From thousands of hawks in the sky, to bustling tree frogs awaiting the rain.
May is a spectacular time to visit Costa Rica, with the spring raptor migration coming to an end and the sprinklings of the rainy season beginning. All the different types of animals that call Costa Rica home come out. An ideal time to see all manner of bird, reptile, amphibian and mammal diversity. If you have a lifer list, we can promise you will add over 200+ species easily.
The Itinerary
Dates: May 3rd - 12th 2027
Price: £3800
Slots Available: 8/10
Each day will be filled with a variety of different activities from birdwatching in the early mornings to night walks in the evenings. We will have workshops throughout the trip for people to pick up new skills whilst out in the field.
What's Included:
- Accommodation
- In-country Transport
- Food (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Professional Guiding by Wildlife Biologists
- Workshops
- Reserve Entry fee's
Not Included:
- Flights
- Insurance
Make sure to let us know what specific destination expedition you are interested in on the contact form. Specify '3-12th May 2027'
Day 1 - Arrive in San Jose and depart to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, we will stay at Refugio Lapa Verde.
Day 2 - A day of bird watching and exploration at RLV, getting a chance to meet the team, with a night walk looking for owls, tree frogs & other nocturnal creatures.
Day 3 - Riverboat day in Sarapiqui, a great chance to see species like Osprey, Anhinga, Caiman and many more river species.
Day 4 - A morning on the observation tower with the RLV Ornithologists - time to see a sky full of raptors.
Day 5 - A morning in Tirimbina, before heading back to RLV for a workshop.
Day 6 - Head off to San Gerardo de Dota, with a stop at Casa Dowii for some target species - Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Buffy-crowned Wood-partridge and more.
Day 7 - A morning in the Dota Valley looking for Resplendant Quetzal & Fiery-throated hummingbirds before heading down to the Pacific Coast.
Day 8 - An early morning looking for Scarlet Macaws and monkey troops along the beach trails.
Day 9 - An early morning start as we head off into the ocean to observe pelagic birds with another partner NGO, PluMare.
Day 10 - Our last day in CR, lets see what we can find before heading back to San Jose after lunch.
Photographed by Luke Griffiths
Photographed by Luke Griffiths
Photographed by Luke Griffiths
Photographed by Luke Griffiths
Highlights
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A chance to explore different biomes; Caribbean lowland, Pacific Coast, Montane Cloud forest and more.
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A high chance of seeing some rare species such as the critically endangered Great Green Macaw, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Resplendant Quetzal and many more.
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The chance to visit and explore research bases on the frontlines of conservation. A chance to see & learn about the amazing work they are doing.
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A variety of workshops will be available, with some hands on learning in the field for those interested.
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Witness the end of the spring hawk migration, thousands of predatory birds in the sky at once. You'll even get to learn about it from the experts.
All of our expeditions are designed to ensure you get the best wildlife experience possible. We do this considering the welfare of all the animals we observe in the wild.
All expeditions led by ARK support our in-country partners, so by going on this wild tour you'll be supporting conservation efforts in Costa Rica.
Curious as to what wildlife you might see?
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You can check out the ARK Expeditions iNaturalist project, you'll be able to see what previous clients & our guides have seen in locations you'll be visiting. Just click the button below.
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If you have any species specific questions, please reach out we are more than happy to help.