Carolina Bird Club Bonus Trip to Costa Rica
December 4-15, 2019 $2,449/Per Person
12 Days, 4 Regions
of Birding from the Southern Caribbean to the Cloud Forest
Including: Gandoca-Manzanillo
Wildlife Refuge, Guayabo Monument, Irazu Volcano National Park, Cahuita National Park, Los Quetzales National Park, & Cerro de la Muerte
Register for this trip at www.EpicNatureTours.com
For additional information: The contact is Paul & Amanda Laurent at info@EpicNatureTours.com or (931)452-9254
Join CBC Members, Paul and Amanda Laurent, for an Epic 12 Days of amazing birding in Costa Rica through their company, Epic Nature Tours. The tour starts and ends in San Jose, CR with private transport throughout the trip. We begin by traveling to the Southern Caribbean coast to visit the small town of Manzanillo, which is surrounded by the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. We will also visit Cahuita National Park and stop by the ARA Project, which is working to reintroduce Great Green Macaws to Costa Rica. Next, we travel by motorized dugout canoe up the river that is the natural border between Costa Rica and Panama to spend one night in an indigenous BriBri community who operate an organic cacao farm. We then visit the Turrialba area, to explore ancient ruins and the Irazu Volcano, which are both fantastic birding sites. We end our trip in the Cloud Forest in the Savegre Valley, one of the purest rivers on earth. The valley is home to a resident population of Resplendent Quetzals, hummingbirds, and dozens of endemic birds found nowhere else on earth.
The tour is set up to be flexible, with a daily excursion each morning as well as afternoon and evening activities as you choose. If you wish, afternoons and some early mornings can be free or you can choose to go out and continue birding or take it easy and relax on a Caribbean beach or take a siesta in a hammock. The trip is customized for each participant. If you spend all 12 days birding nonstop, you can expect to see 300 or more species. We have had trips with non-birders who saw over 200 species.
Epic Nature Tours strives to give guests a well-rounded Costa Rica experience by combining birding and nature, with history and culture. We will see many incredible birds (see attached listing of many birds we hope to see), as well as monkeys, sloths, frogs, snakes, and much more. We believe it is important to support local communities through ecotourism. We stay at locally owned and operated ecolodges throughout the trip, hire local guides in each region, and dine in small family owned restaurants. One of the nights we will even stay in an indigenous Bribri community and make chocolate by hand! We also visit ancient ruins that have a deep historical importance to the Costa Rican culture and are also home to a multitude of bird species and rare and elusive wildlife such as the rare and elusive Puma. Come experience the real Costa Rica, away from the big hotels and tourist destinations. We will show you the hidden gems, secret spots, and off the beaten path locations that most people never get to see.
Itinerary
Day
1 (Dec 4): Arrive at SJO and short transfer to Studio Hotel
Day
2 (Dec 5): Drive to Caribbean to Congo Bongo Ecolodge
Day
3 (Dec 6):
•
Gandoca-Manzanillo
Wildlife Refuge Jungle Birding Hike (Day)
•
Gandoca-Manzanillo
Wildlife Refuge Jungle Hike (Night)
Day
4 (Dec 7):
•
Early Morning birding in Manzanillo
•
Birding by kayak on Punta Uva River (Optional Activity)
•
ARA Project Great Green Macaw Tour
Day
5 (Dec 8): Cahuita National Park Birding (Full Day)
Day
6 (Dec 9): Depart Caribbean. Board dugout canoes (motorized) to
Bribri Indigenous Village — Overnight
•
Sixaola-Yorkin
River Tour
•
Birding along Yorkin
River and village
•
Chocolate Tour
Day
7 (Dec 10): Depart Bribri
Village. Drive to Guayabo Lodge. Birdwatching at
lunch stop and lodge
Day
8 (Dec 11):
•
Early morning bird walk on private preserve
to Aquiares River
•
Guayabo
National Monument birdwatching in ancient ruins
Day
9 (Dec 12):
•
Irazu
Volcano birding for endemic species
•
Depart Irazu.
Travel to Savegre Hotel
•
Afternoon Birding along Savegre River
Day
10 (Dec 13):
•
Early morning Quetzal Birding Tour
•
Birdwatching and trout at Miriam's
Quetzals Restaurant
•
Hummingbird watching at Batsu Garden
Day
11 (Dec 14):
•
Paramo Birding Tour for more endemic
species
•
Hummingbird Hot Spot stop along PanAm Highway
•
Birdwatching and more trout at Miriam's
Quetzals Restaurant
Day
12 (Dec 15): Drive to SJO Airport, Depart Costa
Rica
Each day includes a
morning excursion to look for birds and wildlife. After lunch everyone will be
free to either relax or go back out looking for birds in the afternoon. We are
always ready to get up really early for a pre-breakfast bird walk or an
impromptu night hike if anyone wants to get some extra exploring in. In
addition, if anyone wants to go out in the afternoon to look for birds, we will
set up awesome additional hikes and excursions.
General Trip Information
Group Size: 8 Participants
Price per person double
occupancy based on 8 participants:
$2,449.00
Single Supplement: $667.70
(Single supplement applies to
anyone staying by themselves and not sharing a room. Lodges charge more per
person for single rooms)
Cancellation Policy
Because of the short turn-around
timeframe for this trip we are asking for the full fee to confirm your
reservation. If you need to cancel we will work to find a replacement for you in an
attempt to refund your fee.
What's Included
Trip Guides
✓ Paul and Amanda will
be your professional trip guides for entire duration of the trip
Accommodations
✓ 11 Nights at hand
selected, locally owned Eco Lodges
✓ Private bedroom and
bathroom throughout trip except for 1 night at the Bri
Bri Indigenous community.
Meals
✓ 10 Full
Breakfasts
✓
8 Lunches
✓
9 Dinners
Transportation- Van and SUV
✓ On-Trip
transportation within Costa Rica
✓
Airport Pick-Up and Return
Tours
12 Guided Tours with local
professional, multilingual guides
✓ Ara Project Tour
(Green Macaw Sanctuary)
✓
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge (Day Hike)
✓
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge (Night Hike)
✓
Cahuita National Park (Full Day)
✓
Sixaola-Yorkin River Tour
✓
Chocolate Tour
✓
Guayabo Lodge Nature Preserve Tour
✓
Guayabo National Monument Tour
✓
Irazu Volcano National Park
✓
Resplendent Quetzal Bird Watching
✓
Batsu Gardens Photography and Bird Watching
✓
Paramo Tour
***All park entrance fees are
included with tours***
What's NOT included
- Airfare
- Optional
Activities
- Epic
Nature Tours Guide Gratuities
- Local
Guide Gratuities
- Meal
Gratuities
- Alcoholic
Beverages
- 1
Breakfast
- 2
Lunches
- 2
Dinners
Meal Plan
Day 1 (Dec 4)
•
Dinner
at local restaurant (INCL)
Day 2 (Dec 5)
•
Breakfast
at Studio Hotel (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Congo Bongo Ecolodge (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Congo Bongo/Take It Easy Catering (INCL)
Day 3 (Dec 6)
•
Breakfast
at Congo Bongo Ecolodge (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Soda Wachu (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Cocoloba Restaurant (INCL)
Day 4 (Dec 7)
•
Breakfast
at Congo Bongo Ecolodge (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Congo Bongo Ecolodge (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Koki Beach Bar & Grill (NOT INCL)
Day 5 (Dec 8)
•
Breakfast
at Bread & Chocolate (NOT INCL)
•
Lunch
in Cahuita (NOT INCL)
•
Dinner
at Congo Bongo Ecolodge (INCL)
Day 6 (Dec 9)
•
Breakfast
at Congo Bongo Ecolodge (INCL)
•
Lunch
in Yorkin (INCL)
•
Dinner
in Yorkin (INCL)
Day 7 (Dec 10)
•
Breakfast
in Yorkin (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Miradores Restaurant (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Guayabo Lodge (INCL)
Day 8 (Dec 11)
•
Breakfast
at Guayabo Lodge (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Guayabo Lodge (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Guayabo Lodge (INCL)
Day 9 (Dec 12)
•
Breakfast
at Guayabo Lodge (INCL)
•
Lunch
at local restaurant (NOT INCL)
•
Dinner
at Savegre Hotel (INCL)
Day 10 (Dec 13)
•
Breakfast
at Savegre
Hotel (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Miriam's Quetzals (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Savegre Hotel (INCL)
Day 11 (Dec 14)
•
Breakfast
at Savegre Hotel (INCL)
•
Lunch
at Miriam's Quetzals (INCL)
•
Dinner
at Savegre Hotel (INCL)
Day 12 (Dec 15)
•
Breakfast
at Savegre Hotel (INCL)
Special Dietary Needs
We will pass any special dietary
needs to the restaurants and lodges and will do our very best to accommodate
you. Please note that it is not always possible to accommodate these needs due
to limitations specific to the area in which we are traveling. Please plan
accordingly. If you have any dietary restrictions, please include this
information with your application so that we can notify the restaurants in
advance.
What you can expect to see…
Birds
Expect to see well over 200 different species of
birds including as many as 30 endemics.
Mammals
We typically see a wide variety of mammals
including both two-toed and three-toed sloths, three types of monkeys,
kinkajous, coatis, and much more.
Reptiles and Amphibians
In addition to being expert birders, Paul and
Amanda are excellent herpetologists. They have seen 36 different species of
reptiles and amphibians in these regions of Costa Rica. Expect eyelash vipers, red-eyed
leaf frogs, poison frogs, iguanas, and basilisks.
Things to know ahead of time…
Photography
There will be plenty of photography opportunities
throughout the trip. There are feeders at the ecolodges where we will be
staying at, as well as at several of the restaurants where we will dine. The
trails are open enough to get good shots of many different types of wildlife.
Drinking Water
It is recommended that you bring your own reusable
water bottle, canteen, or hydration pack. Filtered drinking water is available
at each ecolodge and restaurants. Bottled water can also be purchased at local
convenience and grocery stores.
Walking Terrain and Pace
Hikes throughout the trip will be mostly flat with
some moderate inclines. The terrain will vary from sandy beaches to rocky
uneven mountain trails. None of the trails are considered strenuous or
difficult. The longest hike will be approximately 5 miles on flat terrain. The
walking pace throughout the trip will be relaxed as we will be stopping to spot
and photograph birds and other wildlife.
Weather and Insects
We will be gradually traveling from the lowlands of
the Caribbean to the Cloud Forest over the duration of the trip. For the first
half of the trip you can expect temperatures during the day to be in the 80s.
As we ascend to the Volcanic and Cloud Forest regions, temperatures will be
much cooler in the mid to high 60's and 70's. It is recommended that you pack a
few warm layers and outer shell or raincoat (see Packing Guide).
Requirements for Travel to Costa Rica
Valid US Passport that expires more than 6
months away from the date of travel. Your passport must not expire before June
15, 2020. There are currently no required vaccinations to travel to Costa Rica.
However, we recommend you visit the Center for Disease Control's website and
use your own discretion.
Trip Guide Bios
Paul and Amanda Laurent are expert naturalists and birders
who have keen eyes for spotting all kinds of wildlife. They have led trips to
Costa Rica in 2018 and 2019. Both are certified outings leaders for the South
Carolina Sierra Club Chapter and have led many outings in their local area. Their
specialties include bird watching and herpetology. In addition to their nature
expertise, the husband and wife team have been exploring Costa Rica &
Central America for years and have found some of the most spectacular hidden
spots far away from big tour buses. When the two are not leading trips to Costa
Rica, you will find them leading kayak eco tours for their family's
business, Black River Outdoors, based in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
Paul is a natural
born nature tour guide who has an extensive knowledge of wildlife,
history, and culture. He has been a professional birding guide for ten years
and has a deep knowledge of Costa Rica's birds. Paul has also led several CBC
trips at past meetings. Paul has a history degree from Gettysburg College but
has always loved being outdoors. He keeps our trips entertaining with his witty
(and punny) sense of humor. Paul is not afraid to
leap out into the thick of the jungle catch a snake, frog, or spider to show
everyone. Sometimes he gets a little carried away but his excitement for nature
is contagious and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the trip.
Amanda has
an almost supernatural ability to find birds (and all other kinds of animals).
She is an experienced and very skilled birder and has been studying the birds
of Costa Rica for four years. She combines her knowledge and love of all
animals with a degree in Psychology and an MBA from Coastal Carolina
University. Amanda's goal is to provide guests with an adventurous
and organized excursion. Not to mention her remarkable ability
to keep Paul from getting sidetracked and distracted! Amanda's warm, caring
personality, and fine attention to detail, make traveling across Costa
Rica feel as easy and natural as if you were back home.
December 2019 Caribbean to Cloud Forest Trip Itinerary
December 4 - 15, 2019 (12 Days)
Day 1 (Dec 4)
We will meet you at the San Jose International Airport (SJO) with private transportation to take you to a nearby hotel away from the hustle and bustle of downtown to rest up after the flight. Once at the hotel, you will be able to relax, unwind, have a drink, have dinner, and get to know your new friends. It turns out that even the big city of San Jose has some pretty good birdwatching if you keep an eye out!
A few birds to keep an eye
out for:
white-winged dove, red-billed pigeon, band-tailed pigeon, crimson-fronted
parakeet, rufous-collared sparrow
Day 2 (Dec 5)
After Breakfast, we will pack our bags and head to the Caribbean! Once we arrive at Congo Bongo we will unpack and enjoy a delicious “tipico” local style lunch. Then we can walk a short trail through the jungle to a beautiful Caribbean beach to enjoy postcard views and the warm tropical waters. The eco lodge is set deep in the jungle and is home to a wide range of birds right around the cabins.
A few birds to keep an eye
out for: rufous-tailed
hummingbird, bronze-tailed plumeleteer, white-necked jacobin, purple-crowned fairy, long-billed hermit, common
black hawk, red-lored parrot, black-mandibled toucan, keel-billed toucan, collared aracari,
cinnamon woodpecker, lots of woodcreepers
Day 3 (Dec 6)
Today we will be joined by a professional local guide from Manzanillo for a fascinating tour of the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. We will hike from the beach, deep into the primary rainforest, looking for parrots, toucans, trogons, poison frogs, sloths, monkeys and more! Once we emerge from the jungle, we will enjoy a local Caribbean lunch with fresh caught snapper in town before returning to the eco lodge for an afternoon siesta, or a walk on the beach. After dinner we turn on our flashlights for an incredible night hike back into the same jungle we explored in daylight this morning! Night time in the rainforest is a completely different experience. You will have the opportunity to safely explore a whole new world that wakes up when the sun goes to sleep. On this hike you may be able to see nocturnal creatures including frogs, owls, bats, snakes, kinkajous (imagine an animal that is half monkey, half cat, and half teddy bear), and who knows what else!
A few birds to keep an eye out for: squirrel cuckoo, blue-headed parrot, gartered trogon, slaty-tailed trogon, chestnut-backed antbird, tawny-crested tanager, bay wren, red-capped manakin, white-colared manakin,
Day 4 (Dec 7)
We get up early for a bird walk along the edge of town. The border between the small town of Manzanillo and the rainforests that surround it are home to a huge number of birds that venture out to look for food in the local gardens. After breakfast we will head up the road for an optional kayak paddle on the Punta Uva River to look for the birds that reside along the banks (if anyone does not want to kayak there is great bird watching along the road to the river as well). Next we enjoy a traditional caribbean lunch, then in the afternoon we will hop back in the vehicles for a short ride over to the ARA Project, which is reintroducing the Great Green Macaw back to the Caribbean lowlands they once inhabited. After an hour of watching Green Macaws flying all around us, we will take a short trip north to Puerto Viejo to experience the Caribbean nightlife, visit local artisans, and have a gourmet dinner at the best restaurant in town!
A few birds to keep an eye out for: great green macaw, bat falcon, sunbittern, gray-necked wood-rail, passerini's tanager, golden-hooded tanager, 6 species of flycatchers, green kingfisher
Day 5 (Dec 8)
Today we head north to
Cahuita National Park, where we will follow our knowledgeable local guide
through the jungle to the beach to look for falcons, frigatebirds,
tiger herons, white-faced monkeys, coatis, sloths and other wildlife. This is
our longest hike (5 miles total), and the trail brings us through flooded
jungle lowlands and along the Caribbean Sea. At the end of the hike we will find
ourselves in the little town of Cahuita, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch
and have a chance to peruse the souvenir shops. After a leisurely lunch and
walk around town, we return to the eco lodge for a relaxing afternoon (or
another jungle walk if you want). Make sure to save time to pack your bags. The
next morning, we will be leaving the Caribbean to head up river for our next
adventure.
A few birds to keep an eye out for: bare-throated tiger-heron, boat-billed heron, magnificent frigatebird, northern jacana, collared forest-falcon, ringed kingfisher, amazon kingfisher, black-cheeked woodpecker, fasciated antshrike, laughing falcon
Day 6 (Dec 9)
In the Morning: We will bid a fond farewell to the Caribbean Sea, and venture inland to the indigenous Bribri village of Yorkin. First, we will arrive in the small village of Bambu, where we will meet a local Bribri guide who will take us to the village of Yorkin by way of a 30 ft dugout canoe (with an outboard motor - you don't have to paddle). We will travel up the Sixaola and Yorkin Rivers (the natural border of Costa Rica and Panama), looking for wading birds, toucans, kingfishers, and maybe even a neotropical river otter or two.
In the Afternoon: Upon reaching the village, we will make a short hike up from the River to be greeted by the local villagers. At this time, we will have a light snack as lunch is being prepared by the women in the village. After lunch you will have the opportunity take a swim in the pristine Yorkin River and maybe swim into Panama, practice native hunting skills with a bow and arrow, and lounge in a hammock to simply enjoy the peace and tranquility the village has to offer. Before dinner, we will explore a cacao farm, learn how chocolate is made, and even make some for ourselves! The Bribri were among the first humans on the planet to learn how to make chocolate, and they are still the best at it.
At Night: Our accommodations for the night will be a large, open air, multi-level round house with private bathrooms. The buildings in the village are built the same way they were built thousands of years ago. While this is the most rustic accommodation of the trip, we will have access to basic necessities including running water, fresh bed linens, and private bathrooms. Yorkin runs on solar power, so electricity is limited and there is no internet. This will allow you to disconnect from the modern world and truly become immersed in the native culture. This is a once in a lifetime kind of experience!
A few birds to keep an eye out for: snowy cotinga, amazon kingfisher, ringed kingfisher, green kingfisher, pearl kite, giant cowbird, variable seedeater
Day 7 (Dec 10)
Start your day by enjoying a fantastic, farm fresh breakfast before we return to the boats for an exhilarating ride back down the river to our vehicles for the drive to Turrialba. We will stop for lunch at a little restaurant on the side of a mountain with an amazing view and abundant birds at several feeders on the porch. Then we will check into a beautiful eco lodge bordering on a fifteen-acre wildlife reserve and with a magnificent view of the Turrialba Volcano. In the evening, we will enjoy a three-course meal at the lodge restaurant, have a drink, and reminisce about the adventure so far. The higher elevations are home to a whole new range of birds!
A few birds to keep an eye out for: blue-gray tanager, white-collared seedeater, palm tanager, groove-billed ani, long-tailed tyrant, brown jay, black-cheeked woodpecker, collared aracari
Day 8 (Dec 11)
Today we get up early, and after a gourmet cup of coffee we will enjoy a spectacular one-hour nature walk with a local guide from the lodge, through the reserve to the Aquiares River and a beautiful waterfall. The change in elevation also means a completely new variety of birds and wildlife to experience! Watch for barbets, tanagers, warblers and more. We will return to an amazing breakfast, and then we drive back in time to visit the ancient ruins of Guayabo. These are the oldest known ruins in Costa Rica, and much of it remains buried in the jungle. You will explore these ancient ruins, still shrouded in jungle, experiencing both the remarkable history and the amazing wildlife that now inhabits this ancient city. The excavations of the ruins have created several large clearings in otherwise dense rainforest, and lots of wildlife love the transition zone the archaeologists created. Afterwards, we will head down the mountain and back to the lodge for a much-earned rest and a cold drink; or a walk down to swim at the waterfall before a delicious 3 course meal.
A few birds to keep an eye out for: montezuma oropendola, green hermit, lineated woodpecker, spotted woodcreeper, black-headed tody-flycatcher
Day 9 (Dec 12)
Today we go to the Volcano!!! After breakfast we drive up the mountain to see the caldera of the Irazu volcano. Aside from the amazing views, the change in elevation gives us the chance to see a different variety of birds and wildlife as we climb the slope (including several endemic species). We will stop for lunch at a great restaurant not far from the volcano. Next we drive along the Pan American Highway up the Talamanca Mountains to the Savegre Valley, home to the little mountain town of San Gerardo de Dota. We will stay in a gorgeous eco lodge, set in a beautiful garden that is home to a remarkable variety of birds found nowhere else on Earth! An incredible number of species found in the valley are endemic to these highlands.
A few birds to keep an eye out for: volcano junco, volcano hummingbird, sooty thrush, common chlorospingus, band-tailed pigeon, scintillant hummingbird
Day 10 (Dec 13)
We are getting up early this morning, really early (but there will be gourmet coffee, don't worry), to find one of the most beautiful birds in North America - the Resplendent Quetzal. These remarkable birds are generally hard to find but the Savegre Valley is home to a sizable resident population of these rare birds. Our local birding guide knows the secret spots to find the quetzal, as well as many other stunning birds! After an amazing morning of bird watching we will drive up the valley to Miriam's Restaurant, which makes the best Rainbow Trout you'll ever have, and they have a world-famous bird feeder in the back. Next we return to the lodge where you can enjoy the spa, have a drink at the lounge, or go for a walk through the beautiful gardens and along the Savegre River. The Lodge is also home to the Batsu Garden - a photographer's dream - a beautiful garden designed to attract a wide range of birds and with an array of bird feeders so we can see these colorful creatures up close. When you tire of hummingbirds zooming all around you and tropical parakeets and tanagers perching on nearby branches, we will return to the lodge to relax and enjoy drinks and good company around the fire.
A few birds to keep an eye out for: resplendent quetzal, golden-browed chlorophonia, sulphur-winged parakeet, white-throated mountain-gem, magnificent hummingbird, acorn woodpecker, red-headed barbet, townsend's warbler, collared redstart, silver-throated tanager, sooty-capped chlorospingus
Day 11 (Dec 14)
We are going to get high this morning… really high. The mountain above the Savegre Valley is called Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death) because of how difficult it was to cross before roads and cars (no one dies here anymore). We will drive up the mountain, above the timberline, and enter the Paramo - where it is so high that not even trees can grow. At the top we will be on the third highest peak in Costa Rica. On a clear day you can enjoy a view that stretches across most of Costa Rica, from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The Paramo is home to birds found nowhere else on the planet. Next we will drive a little farther down the road to a little roadside service station that has an incredible number of hummingbirds that come to feeders set up right in front of your table. It is a great spot for a hot cup of coffee or hot cocoa to warm up. We will go back to Mirriam's for lunch (because you will really want that trout again), then we head back down the valley to relax or enjoy a walk along the Savegre River to a waterfall before dinner at the lodge.
A few birds to keep an eye out for: fiery-throated hummingbird, volcano junco, peg-billed finch, slaty flowerpiercer, melodious blackbird, yellow-bellied siskin, timberline wren
Day 12 (Dec 15)
All good things must come to an end. However today we will not say “Goodbye,” we will say, “Until next time and Pura Vida!”
Today our journey takes us down the mountain, back to San Jose, where we will catch our flights and depart this beautiful country. With us we will take lifelong memories, friendships, and a much longer life list... made on an adventure like no other.
Pura Vida!
Contact Us:
Epic Nature Tours
(931) 452-9254
Mailing:
Epic
Nature Tours
62
Byers Trail
Pawleys
Island, SC 29585