January 2-13, 2011 and September 15 - 26, 2010 (Hawk Migration Trip)
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Birding and Costa Rica — The Words Go Together.

Costa Rica is a birder's paradise offering a wide variety of bird species and habitats. One can find extremely colorful tropical varieties—parrots, toucans and trogons, as well as the small antbirds, woodcreepers, shoe birds and ibises. In addition, Costa Rica serves as a major migration corridor for many species that winter in South America.

While small, Costa Rica is extremely diverse ecologically, with more than a dozen life zones including 12,000 foot mountains, cloud forests, lowland rainforests, mangrove swamps, palm-lined beaches, dry tropical forests, and savannahs.

We have set up the birding trips to cover the High Mountain Habitats, a Caribbean Low Land Rain Forest, the Caribbean Foot Hills, a Tropical Dry Forest, and a Transitional Dry Forest. Costa Rica is famous for having one of the best tropical climates in the world. July is the winter or green season when we can expect beautiful sunny and clear mornings and some showers in the afternoons. January is the summer or dry season with lots of clear sunny weather. Temperatures vary little from season to season, but fluctuate more with altitude. As we will be at both sea level and higher elevations, the temperatures should be between the low 70s and high 80s F (22-30 C). In the Central Valley (San Jose area), it is spring year round — with temperatures between 72-77 F (22-25 C).

Aventuras Yemaya and Journey Weavers are pleased to share the beauty of Costa Rica with you on these birding trips. This year, in addition to our January Trip, we have added the Hawk Migration Trip (See itinerary page for separate schedules). Each fall, thousands of migrating raptors travel from North America to wintering grounds in South America through the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. More than a million raptors are counted each season.

TRIP COSTS:
$2,445 for each of these 12 day trips includes meals, double occupancy lodging, airport pick up and return, local transportation, services of an experienced guide, group excursions. Not included: airfare to and from Costa Rica, additional excursions, extended stays, accident, medical or trip cancellation insurance, snacks, alcoholic beverages, or items of a personal nature. Single supplement is $450.

Trip extensions to either Tortuguero or the Osa Peninsula will be four days each (cost $775). Both of these sites will provide excellent birding opportunities. Extension trips will include air or land transport, all meals, lodging, local transportation.

In addition to bird watching, there will be time for options such as canopy walks, rafting, and horseback riding, as well as time at the beach, or just time to relax in beautiful surroundings with good company. Reserve your space with a deposit of $350. Groups limited to 10-12 participants.