Avalon biologic station, Los Cusingos- Anyone visited?
 

Planning a March 2011 repeat of our last years trip (San Gerardo deDota, Copey deDota. Sarapiqui). While at Savegre(4 nights) I would like to devote 1 day to a road trip to one of the "nearby" birding sites. My questions are:

1) Has anyone visited Avalon bio. Station or Los Cusingos reserve? How was it, and what did you see? Worth the trip?

2)Does Rancho Naturalista allow non guests to tour their property(for a fee)? Anyone driven from Savegre to R.N. ? Any idea of the drive time?

3) Does Hacienda Baru reserve require a guide?

4) Any other suggestions or recommendations for great birding areas within a 2 hour drive from Savegre lodge?
Thanks!

Hacienda Baru has some areas that can be self guided. I'm not sure if you are allowed to access all of the areas on the guided tour routes, though, such as the rookery area in the mangroves. At any rate I recommend hiring one of the guides, the rates are really reasonable and their chief bird guide, Pedro, has quite the eagle eye which comes in especially handy on the rainforest birding tour.

Thanks mlgb! After looking closer at the logistics Hacienda Baru might be a little bit of a stretch coming from Savegre lodge. I think I'm going to set my sights on Los Cusingos reserve so I dont have to cross the Cerro de la Muerte in the late afternoon.

Bird pictures after!

Mucho bird pictures! I have a tour set up with Marino again, I can almost hear him now- Mira, Mira, Mira! Can't wait.