Costa Rica has become a favorite destination for birdwatchers and general naturalists. This small democracy with a land surface approximately twice the size of Wales, one fifteenth the size of Texas, supports more than 850 bird species (of which around 600 are permanent residents) and attracts birders from throughout the world, both those knowledgeable about neotropical species, as well as those who simply wish to observe exotic species in their natural habitat during their bird watching holidays.

876 species
80 families
6 endemics
64 endemics shared with Panama
16 out of the 21 families of Central America

This large diversity is produced by Costa Rica's distinct geography, which offers an impressive variety of habitats. This geography is dominated by the presence of two coasts (Pacific and Atlantic) and by mountain chains that cover more than half of the country's surface, with elevations reaching up 3820 m. Located in the Central American Isthmus, this country contains both the Northern and Southern distribution limits of South and North American species respectively, as well as being a haven and passageway for migrants.

Birding vacations in Costa Rica are easy and fruitful for a number of reasons:

Small size of the country Political stability Impressive number of species Good infrastructure Excellent bird guides : A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF COSTA RICA by G.Stiles and A. Skutch (Cornell Univ.) and BIRDS OF COSTA RICA by Richard Garrigues and Robert Dean ( Cornell Univ.)

Two types of birding tours are available: 12 days birdwatching tour (Basic Circuit) and two 17 days birdwatching tour (Best of Costa Rica and Costa Rica endemics).

12 DAYS BIRDING TOUR: BASIC CIRCUIT.

This tour includes the following sites:

The tour prices include lodging in double rooms (a supplement if 15% is charged for single room accommodation), all meals, transportation within the country, guide and entrance fees for the national parks. These prices do not include: international flight, alcoholic drinks, personal spending, airport departure tax, tips and travel insurance (repatriation, luggage loss and flight cancellation).