From Opus

Photo by Stanley Jones
Looking southeast from the road leading from Volcán Poás Parque Nacional. In the foreground is the small town of Poasita, and further out are the towns of Barva, San Rafael, Heredia, Santo Domingo and out view is San José. March 2007

[edit] Overview

A relatively small country in the Central America (just north of Panama) with almost 900 species of birds on the checklist. About 600 species are resident. This is a country with a relatively well developed tourist industry including some well developed bird lodges, but most of the bird life can be seen by utilizing budget options (see link near the bottom of this page).

[edit] Notable Species

51 species of the hummingbirds, 16 species of parrots (includes parakeets and macaws), 17 species of owl, toucans.

[edit] Rarities

Harpy Eagle, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Resplendent Quetzal and Scarlet Macaw

[edit] Check-list

See the links to checklists on the web, in External Links below.

Birds you can see here include:

To do

[edit] Other Wildlife

Crocodile, armadillo, jaguar, puma, three-toed sloth, kinkajou, howler monkey, capuchin monkey, coatimundi, collared peccary, bats and numerous species of snakes, lizards and frogs.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

To do

[edit] Areas of Interest

See the automatically generated article links below. Additionally, see the several relevant threads in the Birdforum Costa Rica section including one on less frequently visited sites

[edit] Access and Facilities

Costa Rica is served by two international airports with connections from North America, San Jose (the capital in the central valley) and Liberia which is located more northerly in the country. Being a relatively small country, driving around one should be able to reach most of the country from either airport.

[edit] Contact Details

To do

[edit] Gallery

Click on images to see a larger version:

Photo by Jim Crosswell View towards Volcano Turrialba overlooking some cloud forest Finca Oro, Costa Rica, January 2009	Photo by HelenB The Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica, February 2007	Photo by Stanley Jones The Poas Volcano is the largest vegetated dome in Costa Rica. It is said that these volcanoes generate their on micro climate, hence the hemispherical cloud. Viewed from La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Heredia Province, Costa Rica, March 2006	Photo by HelenB The view from the second floor balcony at Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, February 2007
Photo by HelenB Trogon Lodge in the Savegre Valley, Costa Rica, February 2007	Photo by HelenB The lodge at Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, February 2007	Photo by HelenB Gardens and guest cottage at the Volcano Lodge Hotel, near the Arenal Volcano, February 2007	Photo by HelenB A lodge with 8 rooms at the Sarapiquis Neotropical Center, built in the style of a 15th century Pre-Columbian village, Sarapiquí, Heredia, Costa Rica, February 2007

[edit] External Links

• Birdforum thread discussing Budget Birding in CR
• Lodges in Costa Rica
• Trip reports from Travelling Birder website
• Bird check-list for Costa Rica
• Bird list on Wikipedia