COSTA RICA
Land of the Quetzal

FRIDAY 23 January – SATURDAY 7 february 2009
SATURDAY 23 January – SUNDAY 7 february 2010

2009 Price £3345pp  Single Supplement £295 Deposit £1200.
2010 Price to be announced.

This intensely beautiful tropical land is dominated by a chain of spectacular mountains and active volcanoes rising to over 3,500m. The mountains divide the country into quite separate ecological zones, each with its characteristic fauna and flora, with the result that Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, with more bird species to the square mile than any other country on earth. This is a birdwatcher’s paradise where more than 850 species have been recorded, nearly 10% of the world’s total - and all this in a country less than the size of England! You will see a vast range of birdlife, including representatives of many exotic and colourful bird families which to date have only been pictures in the guidebook – this holiday will bring them to life for you!

Costa Rica is very different from the usual European idea of Central American countries.  For example there is no army - "teachers, not soldiers” is the watchword, and as a result the country has one of the highest rates of literacy in the world. The people are welcoming and friendly, and also very proud of their commitment to conservation. The National Park system covers around 12 percent of the land surface, and together with numerous privately-run reserve areas, over a quarter of the country is protected.

Although Costa Rica is small, the road system is limited. We visit a representative sample of Costa Rica's biologically rich areas on this holiday to give you a thrilling experience – the ideal choice for the first time visitor to Costa Rica or for your first long-distance birding holiday. We take our time, preferring optional early and late birding and a break if it is hot in the middle of the day. You don't have to be super-fit, this is one of the most suitable holidays you could choose for an introduction to tropical birding.

Other wildlife will include three monkeys and two sloths, lots of lizards, crocodiles, harmless large rodents such as Agouti, bats, amphibians, turtles and snakes, a vast range of butterflies and a wealth of flora – there are more than 1200 orchids in Costa Rica!

Our local agents here are simply excellent, and their meticulous organisation and top-quality local guides ensure a really first class holiday. We tour the country to make the most of our time, staying in seven different hotels and lodges, all of which are experienced at hosting birders.

Our tour in 2009 covers the major central and southern habitats including the tropical lowlands of Selva Verde, tropical rainforest on the Pacific coastline at Punta Leona, the unique ecosystem of Carara, where humid coastal forest meets the dry climate of the northern Pacific, and the misty highland cloud forest reserve at Finca Mirador de Quetzales, amongst other places - see itinerary below! Heatherlea are delighted once again to welcome exceptional local guide Paco Madrigal, widely regarded as one of the best birders in the country, and you can expect fabulous birding with around 400 species, and top wildlife watching. We also use quality, comfortable accommodation throughout a wonderful holiday. Heatherlea guide Ian Ford enjoyed himself so much here in 2008, we decided to let him lead again in 2009 too - he couldn't be happier!

Our tour in 2010 covers all the major habitats of northern Costa Rica including both ocean coasts, wonderful tropical wetlands, lowland rainforest, high cloudforest festooned with orchids and bromeliads, and cool, misty mountain tops, as we return to our 2008 itinerary. Paco Madrigal has again agreed to lead for us, and with his services now booking up to two years in advance, we are very pleased to appoint. Prices for this holiday will be announced as soon as we have them, probably in September 2008, though the price above can be used as a guide and we are now booking.

Ian Ford and Paco Madrigal
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Itinerary 2009
Fri 23 January 2009  Day 1: Fly from London to Costa Rica via Madrid, Newark or Miami. We will meet our local guide and be escorted to our hotel. San Jose is situated in the central valley of Costa Rica, where at this time of year days are warm as an English summer, whilst nights can be pleasantly cool. Depending on our arrival time we may be able to relax by the poolside or walk in the lovely gardens. This is a good place to see White-eared Ground-sparrow, Blue-crowned Motmot, some colourful hummingbirds, and perhaps Prevost’s Ground-sparrow. Our flight may have an evening arrival in which case we will just relax and have dinner! the hotel is modern and very comfortable. Overnight San José.

Sat 24 January 2009  Day 2: En-route today we visit the Virgen del Socorro area, stopping for lunch at the lovely Waterfall Gardens on the edge of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, where we enjoy the extensive butterfly and hummingbird gardens. Up to 12 hummingbird species can be found here, darting like jewels through the colourful gardens, and butterflies include the spectacular electric blue Morpho. After lunch we walk through the serene river valley of Virgen del Socorro, where we may be lucky enough to see Lanceolated Monklet. Next we travel to Selva Verde Lodge in the tropical lowlands of Sarapiqui, birding along the way. Located in the wildlife-rich riparian zone along the banks of the Sarapiqui River, this lowland rain forest region at the base of the Caribbean slope is well-known for hosting the greatest diversity of tropical flora and fauna. Here Sunbittern, Black-faced Grosbeak and Gray-necked Wood-Rail are a few of the inhabitants. This is the most likely spot on the trip to see Great Green Macaw, an endangered species that depends on the Dipteryx tree for feeding and nesting. This is one of the emergent trees commonly found in Sarapiqui. Also lurking in the forest are two- and three-toed sloth, 3 different species of monkey, and peccaries. Overnight Selva Verde Lodge

Sun 25 and Mon 26 January 2009  Days 3 and 4: We spend these two days at La Selva Biological Station, run by the Organisation for Tropical Studies, and this is a highlight of our holiday. The station is one of the most famous tropical research facilities in the world. We should see an abundance of wildlife; over 420 birds, 500 butterflies, 55 snakes and 120 mammals have been recorded here. A vastvariety of trees can be seen in the arboretum. Three species of Tinamou are found here, and we should also see Rufous Motmot, trogons, caciques, Purple-throated Fruit Crow and Snowy Cotinga amongst many others. Animals are not camera-shy, and peccaries, agouti, coatimundi, sloths and monkeys are all found here. An unforgettable place!

Tues 27 January 2009  Day 5: Today we travel to Punta Leona Beach Resort, where we are surrounded by 750 acres of lush tropical rainforest, pristine white sand and golden beaches bordering the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. We explore the extensive wildlife reserve through both primary and secondary rain forest. Punta Leona is home to Scarlet Macaw, White-faced and Black Howler Monkeys sloths, coatimundi, peccaries, blue morpho butterflies, iguanas and an array of birds including manakins, trogons and the Three-wattled Bellbird. Overnight Punta Leona Beach Resort.

Wed 28 and Thurs 29 January 2009  Days 6 and 7: Travel to Hotel Villa Lapa, situated at the edge of the Carara Biological Reserve on the banks of the Tarcoles River near the Pacific coast. We may stop along the way to look for Blue-winged Teal, Least Grebe, Northern Jacana, Anhinga, and Neo-tropical Cormorant. After lunch at the hotel, we will explore the bird-rich trails through the forest, and hope to see Scarlet Macaw among many others. We spend the next two days in the Carara Biological Reserve, a unique climatological zone where the ecosystem of the humid southern coastal region joins the dry climate of the northern Pacific area, becoming a rich meeting ground for species from both regions. This is truly one of the highlights of the tour, where we hope to find Orange Collared Manakin dancing at their lek. This is a great location to spot antbirds, up to five different species of Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, and even Royal Flycatcher. In the early morning, before entering the reserve, we will visit the nearby bridge overlooking the Tarcoles River, where Scarlet Macaws fly over daily. Here you will be amazed by gigantic American Crocodiles basking on the banks of the river. Later we visit Playa Azul and the surrounding area. This is an amazing place for shore birds and water birds as well as Parrots, Orioles, Macaws and Owls. We expect an impressive variety of birds including Roseate Spoonbill, several species of heron, Anhinga, Kingfishers, Crested Caracara, Mangrove Black Hawk and Mangrove Warbler to name a few. Overnight Hotel Villa Lapas

Fri 30 January 2009  Day 8: We travel south along the Pacific coast where we spend the next day and a half in the Dominical area, close to the unique Ballina Marine National Park. 'Ballena' is Spanish for whale, and the park lies on the migration route for Humpbacked Whales. If we are lucky, we may see one of these magnificent creatures. Excellent birding includes Fiery-billed Aracari, Yellow-billed Cotinga (endemic to Costa Rica and Panama), King Vulture, Grey-necked Wood-rail, American Oystercatcher, Elegant Tern, a variety of shorebirds, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Smooth-billed Ani, Scaled Pigeon, Striped Owl, Costa Rican Swift, Olivaceous Piculet, Panama Flycatcher, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet and Riverside Wren - what a place!

Sat 31 January and Sun 1 February 2009  Days 9 and 10: We tear ourselves away from Ballina to go to Las Cruces Biological Station, where the Robert and Katherine Wilson Botanical Garden is run by the Organisation for Tropical Studies. The station holds and impressive collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants from around the world, including rare and endangered species from Costa Rica. There is an astounding richness of ferns, aroids, bromeliads, gingers, heliconias, marantas and palms. The gardens and surrounding rainforest attract a wide variety of birds, many found only in the southern region of Costa Rica. These include; Turquoise Cotinga, Fiery-billed Aracari, Masked Yellow-throat, Marbled Wood-quail, Garden Emerald, White-bellied Emerald, Charming Hummingbird, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Speckled Tanager, Thrushlike Manakin, Golden-naped Woodpecker and Pale-breasted Spinetail. We may also see Crested Oropendula and Wattled Jacana.

Mon 2 February and Tues 3 February 2009  Days 11 and 12: We travel to Esquinas Lodge on the outskirts of Golfito where we spend the next two days. The lodge is surrounded by dense lowland rainforest, bordering on the Piedras Blancas National Park. This is a great area to look for Ruddy-breasted Seed-eater, Red-breasted Blackbird, Black-cheeked Ant-tanager (endemic), Baird's Trogon, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Blue-crowned Manakin, Brown-chested Martin, Scrub Greenlet and Thick-billed Euphonia amongst many others. We may also see Pearl Kite and Uniform Crake.

Wed 4 February 2009  Day 13: Travel to Cerro de la Muerte. We spend the morning exploring the misty highland cloud forest reserve at the Finca Mirador de Quetzales, where up to 20 pairs of quetzals have been seen. Resplendent Quetzal, a bird that many consider the most beautiful in tropical America, is one of the most sought-after birds of any trip to Costa Rica and we have always seen this bird extremely well.  We will stay two nights at the Albergue de Montana Savegre, nestled in a quaint highland valley nearby, home of many target birds including hummingbirds, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher as well as Resplendent Quetzal. Overnight Albergue de Montana Savegre.

Thurs 5 February 2009 Day 14: Spend the day exploring the gardens, riparian highland habitats and old-growth tropical oak cloudforests surrounding the Savegre Mountain Lodge. Walking through the gardens and along the Savegre river, we can hope to see Flame-colored Tanager, Collared Trogon, Torrent Tyrannulet, Volcano Hummingbird, and Gray-tailed Mountain Gem, to name a few. Other species include Black-faced Solitaire, Spotted Wood-quail, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Golden-browed (Blue-hooded) Chlorophonia Ochraceous Wren, Ornate Hawk-eagle and of course Respledent Quetzal. In the evening after a delicious dinner, we will go over the birds, reptiles, mammals, and any other wildlife seen that day. Overnight Albergue de Montana Savegre.

Fri 6 February 2009  Day 15 Return to San Jose, birding on the way, for afternoon flights the next day. We arrive in London early on Sat 7 February 2009 Day 16.

Each morning we get an early start to make the best of our time, and maximize our opportunities to see the most species of birds possible. As an optional outing, owling excursions will be available some nights. we search for: Black and White Owl, Spectacled Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Pacific Screech-Owl, Central American Pygmy-Owl, Great Potoo, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Lesser Nighthawk, and Crested Owl. Each evening there will be a meeting to go over the bird list.

Accommodation is in hotels or lodges with all rooms en suite. Some of the lodges are remote, and have simple-style rooms, all are spacious and very comfortable. For tropical accommodation, our lodges are of a very good standard. Many hotels have swimming pools.

Leaders: Ian Ford and local naturalist guide Paco Madrigal (see below).

Numbers:  Max. 14 clients

Heatherlea Group 2008

Itinerary 2010
Sat 23 January 2010  Day 1: Fly from London to Costa Rica via Madrid, Newark or Miami. We will meet our local guide and be escorted to our hotel. San Jose is situated in the central valley of Costa Rica, where at this time of year days are warm as an English summer, whilst nights can be pleasantly cool. Depending on our arrival time we may be able to relax by the poolside or walk in the lovely gardens. This is a good place to see White-eared Ground-sparrow, Blue-crowned Motmot, some colourful hummingbirds, and perhaps Prevost’s Ground-sparrow. Our flight may have an evening arrival in which case we will just relax and have dinner! the hotel is modern and very comfortable. Overnight San José.

Sun 24 January 2010  Day 2: Travel to Cerro de la Muerte. We spend the morning exploring the misty highland cloud forest reserve at the Finca Mirador de Quetzales, where up to 20 pairs of quetzals have been seen. One of the most sought-after birds of any trip to Costa Rica must surely be Resplendent Quetzal, a bird that many consider the most beautiful in tropical America. We have always seen this bird extremely well.  We will have lunch and stay overnight at the Albergue de Montana Savegre, nestled in a quaint highland valley nearby, home of many target birds including hummingbirds, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher as well as Resplendent Quetzal. Overnight Albergue de Montana Savegre.

Mon 25 January 2010 Day 3: Spend the day exploring the bird rich habitat in the Savergre River Valley. Walking through the gardens and along the Savegre river, we can hope to see Flame-colored Tanager, Collared Trogon, Torrent Tyrannulet, Volcano Hummingbird, and Gray-tailed Mountain Gem, to name a few. In the evening after a delicious dinner, we will go over the birds, reptiles, mammals, and any other wildlife seen that day. Overnight Albergue de Montana Savegre.

Tues 26 January 2010  Day 4: Travel to Hotel Villa Lapa, situated at the edge of the Carara Biological Reserve on the banks of the Tarcoles River near the Pacific coast. We may stop along the way to look for Blue-winged Teal, Least Grebe, Northern Jacana, Anhinga, and Neo-tropical Cormorant. After lunch at the hotel, we will explore the bird-rich trails through the forest, and hope to see Scarlet Macaw among many others. Later we visit Playa Azul and the surrounding area. This is an amazing place for shore birds and water birds as well as Parrots, Orioles, Macaws and Owls. We expect an impressive variety of birds including Roseate Spoonbill, several species of heron, Anhinga, Kingfishers, Crested Caracara, Mangrove Black Hawk and Mangrove Warbler to name a few. Overnight Hotel Villa Lapas

Wed 27 January 2010  Day 5: Spend the day in the Carara Biological Reserve, a unique climatological zone where the ecosystem of the humid southern coastal region joins the dry climate of the northern Pacific area, becoming a rich meeting ground for species from both regions. This is truly one of the highlights of the tour, where we hope to find Orange Collared Manakin dancing at their lek. This is a great location to spot antbirds, up to four different species of Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, and even Royal Flycatcher. In the early morning, before entering the reserve, we will visit the nearby bridge overlooking the Tarcoles River, where Scarlet Macaws fly over daily. Here you will be amazed by gigantic American Crocodiles basking on the banks of the river. Overnight Hotel Villa Lapas

Thurs 28 January 2010  Day 6: Travel to Guanacaste to explore the tropical dry forests, marshlands, estuaries, and mangroves, characteristic to the northern Pacific region.  This is an ideal place to see water birds, raptors, and other species found only in this zone. In the wetlands, we are likely to see Jabiru Stork, Snail Kite, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Boat-billed Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Limpkin, and several species of Kingfisher. Walking through the semi-deciduous forest, we may see Turquoise-browed Motmot, Long-tailed Manakin, and several species of Parrot, Oriole, Cuckoo, Trogon, Jay, and Owl. Overnight La Ensenada Lodge

Fri 29 and Sat 30 January 2010  Day 7 and 8: Spend two nights at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, which offers breath-taking views of the thundering Arenal Volcano. This is one of Costa Rica’s active volcanoes, where we are sure to enjoy some fireworks. In 2008 the volcano was erupting almost continuously while we were watching safely from our balconies. Great photo opportunities! The extensive trails at the lodge allow for tremendous opportunities to view Crimson-collared Tanager, White Hawk, Brown-hooded Parrot, and Golden-olive Woodpecker, along with an array of colorful hummingbirds and three species of Toucan. One night we will go owling in search of Black-and-White Owl, Mottled Owl, and Striped Owl in the open fields below the lodge. Overnight Arenal Observatory Lodge.

Sun 31 January 2010  Day 9: Travel to Selva Verde Lodge in the tropical lowlands of Sarapiqui. Spend the afternoon exploring the wildlife-rich riparian zone along the banks of the Sarapiqui River. This rain forest region at the base of the Caribbean slope is well-known for hosting the greatest diversity of tropical flora and fauna. Here Sunbittern, Black-faced Grosbeak and Gray-necked Wood-Rail are a few of the inhabitants of the area. This is the most likely spot on the trip to see Great Green Macaw, an endangered species that depends on the Dipteryx tree for feeding and nesting. This is one of the emergent trees commonly found in Sarapiqui. Also lurking in the forest are two- and three-toed sloth, 3 different species of monkey, and peccaries. Overnight Selva Verde Lodge

Mon 1 February 2010  Day 10: We spend the morning around the lovely Waterfall Gardens on the edge of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, where we will enjoy the extensive butterfly and hummingbird gardens. Up to 12 different species of jewelled hummingbird visit the garden as well as a variety of colorful butterflies, including the giant blue Morpho. We walk along the river, experiencing close-up views of five spectacular waterfalls. After lunch we walk through the serene river valley called Virgen del Socorro, where we may be lucky enough to see Lanceolated Monklet. We may also see a few frogs, snakes, and Kinkajous lurking in the night. Overnight Selva Verde Lodge

Tues 2 February 2010  Day 11: Spend the day at La Selva Biological Station run by the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), a highlight of the tour. The station is among the four most famous tropical research facilities in the world. We will see an outstanding abundance of wildlife. The station is home to more than 420 bird species, more than 500 species of butterflies, 55 species of snake, and 120 species of mammal. A vast variety of different species of tree can be seen in the arboretum. This is the most likely place to make your Tinamou dream come true – three Tinamou species inhabit La Selva. We will be looking for Roufous Motmot, Trogons, Caciques, Purple-throated Fruit-crow, and Snowy Cotinga among many others. Animals here are not camera shy, so there will be ample photo opportunities. Collared Peccary (wild pig), agoutis, coatis, sloth, and monkeys frequent this area. An unforgettable day. Overnight Selva Verde Lodge

Wed 3 and Thurs 4 February 2010  Day 12 and 13: What a climax as we travel by boat to Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean. This mosaic of mangrove waterways backs directly onto the pristine turtle-rich beaches of the Caribbean, a magnificent natural paradise you will always treasure. We will explore the rich labyrinth of waterways which afford excellent wildlife viewing. The area boasts 320 bird species, including Tiger Heron, Agami Heron, White-fronted Nunbird, and all six species of american Kingfishers. Along with birds, we may also see sloth, caiman, iguanas, poison-dart frogs, fresh-water turtles, basilisk lizards, the Honduran White tent-making bats, andMantled Howler, Spider and White-faced Capuchin Monkey. Overnight Laguna Lodge

Fri 5 February 2010  Day 14: Return to San Jose, birding on the way,  for a farewell dinner and an overnight stay, to rest up for departing flights the next day. Overnight Hotel Bougainvillea, San José

Sat 6 February 2010  Day 15: Breakfast before departing for the airport to return home. We arrive in London early on Sun 7 February 2010 Day 16.

Each morning we get an early start to make the best of our time, and maximize our opportunities to see the most species of birds possible. As an optional outing, owling excursions will be available some nights. we search for: Black and White Owl, Spectacled Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Pacific Screech-Owl, Central American Pygmy-Owl, Great Potoo, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Lesser Nighthawk, and Crested Owl. Each evening there will be a meeting to go over the bird list.

Accommodation is in hotels or lodges with all rooms en suite. Some of the lodges are remote, and have simple-style rooms, all are spacious and very comfortable. For tropical accommodation, our lodges are of a very good standard. Many hotels have swimming pools.

Leaders: Ian Ford and local naturalist guide Paco Madrigal (see below).

Numbers:  Max. 14 clients

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NB we may be able to offer alternative flight arrangements or quote you a price without flights so you can make your own arrangements – clients sometimes ask us to extend their tour by a few days or a week, so if you wish to stay in Costa Rica for a few days after the holiday, we can arrange this too.

Holiday price includes: scheduled return flights between London and San José, airport taxes, ground and boat transportation as outlined above including all transportation in Costa Rica in a modern and spacious air-conditioned vehicle, accommodation on a full-board basis, the services of a local full time private bi-lingual professional guide specializing in birds and natural history, the services of your Heatherlea Tour Leader, three chilled bottles of water per day per client, entrance fees to parks and reserves, departure taxes, and tips to hotels and restaurants.

Holiday price excludes: insurance, drinks, optional tips to the driver and local guide, and other personal expenses.

Paco Madrigal: Paco will be personally leading the holiday, and we are fortunate to secure the services of this highly experienced leader. Co-founder and master-guide of Cotinga Tours, Paco Madrigal was raised in the lowland rain forest of Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, and has over 20 years experience guiding both bird watching and natural history tours throughout Costa Rica. As a child, the rain forest was his backyard playground. He learned about the diverse local plants and animals from his father who had learned from his father. Paco became the first resident naturalist guide at the nearby Selva Verde Lodge tropical reserve, and in 1989 was selected to participate in the first 4 month intensive training course for naturalist guides, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund and the Organization for Tropical Studies.

Paco studied English and Ornithology at the University of Florida. Upon returning to Costa Rica, Paco worked for the renowned Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) at La Selva Biological Station in Sarapiqui where he began to lead guided tours, and his personal enthusiasm to share his knowledge with visitors has led to a devoted following. We can tell you from first-hand experience that Paco is extremely capable with wildlife, organisation and people - a welcome addition to the Heatherlea guiding team.

Paco remarks, "There is no better satisfaction than to witness the joy experienced by clients when they see a Sunbittern, a Three-wattled Bellbird, Tinamous, a Quetzal, a sloth, orchids in bloom or any of the wildlife on their wish list for the first time!"

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Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and elements beyond our control (eg weather).