Hummingbirds/CR/Pacific side
 

I could spend hours reading your posts! Um..I DO actually!We will be in CR in early April and would love to discover a place where we could sit and watch the hummers feeding and bathing, etc. Very limited time in Ajajuela, then down to Dominical and further to the Osa. We only have a week.We have a few tours planned, but could devote a whole day to Hummingbirds/gardens/butterflies if it were somewhat near Dominical or upon returning to Ajajuela. Any suggestions?Remote/off the beaten path would be ideal. Thanx once again. I have used SOOO many of your tips to plan this trip! Cheri

I'm sure there are many places to watch the hummers. I know of a roadside place between La Paz Waterfall Gardens and La Selva where the Highlights Tour stops with people for a snack and to watch the hummingbirds. Actually, it may be between La Selva and the Rio Sarapiqui, can't remember for sure. But that isn't really in your area of travels.

If you were to drive from Alajuela south of San Jose to the San Gerardo de Dota area (about 1.5 hour), there is a lodge called Savegre where the hummingbirds feed on the flowers outside the restaurant all day long. It is a fascinating place, out of the way, and wonderful to visit for a couple of days. They have a fabulous birding guide named Marino Chacon (his family owns the hotel and surrounding land). There are many different species feeding here, and you would love it! The good thing about it is that you can continue on south to San Isidro, then head back west about 1.5 hour to arrive at Dominical. It would be a fantastic place for you to overnight and just enjoy the coolness of the cloud forest. The altitude is high and it is a little bit like Colorado. We loved it here!

Hi,

If you can some how manage a full day in the Alejuela area a visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens would 'fill the bill' regarding hummingbirds. Plenty of individuals and a good mix of species including Violet Saberwing which is a real beauty. There are also plenty of other birds at La Paz including many Silver-throated Tanagers - another beautiful bird.
The little place Shillmac mentioned is maybe 30 minutes or so north of La Paz, on the road to Puerto Viejo de Sarpiqui.
Hummingbird numbers have declined there [they weren't cleaning their feeders and disease killed many birds]. Still it is a great place to see many species including very close looks at Emerald Toucanet [we had one at 5 feet distance during our visit in January this year]

Cabinas Chacon, as also mentioned by Shillmac has many hummingbirds including Magnificent, Volcano, Scintillent, Mountain Gem, Green Violet-ear and sometimes Fiery-throated -and many other birds including Quetzals. It is one of my favourite places anywhere.

cheers
Jerry

Thanks for refreshing my memory, Jerry. I will always remember that little roadside stop (if not the exact location) because I held my first tarantula there! :) And there was a pretty waterfall visible across the canyon.

Isn't Savegre just the most wonderful place? I'm sure that years from now, after (God willing) lots more travel, we'll still think it one of our favorite places as well.

Shillmac,Jerry. I am jotting down all the the tips from you both! Thanx loads! I have birding books so I can refer to these beauties that were mentioned. Incredible little gems. It's frustrating because the more I read about CR, the more I want to cram our 7 days full. I think this trip will be to do a few things and enjoy them to the full,then it will be easier after THIS trip to sort out what to do on all the NEXT visits! Once we get the feel for the country and the roads and distances and so on.I surely hope we can work the hummingbird observation into THIS trip.
Many thanx!Cheri P.S. is there a way to print out these posts simply in black and white?

The largest collection of different hummers I ever saw was in Monteverde, unfortunately not on your route, but as noted, they are almost everywhere in CR. For butterflies, check out Hacienda Baru, just bit north of Dominical. They have a large enclosed area where they breed and keep them. Additionaly they have a huge garden area with a lot of space devoted to tropical hardwood trees amoung other things. Good luck and have fun!

dncee11...thanx for the tips. Hacienda Baru is probably one of the places where we will spend alot of time. I emailed them about hummingbirds and got responses from Jack Ewing with suggestions on the tours most likely to have hummingbirds. The place sounds awesome!We are staying the week up the road from there at Pacific Edge.Monteverde is on the list for our NEXT visit!From what I have been reading in these posts, CR isn't usually a one time shot! Today we got the fantastic Berndston & Berndston map and a pocket size Spanish Dictionary. This forum has been tremendous! I think our whole trip has been designed from everyones suggestions and enthusiasm about particular places and things. Can't wait! Thanx again. Cheri (-:

Cheri...when are you going to CR? It sounds like we have a very similar intinerary as we are starting in Arenal then down to Dominical and to the Osa for our last few days. We will be in Dominical April 6th through the 9th. I was interested in the information about Hacienda Baru...I have contacted them about their canopy tour which sounds less thrilling and more educational than the others in Arenal and MA (which is perfect for a weenie like me) ....I will have to check out the butterflies when we are there for the day...I have an entire perennial bed just for our butterflies and hummingbirds but they are limited here in Ohio....have a great time....Lori

blujeans -

Where did you buy the Berndston & Berndston map? I have looked in all our bookstores and amazon and have not been able to find one. I want to make sure we have the best map possible! Thank you!

You can order it online, but I am unsure of the address. Do some searching. . .

Lori, I am an Ohioan too! Dayton.
We will be down in Dominical from April 6th thru the 12th. We definitely plan to do some H Baru tours. I have read great things (here!)about the place. I garden for hummers and butterflies as well. We should be in for a thrill with the variety in CR! We have gone several places in West. .U.S and the Caribbean (birding) and I pack a tiny hummer feeder to hang wherever we stay.Works every time so far. That's my plan in CR as well. We shall see! Have a safe and wonderful trip and I'll be on the lookout for ya! btw...this is our first trip to CR ...how about you? (you can email me if you'd like)

Natalie, I got the B&B map at Barnes and Nobles. Super map!That tip came from these posts. Naturally!

Cheri.....what a small world...we live east of Columbus! This is our first trip to CR, too and have made most of my plans from the advice gathered from this board. I will have to try to find a little feeder for the hummers...that would be really great to have them right next to our room. I will look for you when we visit HB since you will be there at the same time...just look for the screaming woman on the zip line. I am bound & determined to try it although I am deathly afraid of heights! My e-mail is [email protected], Lori

Lori, you're going to love it! You'll be screaming, "Wheeeeee"!

Jerry and Shillmac mention a place "The little place Shillmac mentioned is maybe 30 minutes or so north of La Paz, on the road to Puerto Viejo de Sarpiqui." I'll be going that way anyway, is there more you can say about what it is called or how to know when you see it from the road?

paulkath,
As you are driving toward the Rio Sarapiqui region from La Paz, it is on your right. I don't remember what any signs out front may have said, and I don't recollect there being anyting notable about it that would stand out and say "stop here"! Perhaps there was a sign mentioning hummingbirds, or waterfall view, I just don't recall.

The business fronted the road, but we went inside and through to a back patio that was on the canyon side where we watched the birds at the feeders and could look across to the waterfall in the distance over to the right across the canyon. We were with Ecoscape Tours on the Highlights Tour, so I know this was a regular stop for that tour company and its little busloads of people. We were served snacks and, of course, cafe con leche. I'll do a little research and see if I can find out a bit more. . .

--
Shillmac, I, too, remember the "hummingbird stop" on the Highlights Tour. It was a wonderful few minutes that I will always remember.

The only thing I can add to recognizing the place is that, directly across the road, there was a very large bush absolutely loaded with gigantic, downward-hanging flowers the color of pumpkin blossoms. While the name is escaping me, the guide told us the plant is of the nightshade family and, when made into a tea, has hallucinogenic effects. Woohoo! ;-)

LOL--interesting landmark, Buzzer! I'll have to remember that if traveling that way again. Of course, I spend most of my time oohing and ahhing over this plant and that plant anyway! The splashes of color that are so abundant everywhere just delight me no end!