Embark on an extraordinary 11-day birding journey through Costa Rica’s hidden gems. This privately guided tour takes you beyond the usual birding routes, exploring remote reserves, backcountry roads, and pristine forests teeming with biodiversity. From misty volcanoes to lush lowland rainforests, each location is carefully selected to maximize your chances of encountering rare and elusive species. Whether you're scanning the canopy for colorful toucans, searching for cryptic understory birds, or marveling at hummingbirds in vibrant gardens, this tour offers an immersive experience in Costa Rica’s most breathtaking landscapes. Join us for an unforgettable birding adventure, where every day brings new discoveries and the chance to witness Costa Rica’s most sought-after bird species in their natural habitat!
What's Included in Your 10 Nights | 11 Days Birding the Hidden Gems Tour?
Scheduled Group Tour with Guide
$$$
All-inclusive Package
On a group tour with a private guide, the guide is with you from your arrival to your departure. You not only bird at the hotels, parks, and reserves on your itinerary, you also have the flexibility to stop with the guide at local spots, and places that only the guides know. You have an expert with you every step of the way. Guests with a Private Guide can expect to see at least 50% more species than guests using local guides.
Pros and Cons of a Scheduled Group Trip
Continuous expert guidance throughout the entire trip
50% more species typically observed
Access to off-the-beaten-track locations
Flexibility for impromptu stops
Daily species recap with guide
Photo identification from your guide during and after your trip.
Scheduled dates only
Defined group size
Ideal for
Serious birders aiming to maximize species sightings
Birding Flexibility: Flexible, including impromptu stops
Transportation: Private transport in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle throughout your journey.
Meals: All meals included, beginning with welcome dinner on the first day of the tour and ending with breakfast on your final day.
Admission Fees: Admission to all national parks, reserves, gardens, and sites listed in your itinerary.
Official Checklist: Included
Daily Species Recap: Included
24/7 In-country Assistance: Included
Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica!
Upon arrival at SJO Airport, meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel in San José. In the afternoon, enjoy birdwatching in the hotel gardens with your private guide. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers as your guide provides an overview of the exciting days ahead.
Start the morning with birdwatching in the gardens of Hotel Bougainvillea before departing for Vara Blanca. The scenic drive offers glimpses of cloud forest landscapes and picturesque valleys. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge and explore the gardens and trails with your private guide.
Spend the day exploring Poás Volcano National Park, where your private guide will lead you through diverse cloud forest habitats in search of the top species of the area. Enjoy breathtaking views of the active volcano crater, walk through misty trails, and immerse yourself in this unique habitat.
Depart Vara Blanca and travel toward Sarapiquí, stopping at the renowned Cinchona feeders, where you can observe a variety of birds up close. Continue along the scenic Virgen del Socorro Road, a lush, forested valley known for its rich bird diversity. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon, where you can relax or explore the surrounding trails.
Begin the day with an early morning visit to La Selva Biological Station, one of Costa Rica’s most famous birding destinations. Walk through lowland rainforest trails as your guide helps you locate a variety of species. After lunch, visit Cope’s Gardens, a unique location featuring private gardens, feeders and forest trails.
After breakfast, transfer to Braulio Carrillo, one of Costa Rica’s most pristine national parks. Settle into your lodge and spend the afternoon birdwatching on the grounds, where you can observe species typical of the Caribbean foothills. The lodge’s peaceful setting allows for relaxed exploration of the surrounding forests.
Explore Braulio Carrillo National Park, a vast expanse of primary rainforest home to an incredible diversity of birdlife. Later, take a ride on the Aerial Tram, gliding through different forest layers for a unique birding experience from above. This is an excellent opportunity to observe birds at canopy level.
Depart Braulio Carrillo and head to the charming town of Cachí, located in the lush Orosi Valley. Stop at CATIE Botanical Center, where you’ll explore beautifully landscaped gardens and ponds teeming with bird activity. Later, venture into the remote highlands of Cerro El Silencio, the Tuis River Valley, and La Mina, where forested slopes create an exciting birding environment.
Spend the day immersed in the natural beauty of Quelitales Lodge, where the gardens, waterfalls, and surrounding cloud forest provide excellent birdwatching opportunities. Your guide will lead you on trails around the property, exploring a mix of primary and secondary forest, as well as open areas that attract a variety of species.
After breakfast, transfer back toward San José, stopping at La Marta Wildlife Refuge for a final birding excursion. This protected area features a mix of forested trails, riverbanks, and open landscapes, offering a fitting conclusion to your birding adventure. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy a farewell dinner with your group.
Your private driver arrives to transfer you to the SJO airport for your departure flight. Reflect on the incredible birding experiences you’ve had throughout Costa Rica as you head home.
"Amazing, could not have been better!"
When we booked this we knew nothing about the company and we were a little nervous about what we would be getting. We put some preliminary questions, like “will meals be a fixed menu, or free choice a la carte”. We also worried about whether the guide would be personable, knowledgeable, and with good language ability, etc.
It turned out that not only were these worries unfounded, but we had lucked into a far more generous, efficient, knowledgeable, and exciting company than we could have possibly imagined.
Every last part of this tour was super, and we don’t say that lightly. To begin, of course, the locations were mind blowing, and the birding was great. But then there was the personality, knowledge, and language ability of our guide and of the driver – both great people, and we fell in love with them immediately. And they and the company behind them had really thought of everything. There was never the slightest glitch or problem. To boot, the accommodations were to us first rate, and the food wonderful, and basically unlimited. …
Now, as we are going through our photos, we are impressed over again with every single last bit of this experience. It’s a cliché to say we could not recommend Costa Rica Focus highly enough, but that is exactly the case.
A special parting word about our guide, Alex C. Costa Rica Focus has many guides, but of course we only know about Alex. If in life you can meet a kung fu master or a violin master, or someone who has mastered any field, then it is inspiring. Alex is one of these. He could look in a forest and identify birds we could not even see, often even when he indicated them with his laser pointer. In addition he had a great knowledge of Costa Rican history, geography, culture, and politics, that he shared with great clarity. If Alex is any indication, then the guide you get with Costa Rica Focus is going to be good.
"I would recommend this company to all"
This company designed a fabulous Costa Rica bird trip. There were a variety of habitats to maximize the types of birds we saw. The accommodations were first rate. The hired drivers and bird guides were dependable and first rate. We enjoyed the food everywhere we went. The company stayed in touch and were able to make minor adjustments if necessary. We were very pleased with the trip.
"An amazing birding experience in Costa Rica"
Costa Rica Focus went above & beyond in every way. From the very beginning when I had a few questions before I made my decision to book this trip to the end in traveling home. I felt very safe because we had the ability to be in constant contact with the team if we needed them.
The trip itself was just amazing! I added over 200 new life birds to my list! The scenery was spectacular! Our guide was so helpful, knowledgeable & personable. Each lodge was unique in it’s own way; from larger to quite small. The staff at each place were super. Food was plentiful & tasty. Different birds and experiences at each location. I don’t think a single thing could be improved upon. Thanks again for a most memorable experience!
"Amazing Experience"
My wife and I joined a small group, we were 5 in total. Everything was perfectly well organized. Our guide, Minor, was fantastic. He was always ready to help and accomodate us. He also has a fantastic knowledge of wildlife and where to find it. We went to the mountains, Tortuguero in the rain forest and to the slopes of the Arenal volcano. Exotic places, fantastic views and hundreds of species of birds. I would recommend Costa Rica focus without hesitation.
"Knowledgeable and great local connections"
Joan and company were excellent by being so responsive, attentive, cooperative with making adjustments and extremely helpful at navigating our way around the country of Costa Rica. They had great connections with the locals and we got to know the people as well as the wildlife and the countryside. Our nature guides were top notch as well as our drivers. Very knowledgeable and patient (traffic and roads can be crazy at times). We always felt remembered each day as they checked in with us and them with us. The app is fantastic for knowing what was up each day. Highly recommend!
"A Quest for the Agami Heron"
I went on the A Quest for the Agami Heron in June of 2023 and have meant to write a review since then. I am going with better late than never. My cousin talked me into going with her and insisted I take her camera. I could not get a picture for three days that I could even see but on the third day magic happened and my life changed. From the moment I walked out of the airport to the moment they dropped me back off everything was taken care of. Our guide, Minor, and our driver, Victor, took care of us and were an amazing team to get us to very unique hotels, wonderful restaurants and to birds I never knew existed. Resplendent Quetzels, Sunbitterns, and Agami Herons were some of my favorites. We saw baby turtles released into the sea and all cried together when they made it. We built friendships through our experiences that were real and lead to another one this summer and a reserved one for next year. I highly recommend Costa Rica Focus. 5+ out of 5 stars.
"A fantastic trip to Ecuador"
I’ve just returned from a fantastic 11 days’ birding in Ecuador organised by Costa Rica Focus and I couldn’t be happier. Having used them last year, I knew what to expect and they didn’t let me down. Their attention to detail is incredible and everything went exactly to plan from the moment I was greeted at Quito airport.
But what makes them special is their careful choice of guides. Both Daniel and Ivan were outstanding and helped me to see and photograph more than 300 birds, most of them lifers. Their incredible knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm made all the difference. Toucans, hawks, cock of the rock, umbrella bird, oilbird and loads of hummingbirds – they got me up close and personal to them all.
I have no hesitation in recommending Costa Rica Focus and I look forward to my next adventure with this great company.
"“Off the beaten track” excellent trip that lived up to its name."
3rd trip with this company. Alex was an excellent guide/driver and the itinerary well organized and unique. Some locations family owned with breathtaking views, wonderful accommodation and home cooked meals. Saw 214 species of birds with 90 % “lifers”. Was a fusion of photography and forest birding. Have to admit that as a prairie person my body ached after hiking up and down slippery paths and staircases. CR is beautiful with waterfalls, lush vegetation and mountains!
We crossed the country from SanJose to the Pacific Ocean, over the highest peaks and to the southern tropical areas with stops at local restaurants and locations where we saw species rarely seen. The meals were healthy and typically CR. Given that this is nesting season without the migrant birds, Alex and the experienced birders in our small group found many unique species. It was a good learning experience for myself as I’m more of a photographer. Would highly recommend this tour and I will certainly continue to travel with Costa Rica focus.
Additional Tour Info
This itinerary requires a moderate to intermediate level of physical activity. Guests will traverse a variety of environments, including well-established trails, narrow forest paths, gardens, feeders, and observation platforms. Participants should be comfortable walking at least 2 miles at a steady, relaxed pace without the need for frequent stops or rest. This tour highlights several “off the beaten track” locations where trail conditions will be more challenging.
Weather
Weather in Costa Rica varies significantly by region and elevation. Expect different temperatures and rainfall patterns as you travel through the country. While some areas experience brief morning mist or afternoon showers, others may have longer periods of rain. These patterns shift throughout the year and create the perfect conditions for Costa Rica’s rich wildlife. While we plan activities around typical weather patterns, we recommend packing for both sun and rain to ensure your comfort throughout your journey. The temperatures listed below represent typical averages for each region, though daily conditions may vary.
Central Valley: Warm daytime temperatures from the high 70s °F to low 80s °F. Evenings pleasant in the high 60s °F to low 70s °F.
Highlands (Poas region): Cooler conditions prevail here, with daytime temperatures in the mid to high 70s or low 80s °F. Evenings can drop to the high 50s or low 60s °F, so pack appropriately to stay comfortable throughout your journey. We recommend layers and a fleece or jacket.
Caribbean Lowlands: Daytime temperatures will range from the high 80s to low 90s °F. Evening temperatures will be in the high 70s – low 80s °F. Expect high humidity.
Mid-Elevation Locations (Foothills): Enjoy temperate weather with daytime highs in the low to mid-80s °F and evenings and early mornings in the low to mid 60s Mid-Elevation Locations: Enjoy temperate weather with daytime highs in the low to mid-80s °F.
On the Trail
Please note that some parks and reserves lack seating or designated rest areas once inside the forest. While most trails are relatively flat, certain locations may involve inclines, steps, or uneven terrain with minor elevation changes.
Trail conditions will vary, and guests should be prepared to navigate narrow forest paths with natural debris such as sticks, leaves, rocks, and roots. In the event of rain, trails may become muddy and slippery, adding to the challenge.This itinerary is designed for participants with an intermediate level of fitness and mobility, ensuring a rewarding experience for those prepared for the natural demands of these environments.
All guests should be comfortable carrying their own equipment and personal items in the field. We understand that everyone’s pace and energy levels are different. If you ever feel the need for a shorter day, a morning to rest, or time to recharge, please let your guide know. This is your trip, and we’re here to ensure you enjoy it to the fullest.
This trip would not be recommended for a person with mobility issues.
Accommodations
For our group trips, we select hotels based on their prime locations for birding opportunities. Accommodations will range from basic, rustic lodges to mid-range hotels with additional amenities, always with the goal of prioritizing excellent access to birding hotspots.
It’s important to note that not all hotels will have air conditioning, but all will feature private bathrooms, hot or warm running showers, fans, and Wi-Fi (available at least in reception or dining areas, though signal strength may vary). The level of comfort will align with the descriptions provided in the itinerary.
In some locations, rooms may be a 5–15 minute walk from the reception or dining areas. If you have physical needs and would prefer a room closer to these facilities, please inform us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
