Country: Costa Rica

Optional Tarcoles River Boat Trip

Take the optional early-afternoon boat along the Tarcoles River, concentrating on mangroves near the river mouth. The source names Mangrove Hummingbird, Panama Flycatcher, Mangrove Vireo, and Mangrove Warbler, described as a Yellow Warbler color morph, along with Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Common Black-Hawk, Amazon Kingfisher, and Double-striped Thick-knee.

Cerro Lodge Grounds, Gardens and Veranda

Spend late morning and afternoon around Cerro Lodge, where more than 200 species have been recorded on the grounds and access road. Flowering plants and veranda feeders attract Green Hermit, Green Thorntail, Green-crowned Brilliant, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Violet Sabrewing, Coppery-headed Emerald, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Blue-vented Hummingbird, Cinnamon Hummingbird, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. From the veranda, watch for common dry-forest and garden birds, with rare Yellow-billed Cotinga possible and Scarlet Macaws usually appearing at feeders behind the dining room late in the day.

White-throated Magpie-Jay Roadside Stop

Pause at a roadside site between the dry-forest morning and Cerro Lodge to look for White-throated Magpie-Jay. The source identifies this as the very southern end of the species' range, making the stop a specific geographic target within the transfer day.

Optional Caldera Mangrove Search

If timing and season allow, add a short mangrove search near Caldera for the very difficult Rufous-necked Wood-Rail. Mangrove Hummingbird is also possible in the same early-season setting.

Hotel Ara Ambigua

A Sarapiqui-area lodge near Puerto Viejo used as the overnight base for La Selva, Great Green Macaw, and Caribbean lowland birding.

Savegre Mountain Hotel

A mountain lodge in the San Gerardo de Dota valley and the preferred base for highland birding; Trogon Lodge or another valley lodge may substitute if it is booked.

Cerro Lodge

A comfortable lodge near Tarcoles and Carara with gardens, open dry forest, hummingbird feeders, a veranda, and an observation tower for Pacific lowland birding.

Hotel Aeropuerto — Alajuela

A convenient Alajuela airport hotel about five minutes from the terminal, used for arrival and the final night before international departure.

Puerto Viejo