your room with another individual, single occupancy means that you are paying for the room for just yourself, and you do not want a roommate.
Items that are not included in the tour price are as follows: passports, visas, airfare , departure taxes, immunizations, baggage charges, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry services, room service, snacks, emergency evacuation fees and medical fees, and other personal purchases you desire to make in the course of the trip.
Your fees include travel arrangements for the trip at/from point of departure. For example if your trip begins in Albuquerque, NM, you will need to make arrangements to get to Albuquerque, NM. From that point we will pick you up and provide all other transport. If you are traveling internationally we will provide you with suggested airline and travel times for you to book your flight. We will provide specific information about arrival and departure times in the trip packet sent to you after registration. If you would like assistance with your travel plans please feel free to contact us and we will help you out.
Tips for local guides on international trips are highly encouraged. Local guides are incredibly valuable and knowledgeable and often underpaid. It’s important to show our support and appreciation for these individuals.
Tips for BRANT guides are not required, however if you wish to pay a gratuity to your guide please do at any time (during or after the tour). Rest assured that any tips we received are distributed fairly to your guides.
In general there is only one absolute restriction to a nature tour, you absolutely cannot collect any plants, artifacts or animals during the tour.
Otherwise, there are no restrictions. We only ask that you let us know about any potential limitations or safety concerns that may hamper your ability to participate in any aspect of the desired tour. For example, walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, diet limitations, applicable phobias, etc. should be noted on the registration form. Our tours are typically not physically demanding however the level of physical difficulty for each tour is available under the “Pace of Tour” section of each tour. If there is any question about your ability to participate on a tour we would be more than glad to provide more information that you and/or your doctor may need to help make that decision. All hikes, on all tours, will be round trip, that is returning to the vehicle start point unless otherwise noted, allowing any participant to ‘sit one out’ if they feel inclined to do so. In addition to any walking, participants should be mindful that they will be required to be able to sit in any seat on our tour vehicles.
Tour confirmation occurs at the time of invoicing or 3 months prior to the tour departure date. This tour will be confirmed no later than October 20th, 2014.
In the event a tour is cancelled by BRANT (due to civil unrest, natural disaster, low participation, etc.) we will offer you an alternate tour option (same time/similar birding targets) or refund the full amount of your tour deposit and price.
Projecting the cost of a tour package months in advance is not an exact science. If unexpected increases do occur it may be necessary to charge participants up to 10% increases of the tour price. If greater than 10% increases are necessary, participants may withdrawal from the tour without penalty.
We hope that you will be able to join us on this tour, however, if circumstances cause you to cancel your trip we understand. If cancellations are made 3 months before the start of your tour, your deposit, less the non-refundable amount, will be refunded to you. If cancellations are made after 3 months before the departure date, your deposit is not refundable. If cancellation is made 45 days or less before the departure date all deposits and payments are non-refundable.
BRANT will allow a one-time transfer of a deposit to an upcoming tour date as long as the transfer takes place prior to invoicing. Please contact us to discuss this option.
Please fill in all required fields. Remember that you must pay your deposit in addition to submitting this form before your spot on the tour is secured.If you have any questions or problems please contact us at anytime.
If you would prefer to fax or mail your registration form you can click here to print a hard copy. Our fax number and mailing address can be found here.
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The price of this tour may vary by the selected tour date. Pricing is as follows:
$2,995 (+7% tax)
Single Occupancy Supplement – Please contact us for information on single occupancy rates and availability
Deposit Due at Registration - $750
Price TBA
Payments can be made either online via PayPal or by check. Payments by check carry a significant discount, if you wish to pay by check please contact us for details.
To pay online select your payment option & departure date below
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After you successfully register for a trip we will send you an information packet that will include:
Although your guides will be able to identify all of the wildlife for the area you are visiting, it is always a good idea for you to study up on the expected wildlife for your trip. If you want more information about any aspect of your trip prior to departure please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions and/or recommend any reference guides
BRANT has selected known areas in the US and internationally, we cannot, however, guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For the most part ecotourism is done in remote, outback, and jungle like areas. The terrain is often rugged and local services and government assistance is not available in an emergency. In many out of the US areas there may not be phone or internet services for a day or two at a time during the trip. (However, in most established lodges internet service is readily available.) Therefore, we require that you accept your personal responsibility and agree to release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by completing the Assumption of Risk and Liability Agreement provided in your tour registration packet. This agreement must filled out and returned to us prior to the departure date of your tour. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE LIABILITY WAIVER TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BRANT TOUR!
You can return the liability waiver to us via post or fax at anytime prior to your trip.
Liability Waiver (click to download PDF)
Health precautions for trips in the US are minimal to none. If you have a health condition that requires medication please have the prescription filled for more than the numbers of days your trip encompasses, carry it in the original bottle, clearly labeled with instructions. If you have a health condition that you feel may affect your participation on the trip please discuss this with us so we can advise you and/or provide you with information to discuss with your physician.
Trips outside of the US may require immunizations. You can check with your physician and/or your local Travel Clinic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) will also have complete information concerning health precautions and immunizations that are necessary for traveling outside of the US. They may be contacted by phone, 877-FYI-TRIP, or web site: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. If you have any additional questions about immunizations please feel free to contact us.
Please check with your insurance agent for coverage you may already have and any limitations on national and/or international travel. Travel insurance may be purchased from several reliable companies; Travel Insured International (travelinsured.com) and Travelex (travelexinsurance.com) are two to consider. Travel insurance is purely voluntary and not required to participate on BRANT tours.
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