Savegre Hotel
 

Thanks to everyone for all the help on my birding in CR thread. We've decided to go ahead and book at Savegre for three nights which will give us two full days. If you've stayed at the Savegre Hotel, how did you spend your time there? Did you do guided hikes or mostly hike on your own? Any specific recommendations for guides? And did you reserve them ahead or just book when you got there? Thanks for any guidance you can give me. We're going to get the meal plan and the fireplace based on all your input. Looking forward to our trip!

It's been five years since I've been there, but we did book our birding guide in advance. We had Melvin and he was great and so is Marino, but of course, I don't know if they are still there. The quetzals were literally on our cabin's doorstep with three in the trees outside of our front door. You can't have it any better that that!

We took a hike up the river and spent a lot of time at the hummingbird feeders. In November there were loads of green violet ears, some scintillants, volcanoes, magnificents, purple & white throated mountain gems.

You'll have a private transfer from SJO? Highly recommend on your way to Savegre stopping by Paraiso del Quetzal for a snack or breakfast/lunch and seeing the Fiery-throated hummers. Best place to see them in CR!

Thanks, colibri, I think we'll go ahead and book our guide in advance. I think shillmac said this is where she fell in love with birding. Can you swim in the river? The photos I've seen are beautiful, but it looks fairly shallow and rocky and maybe cold? Quetzals right outside our door sound heavenly. Can you remind me what Paraiso del Quetzal is - is that a restaurant? Yes, we would do a private transfer from SJO.

The water is both shallow and cold, so I don't think you'll be doing much swimming. I was there at the end of May and saw the same humming birds (at the feeders) that colibri did.

I've forgotten the name of the restaurant with the fiery throated hummers, it may well be the same as that which colibri describes. Certainly amazing to see.

I enjoyed the hikes at Savegre (higher up in the hills) and also going to the park with the waterfalls at the bottom of the road. You'll have a great time.

Paraiso Quetzales is a lodge and a restaurant.

Yes, we would love to see the waterfalls too. Is that something you would do on your own or with one of the guides? Seems like a lot of natural beauty in this area.

I remember reading about it on other threads. Thanks for reminding me. How far is Paraiso from the Savegre Hotel? Is it something we would pass on the way to the hotel?

You'll pass Paraiso Quetzal before you get to the San Gerardo de Dota turnoff. It's very well signposted and is on the right hand side of the road. https://www.paraisoquetzal.com/en/index.php

Too cold for swimming in the river at Savegre! I think we did one of the waterfalls on our birding hike, but there are others you can do on your own.

I also did the waterfall hike with a guide. I feel like I got to see more of the different habitats than I would have on my own.

I checked out some photos online and saw the people are wearing coats with hoods. Definitely not swimming weather. Thanks for the Paraiso Quetzal information.

And thanks for the waterfall info. I always like the idea of hiking with a guide. They point out so many things we would have missed on our own. I think we would really enjoy seeing the waterfalls.

Just found out it's 6 hours between Savegre and AOL - Whoa!

So did you guys see any other interesting wildlife in the area? It sounds like there are amazing birds in SGdD - did you see any mammals? I expect it gets so cool that there aren't many - is that right?

I think I only saw one coati during my weeklong stay, however my guide had very little interest in mammals. I did hear that others spotted monkeys.

Thanks, Femi - wow, I'm surprised that there would be monkeys in that area. Will be fun to see what we can find. I'll be happy if we get to see quetzals.

They have a night camera, the animals such as tapirs they have but you wouldn't likely see.

As I was coming back in to Savegre down the driveway, I passed Marino who had just seen a small cat, possibly a margay, in the roadway. So they are there, but you probably will only see birds (and trout).

I booked my half day guide in advance. There are trails on the property, you can also walk along the road/drive down into the Valley from the main highway (or drive and stop, then walk).

There is a park partway back up the highway with trails, but they were closed due to the hurricane/storm that had been through.

I checked to see if Marino is still there, and he is - yea!

m, I love night cameras. Is it set up so you can see the photos? I saw that they offer a night hike. I wonder if they ever see much. Those have been kind of hit or miss for us. A small cat would be amazing, but I'm sure hard to see. Trout, not so exciting, but fun to eat!

For the night tour they are looking mostly for owls, I think. I remember the birdwatchers went out in an open bed truck, looking for them!

If I'm remembering correctly the cameras are in a research building and I think he offered that I could look, but I didn't.


The national park that I mentioned is off the main highway not far from the turnoff, Parque Nacional Los Quetzales. I'm not sure if there is any reason to go there vs the onsite trails, I'm sure the lodge will be able to suggest if it is worthwhile doing an excursion there or if it will be similar wildlife.

Ah, that makes sense that they would go out looking for owls. Might be fun if it isn't too much $. I would love to check out those night vision cameras. The birding hike that they offer is five hours - seems like you could see a lot in that time frame. Did you guys do a private tour or a group tour? I'm leaning towards group - doesn't seem like it would be that crowded. I asked about doing a waterfall hike with a guide, and they said you just do it on your own.

I did group tours (different people assembled each time). For the most part the others were non-birders and were just out for a walk, or to see the quetzals, etc. There were anywhere from 3-6 in the groups.

The night tours lasted only a couple of hours. We spotted an owl during one of the two walks.

I don't think the number of species spotted was dependent on the length of the walks. I saw more species around the public areas of the hotels than I did on the walks. The longer walks were more about experiencing the different habitats and plant life.

The morning free hike I went on was timed to see the monkeys (squirrel and howler) and the guide also pointed out a few eyelash vipers. When they put the fruit out for the feeders in the morning, the coatis would come.

A lot of monkey spotting has to do with timing and their habitual routes.

I;m sorry I just realize I was talking about Arenal Obs Lodge, not Savegre! I didn't see any animals, just birds. And tapir tracks.