2 weeks in Guanacaste- December. (1 Viewer)

[djludlow]

We have been interested in visiting Costa Rica for some time . Owing to my wife’s limited mobility we have currently ruled out a group tour and booked 2 weeks on a package tour at Playa Panama, Papagayo.
We will look into car hire with a view to a few day trips at our own pace. Any suggestions appreciated as to sites within about 2 and a half hours drive.
So far Bijagua looks a good bet for Sloths and is probably one of the nearest areas for some of the rainforest birds ?
Being the first visit to Central America I can’t really fail to see new species and will bird the area near the hotel but would like to maximise the time with the hire car and would appreciate any helpful insight.

 

[TicoTyler]

Are you looking to go solo or with a guide? I can help set you up with one or two really good guides out there. Also depends what you're looking for. Las Trancas is great for migratory shorebirds but requires coordination to go there. One of the guides I know can help you there. Over in Bijagua there are several good spots. Also don't rule out Rincón de la Vieja national park although not sure how limited mobility in terms of hiking trails.

 

[djludlow]

Are you looking to go solo or with a guide? I can help set you up with one or two really good guides out there. Also depends what you're looking for. Las Trancas is great for migratory shorebirds but requires coordination to go there. One of the guides I know can help you there. Over in Bijagua there are several good spots. Also don't rule out Rincón de la Vieja national park although not sure how limited mobility in terms of hiking trails.

Thanks for the reply Tico.
We arrive 11th December and leave on 25th. We Will look to hire a car for probably a week for independent birding and general sightseeing. Mobility wise my wife walks with a stick or walking poles and is ok on a reasonable surface as long as it isn’t too steep. She can do trails of moderate length ( say 2 kilometres maximum)
A guide may be good idea for day or maybe 2 as I’m sure this would be helpful in finding more species, either for both of us or just myself.
I don’t have specific targets though have birdied the USA so have seen most of the birds occurring there, other than that most species will be new to me.
Anything is of interest really. My wife is desperate to see Sloths - which I think will be around Bijagua and I figure that will be good for a few rainforest species.
Las Trancas and Rincon de la vieja sound interesting so will look into those as possible sites to visit.

 

[TicoTyler]

Thanks for the reply Tico.
We arrive 11th December and leave on 25th. We Will look to hire a car for probably a week for independent birding and general sightseeing. Mobility wise my wife walks with a stick or walking poles and is ok on a reasonable surface as long as it isn’t too steep. She can do trails of moderate length ( say 2 kilometres maximum)
A guide may be good idea for day or maybe 2 as I’m sure this would be helpful in finding more species, either for both of us or just myself.
I don’t have specific targets though have birdied the USA so have seen most of the birds occurring there, other than that most species will be new to me.
Anything is of interest really. My wife is desperate to see Sloths - which I think will be around Bijagua and I figure that will be good for a few rainforest species.
Las Trancas and Rincon de la vieja sound interesting so will look into those as possible sites to visit.

Sloths will be easy around Bijagua and a guide should be able to find them with no problem. I will DM you two guide recommendations, both will easily net you 100 species a day. One of them just had the 2nd top result in country for the Oct 12 Global Big Day with 209 species for the day.