With 582 bird species recorded, Turrialba looks naturally designed for birdwatchers.
Birding hotspots that have a long track record of caring for nature as well as social responsibility
Day 1: CATIE and Angostura Lake
Catie University is famous for developing sustainable agricultural and forestry practices. Our birding route includes a fascinating tropical Botanical Garden. Then transfer to the main campus where we will walk around a small lake. Birds are Great Potoo, Boat-billed Heron, Band-backed Wrens, and Plain-colored Tanager).
Angostura The lakeside road that we will explore runs for one mile between a secondary forest and a marsh/ lake. Look for: Limpkin, Snail Kite, Green Ibis, White-throated Crake, Amazon kingfisher, and Ringed Kingfisher
Day 2: Rancho Naturalista
Internationally famous birding lodge and hotspot. They are pioneers in this activity offering a great variety of habitats from mature forest and secondary growth to gardens specifically designed for birdwatching. See are Black-crested Coquette, Snowcap, Tawny-chested Flycatcher, Lovely Cotinga, White-collared Manakin and White-crowned Manakin.
Day 3: Tres Equis Farm
Is a little bit different from regular birding hikes. The five-mile-long dirt farm road covers an elevation range from 2000 to 900ft. Because of the distance, we use a car to stop at pre-identified birding stations. These include cacao plantations, lookout decks over a small lake and the forest canopy, forest in different stages of re-growth, and finally the border of the pristine Pacuare River. Species to see are Black-cappedPygmy-tyrant, Red-capped Manakin, Purple-throated Fruit crow, White-fronted Nunbird, Rufous-winged Tanager and Sulphur-rumped Tanager.
Day 4: Turrialba Volcano
Offer a surprising variety of landscapes and tremendous elevation range; i.e., 4500 to 9000 ft above sea level: Once again we will use the strategy of driving to pre-determined birding stations. Most of the bird species within this elevation range are endemics. Expected species are Volcano Hummingbird, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Prong-billed Barbet, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Resplendent Quetzal, Spangle-cheekedTanager and Golden-browed Chlorophonia.
Day 5: El Copal Biological Reserve
El Copal principally offers an immersion in forest birdwatching, but there is also a forest canopy-level balcony at the main building, a natural hummingbird garden, and secondary growth along the access road. Some of the expected species to see are Green Thorntail, Snowcap, Middle-American Leaf tosser, Brown-billed Scythbill, SpeckledTanager, Emerald Tanager, Black and yellow Tanager, Blue and gold Tanager, Yellow-eared Toucanet and Ornate Hawk-Eagle.
Where are you going to stay?
Reventazon River Mountain Ranch is the perfect place to visit. The lodge is located in San Rafael de Pavones, 20km East of Turrialba, and offers independent cabins with private bathrooms and a kitchenette on a 70-ha farm, including 45 ha of natural forest and stunning views of the Turrialba Volcano.
Birding opportunities are excellent, with more than 300 species reported from the property. The Lodge can provide a box breakfast for birders. For more information, visit their website: https://www.thelodgeatrrmr.com
Transportation
Black Cat Tours is a small local company that offers transportation all around the country using high-quality vehicles including micro-buses and 4x4 cars. The company complies with all national permits and insurance for tourism transportation.
The Birding Turrialba Package include:
Shared accommodation for six nights.
Transportation from and to the airport in San Jose as well as transportation to birding sites.
The entrance fees to private reserves.
Professional guiding.