Costa Rica has caught the wife's eye for a birding trip. Welcome suggestions as to companies specializing in such. Not sure what regions of CR we want to see. Enjoyed several trips to East Africa and was delighted to see prices from initial homework much more in our favor in CR.
Thanks
Dick

We've had some good birding experiences. On the Osa, we saw a lot of interesting birds, including toucans and scarlet macaws. We saw quetzals in Monteverde. Also toucans in Arenal and a lot of cool water birds on the Cano Negro tour. There's a Garrigues and Dean field guide called Birds of Costa Rica that would be a good starting point for you. You can see which birds are in specific areas and decide what you'd like to go see.

Hi Dick,
I haven't been to Costa Rica yet. Was researching for a January trip but ended up going back to Belize for various reason. What time of year are you thinking of going? In addition to the locations volcanogirl mentioned, San Gerardo de Dota is also supposed to be very good for cloud forest birds. If you're looking specifically for a birding tour, I've seen some offered on www.costaricanbirdroute.com. Otherwise, I think most people just pick a few locations and use local guides. Transportation wise, it seems very easy to get around Costa Rica with a good network of flights, shared shuttles and private transfers. I'd be curious what you end up deciding as we're still interested in going, maybe late this year. Good luck!

We met some hard core birders at the airport; they stay at a place called Rara Avis - I think it's pretty basic but they raved about it. I think it's rather off the beaten track from the places we've gone.

Touch base with Sonia Nunez at Costa Rica Gateway - they specialize in birding tours

http://www.costaricagateway.com/

I just spent a week birding in Nov. and had her set up my hotels and transportation between the lodges. We left San Jose, went down the Inter-American to the 70km marker to spend a few hours at Paraiso del Quetzal - only place I've ever seen the fiery-throated hummingbirds. Went on to Savegre Mountain Lodge at San Gerardo de Dota for two nights - loads of birds, quetzals in the trees outside your cabin, numerous species of hummers.

From there Rancho Naturalista around 20 miles from Turrialba - numerous species of hummingbirds including the snowcap and purple crowned fairy. The bathing pools in the stream are magical - watching the hummingbirds flit in and out of the waterfalls is a sight to remember. You are assigned a private guide to accompany you at Rancho - Herman is just great!

We finished up with three nights at Selva Verde in Sarapiqui with a 1/2 day birding hike at La Selva Research Station and 1/2 day in the private reserve at SV where we saw eight great green macaws feeding in the fruit trees along with toucans, honeycreepers, flycatchers, trogons and manakins.

I chose these three lodges to vary the elevation from high cloud forest to Caribbean lowlands and to get a great diversity of species.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks colibri, volcanogir, and patty (are you the one and same patty also frequenting the Africa/Middle East forum?). Got the Garriques and Dean field guide ordered, made contact with Holly re: Costaricanbirdroute.com and checked out other companies/contact. Obviously, there are tons more info for Costa Rico than what I recall when we first began looking at East Africa, whew! Now the review process. Dick

Yes, I'm the same Patty

rsnyder, I second the recommendation for Costa Rica Gateway. Kevin Easley is the guide for this company, and he is top notch. Work with him on what type of itinerary you'd like.

Rancho Naturalista is excellent as is the La Selva area. Both have outstanding guides if you'd like to arrange your own tours with guides at each location. Marino Chacon at San Gerardo de Dota is phenomenal with the highland birds (like this better than Monteverde). On the Osa, Abraham Gallo at Bosque del Rio Tigre is fantastic. Lodging is very simple there, but the birds are plentiful and up close and personal.

You can't go wrong with Kevin's group, CR Gateway (they advertise is Birder Watchers Digest), or with some of the above places and their guides. They are all considered top birding highlights of Costa Rica.