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Costa Rica's Raptor Spectacular
Tour Code: CRI07A 16-day wildlife holiday to Costa Rica, timed for the spectacular southward migration of raptors along its Caribbean coastline and the hatching of Green Turtles on the sandy beaches of Tortuguero National Park.
£5,995
£5,195
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
In September, as the northern summer draws to a close, millions of migrating birds stream south from their breeding grounds in the US and Canada to winter in the forests, mountains and plains of Central and South America. This annual avian flood includes countless birds of prey which hop from one thermal to the next as they travel, gradually forming larger and tighter flocks as the Central American isthmus thins to its narrowest point in Costa Rica and Panama. Here, especially along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastline near its southern border, kettles of circling raptors often number in the thousands, creating one of the most spectacular sights in the ornithological world! It has been estimated that around 3.5 million birds of prey move through during the autumn months and this exciting tour will put you beneath this river of raptors, as well as offering the opportunity to watch hatching Green Turtles in Tortuguero National Park and enjoy the birdlife in the forests around La Selva and Arenal Volcano National Park.
- Enjoy large flocks of migrating birds of prey heading south.
- Explore the Tortuguero National Park by boat & on foot.
- Look for hatching Green Turtles at night.
- Numerous colourful tanagers, trogons, toucans, hummingbirds & motmots.
- Wander the lowland rainforests of La Selva, one of the biologically richest reserves in the country.
- Small group of only 10 people.
- Led by an expert local naturalist guide.
We begin with one night in the Costa Rican capital of San José. From there we move north to spend three nights at the foot of the spectacular Arenal Volcano. The mid-elevation forests here are home to a wealth of birdlife including, amongst many others, Black-mandibled Toucan and Rufous-tailed Jacamar. Moving on, we next spend three nights at Selva Verde Lodge in the rainforests of the Caribbean lowlands, where we will look for such birds as Great Green Macaw and Rufous Motmot in the primary forests of La Selva, before taking a boat into the waterways of Tortuguero National Park for a further three nights. Here we hope to see Green Turtles hatching out of the sand and scampering down to the sea, as well as a wealth of other wildlife including Agami Heron, Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey and Mantled Howler Monkey. We end the tour with three nights in Puerto Viejo, a little way north of the Panama border, where we hope to witness Costa Rica’s annual raptor spectacular from the famous Kèköldi Observation Tower and other nearby sites. The commonest species amongst the wheeling flocks include Broad-winged and Swainson’s Hawks, Mississippi Kites and Turkey Vultures, but plenty of others pass over too. There are also numerous smaller species in the surrounding forests and coastal marshes to enjoy, before we must return to San José for our final night prior to our flight home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
All meals and accommodation are included in the tour price excluding dinner on Day 1 in San Jose. The lodges and hotels we use on this tour are comfortable (not luxurious) and located in excellent locations for birds and other wildlife. All rooms have private facilities and single accommodation is available at the supplement cost outlined on our website and brochure.
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
