xyz99

Our first trip to CR was a few years ago, and ever since we wanted to go back. We finally will, but only for 8 nights in Jan 2017.

First time we did Arenal (Lost Iguana), Manuel Antonio (Tulemar villas) and Osa (BdC). Loved them all for different reasons.

This trip we'll stay at Rancho Naturalista for 4 nights, but I'm having a very hard time deciding the 2nd place. We are looking for something different, nice view, good food, not too rustic, new birds and I think I narrowed it down to these 3:
- Rio Magnolia
- Trogon Lodge
- Savegre

Are Trogon and Savegre in the same general area? Seeing quetzals would be something new for us. The lodge and grounds at Trogon seem nicer on the web site, but TA shows a lot more birds at Savegre.

Rio Magnolia seem to have more of a relaxation vibe, with great views and food.

How to decide? I need help....

volcanogirl

We loved Savegre Hotel - a gorgeous property with a beautiful river running through it. They have a great modern bar area with a big firepit. It gets very chilly at night. I'd recommend getting a cabin with a fireplace. We had one of those little clocks that tell the temperature, and it was in the 50s in our cabin. Marino Chacon is the best guide, just really excellent and warm and personable. He helped write parts of the Birds of Costa Rica book. We saw tons of quetzals, about 10 one morning down by the road, and he took us to a nice little garden area where we saw tons more, and on a great forest hike.

xyz99

Do you think 3 days/4nights is too long at Savegre?

They say on their web site that they recommend booking tours (and guides) in advance. How extensive are their trails? Can you walk them on your own? What tours/activities did you do?

volcanogirl

I think that might be too long unless you want to do some intense birding. We had two full days if I remember correctly, and that was about right for us. Yes, you can walk the trails on your own; most everything we did was offsite though. They have hummingbird feeders set up all around the restaurants and tons of hummingbirds come all day long, so gorgeous. During the time of year that we went, the quetzals eat avocados along the road, so we spent two full mornings there. You can also walk to a waterfall, but we didn't do that. We did the morning quetzal birding, the offsite garden, the forest, and then a night hike with Marino to see owls.

xyz99

No, no intense birding...but maybe we'll keep the extra day for the waterfall and some horse riding. This is supposed to be our relaxation trip, so just being in CR, enjoying the nature and the views with a book and do nothing for a day sounds good to me
Thanks.

volcanogirl

Yes, it would be great to horseback ride there. Always nice to have relaxation time. Marino has such an eagle eye. We were out walking one day, and he asked if we had seen the kittens. When we said no, he pointed at this huge hill far in the distance, and there was a black dot there. We got out our binocs, and it was indeed kittens.

RAC

Trogon and Savegre are roughly in the same area, and are good for highland species.

Rio Magnolia has more foothills species.

One thing you could do--if you get an early enough head start--is do a mid-day birding tour somewhere along the road to Rio Magnolia, for example the Paraiso Quetzal lodge--after Rancho Naturalista.

Views at Rio Magnolia are amazing--you can see the Pacific ocean on a clear day, as the lodge is on its own small hill overlooking a valley. Food is very, very good as well.

I posted the bird lists for each location(Paraiso Quetzal, Rio Magnolia) on my 2015 trip report.

RAC

From Rio Magnolia you could also visit Los Cusingos, and pick up Lovely Cotinga, Speckled Tanager and more.

xyz99

I lost my post...so let's try again:

RAC, with fresh eyes, I re-read your TR; great info and it did not make it easier to choose.

I think that because birds in the highlands are so different and new for us, and because we're never experienced the cloud forest, we'll do San Gerardo de Dota this time. We'll save RM + Tikkivillas combination for a future trip.

Now...between Trogon (DH's choice) and Savegre (my choice)...how to pick when priorities are birding opportunities on my own and with guides, food and accommodation?

I know it's cold there in January....VG, is the fireplace a wood one? What if none of us has any experience starting a fire? City people, what can I say?

DH is not into birds, are the ground and the views good enough for him to spend some time there, while I'm out with my camera?

volcanogirl

Hi, x - I've never started a fire before in my life, total city girl here as well. They provide you with fire starter, little blocks you toss in there and set on fire. We didn't have any problems at all.

volcanogirl

Not sure about your husband, maybe check out the reviews and photos on Tripadvisor and see what you think. It is sort of a rustic place with lots of beautiful flowers blooming everywhere, mostly hydrangeas and imaptiens. It has a garden, and the gorgeous river, but birding is a pretty big focus of the entire area. I'm not sure what he would do if you're out with your camera. Like I said the bar area is great, that part is very modern, and they had games and books in there, and there's horseback riding, and probably fishing since the area is famous for trout, but most people are there for the birding and to see quetzals and hummingbirds.

xyz99

VG, thanks for the fireplace info.

Not to worry about DH, he'll be fine with a nice garden, views, a river, etc. He will probably bring his guitar, too...don't ask.
He survived for 4 very rainy days at Pico Bonito this year (and loved it actually), so he'll be fine at Sagreve. Can't wait, need to go book it now

xyz99

Darn, Savegre is fully booked on our dates. It wasn't 2 days ago...

RAC

Maybe look into Paraiso Quetzales lodge--the cabins look lovely, and it's very, very birdy. They have arrangements with local landowners that allow them to access their property to view quetzals up close, and you get Fiery-throated Hummingbirds at the restaurant.

As it's just off the highway, you're also a 1 hour away from Bosque del Tolomuco and the Mirador del Valle, which are very good spots for middle elevation species like Red-headed Barbet, Collared Trogon, etc.

volcanogirl

Oh no, that's terrible. Wow, I'm surprised they are booked up so far in advance.

xyz99

RAC,
I checked - Paraiso Quetzales lodge is fully booked, too. It even was 2 days ago....popular place

volcanogirl

Maybe check Trogon Lodge or Dantica. I think you could still probably book something with Marino even if you stayed somewhere else.

xyz99

VG, I emailed Savegre and somehow they were able to accommodate us. I'm a happy girl now

volcanogirl

Oh, yay, I love it when things work out. It's such a bummer not to get your first choice when you finally decide. That's great. Hope you like it! Marino's parents are the ones that founded the lodge - the Chacons - there are tons of them there. They have some great stories. When Marino took us on our forest hike we saw fresh puma tracks in the mud. I so wanted to see that puma! Seeing the tracks was pretty cool though.

xyz99

I'm sure we'll love it there, plus it's the first time for us in a cloud forest. Hoping for a warm and dry Jan now

Did you book your tours/activities in advance? Do they offer regular morning birding tours and/or night tours like BdC? We got spoiled there, I know...