Wildlife holidays in Costa Rica are a truly unforgettable experience for
birders. The country's habitats vary widely and are all rich in bird species,
from the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal to flocks of Scarlet Macaws and the
remarkable Sun Bittern. Top locations for birders include the Talamanca
Mountains, Carara National Park, La Ensenada Wildlife Refuge, Monteverde and
Santa Elena Reserve, and the research station at La Selva.
Talamanca Mountains
By starting in the Talamanca Mountains, birders will
have the opportunity to see species they will not be likely to sight in
subsequent locations, such as Fiery-throated Hummingbird and the Large-footed,
Peg-billed and Yellow-thighed Finches. These high mountains - up to 3,350
metres - are a stunning setting for the first days of a nature holiday.
Carara National Park
This lowland Pacific Coast reserve is generous in its resident and visiting
bird species. Especially memorable is the spectacle of Scarlet Macaws flying to
their night-time roosting locations, while several days spent in the reserve
can offer numerous sightings of egrets, herons and shorebirds in the wetlands
and trogons, manakins, tanagers and woodpeckers in the forest.
La Ensenada Wildlife Refuge
The coastal wetlands and mangroves of La Ensenada Wildlife Refuge are one
of the country's most important wetland habitats, making the refuge an ideal
stop on wildlife holidays in Costa Rica for birders with a particular interest
in migrating waders and other species typically found in such locales. At the
Colorado Salinas, the migrating Willet, Marbled Godwit and Stilt Sandpiper can
be seen, while the mangroves are host to flitting Prothonotary Warblers.
Overhead, flocks of soaring Magnificent Frigatebirds are sure to please. Nature
enthusiasts will also enjoy excursions into the dry forests to see and hear
Mantled Howler Monkeys, in addition to the many bird species present there.
Monteverde and Santa Elena Reserve
The cloudforests of Monteverde are home to the Resplendent Quetzal, which
is widely hailed as the world's most beautiful bird. One sighting of its
plumage is adequate for most birders to agree with this assessment. Monteverde
and the nearby Santa Elena Reserve are an excellent stop on wildlife holidays
in Costa Rica for hummingbird enthusiasts, with sightings of over 10 species
possible, especially at the stunning 'Hummingbird Gallery'. Going up into the
mountains also gives groups the opportunity to stay at Arenal Volcano National
Park, where the forests and lakes of the area are home to various bird species
- and lucky visitors can see a small eruption in the volcanic cone.
La Selva
A rather different biome is found at the research station of La Selva on
the Atlantic slope - a lowland evergreen forest. The bird life is astounding:
with expert guidance, in just two days it is possible to see over 150 species.
La Selva is clearly a must for birders on wildlife holidays in Costa Rica. One
highlight is the remarkable Sun Bittern, but it will be just one among many.
Nature enthusiasts will also be able to look for birds in the middle elevation
forests surrounding the waterfall of Virgin del Socorro.
Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If
you're looking for wildlife
holidays in Costa Rica Naturetrek
specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over
25 years of experience to polar expeditions and tours to other spectacular
regions on Earth.
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