Exotic Bird & Nature Photo Tour
2009 Costa Rica Cloud Forest & Lowlands
Monteverde, Palo Verde, Carara

Monteverde Cloud Forest
Palo Verde National Park
Carara National Park

March 21-29, 2009
(9 days, 8 nights)

Price $2550

Sat
Mar 21

San Jose
Hotel Aeropuerto

Included Meals:

Tour begins with dinner and orientation at the Hotel Aeropuerto in Alajuela near the international airport.

Sun
Mar 22

Santa Elena Reserve
Hotel Heliconia

Included Meals: BLD

Morning departure for Monteverde, arriving mid-day. After lunch photography at sites near Santa Elena and around hotel grounds.

Mon
Mar 23

Monteverde Cloud Forest
Hotel Heliconia

Included Meals: BLD

All morning photographing birds in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, including a visit to the Hummingbird Gallery outside entrance. Lunch in restaurant at entrance. Afternoon walking additional trails in reserve viewing and photographing birds and other animals.

Tues
Mar 24

Monteverde
Liberia
Las Espuelas

Included Meals: BLD

Morning making photographs of birds in hotel's private reserve or elsewhere near Monteverde. Transfer to Liberia, stopping en route to make photographs as opportunities present themselves.

Wed
Mar 25

Palo Verde National Park
Las Espuelas

Included Meals: BLD

All day boat trip into Palo Verde National Park viewing and photographing Jabiru, herons, ibises, jacanas, hawks, and monkeys that inhabit the wetlands.

Thurs
Mar 26

Pacific Lowlands
Orotina
Rio Tarcoles Bridge
Villa Lapas

Included Meals: BLD

After breakfast transfer to Carara, stopping en route to look for White-tailed Magpie Jays, Turquoise-browned Motmots, and other birds. Visit known roost in Orotina to view and photograph Black-and-White Owls. Afternoon photography around lodge grounds where we hope to view and photograph Chestnut-mandible Toucans and other species. Late afternoon visit to the Rio Tarcoles Bridge to see Scarlet Macaws.

Fri
Mar 27

Carara National Park
Villa Lapas

Included Meals: BLD

Morning making photographs of birds and other animals along the Laguna Meandrica Trail in Carara National Park. Lunch at restaurant. Afternoon walk the Headquarters Trail in Carara National Park to photograph more secretive primary rainforest birds such as antpittas.

Sat
Mar 28

Carara National Park
San Jose
Hotel Aeropuerto

Included Meals: BLD

Morning return to the Laguna Meandrica Trail, where we'll concentrate on a wetlands area to photograph tiger-herons and other birds. Mid afternoon transfer to hotel in San Jose.

Sun
Mar 29

San Jose
 

Included Meals: BLD

Early breakfast and transfer to international airport for flight home. End of Tour.