Birdwatching in Braulio Carrillo National Park
Book your birding at its best, an expert ornithologist takes you to the bird and animal-filled mountain slopes and lowlands on Costa Rica's Caribbean side
A full day birding journey in the heart of dense rainforest. Travel to the lush primary forest of Braulio Carrillo National Park on the Caribbean lowlands, one of the best places in Costa Rica for mixed flocks, rainforest birds and wonderful rarities. A small loop trail at Quebrada Gonzales station has incredible biodivesity, both quality and quantity. This trail offers tanagers, wood quails, anthrushes, hummingbirds, eagles, orioles, aracaries, spadebills, and even rare species such as Sharpbill, Bare Necked Umbrellabird, Black Crowned Antpitta, Nightingale Wren and many, many more.
After a tipico Costa Rican lunch (not included in tour rate), your journey continues to the Sarapiqui valley with its large terrain of mixed habitats such as plantations, riparian, secondary forest, active pasture fields, etc. In this diverse combination of micro habitats you may spot another 60 or more species such as Great Potoo, Long-tailed Tyrant, Snowy Cotinga, Crested Guan, Bat Falcon, Great Green Macaw, White collared Manakin, Fasciated Antshrike, Green Ibis and Sunbittern.
Braulio Carrillo National Park is the best birding rainforest of Costa Rica having more than 118,000 acres - 92% of which is virgin forest. Only 1 hour away from San Jose, the rainforest's many extinct volcanoes and dozens of small and large waterfalls make it a breathtaking destination. In the park numerous animals have been spotted including jaguars, tapirs, three species of monkeys, ocelots, etc. The tremendous diversity of birds exceeds 350 species which many are rare or on the verge of extinction.
The Sarapiqui lowlands is a phenomenal area for spotting open field birds, many of which have adapted to various habitats that have been disturbed by humans such as pasture fields and farms.
What to bring: Mosquito repellent , long pants, rain gear (during green season), binoculars, water, lunch money ($10 or 5000 colones)
What is included: Transportation round trip, park fees, professional tour guide, and water.
Hiking level: Moderate