Osa Endemics Package
$920
per person
We invite you to enjoy the bountiful Osa Endemics on this exciting travel package! Come see the best of Costa Rica Birdwatching!
Here at Drake Bay Birdwatching, we kind of have a soft spot for our Osa Endemics package. It’s the core reason we started our company. Case in point, it’s all about BIRDS! (and more)! Walter’s deep rooted enthusiasm and expertise for birdwatching makes for an exciting 5 day, 4 night journey in a biological paradise. Welcome to the Osa Peninsula.
This specific Costa Rica Birdwatching package also includes a wonderful day trip to Corcovado National Park, the crown of jewel of Costa Rica´s National Park system. Learn more about Corcovado National Park by visiting our park page here.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival to Drake Bay
- Pick up at airport or Sierpe
- Transfer to Drake Bay
- Check in
- Lunch
- 1st local guided Bird Walk
- Dinner
Day 2 – Los Planes Ranger Station – Private Reserve
- Breakfast
- Los Planes Station early birding around the area of Los Planes.
- Optional afternoon bird walk
- Dinner
Day 3 – Sirena Ranger Station
- Breakfast.
- Sirena Private Bird walk
- Free afternoon
- Dinner
Day 4 – Mangrove Birding Tour
- Breakfast
- Mangrove Tour (lunch)
- Dinner
Day 5 – Check Out/Return to San Jose
- Early birdwatching around the Hotel
- Breakfast
- Check Out
- Transfer to Sierpe or Drake Bay Airpot
OPTIONAL EXTENSION
Day 4 – Mangrove Birding Tour-Neily Rice Fields – Drive to Las Cruces
- Breakfast
- Check out from hotel
- Mangrove tour (leave with tour then drop off in Sierpe).
- Land transfer to Ciuidad Neilly -Las Cruces (Lunch in the road)
- Check in at Las Cruces
- Dinner
Day 5 – Las Cruces Biological Station
- Early birds
- Breakfast
- Trails, viewpoints and towers.
- Lunch
- Birding around San Vito
- coffee tour (optional)
DAY 6 – Check Out
- Early bird walk in Las Cruces
- Breakfast
- Check Out
- Flight or land transfer to San Jose or next place.
DETAILS
Price (per person, with 2 persons participating, staying in double rooms)
This package may have dates when it is not available.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?:
- Includes 2 Full Day Tours
- Includes 3 meals per day
- Bilingual expert local guide
- All accommodations in double rooms with private bathrooms
EXTRA COSTS:
- Personal expenses
- International and domestic flights
- Tips to local guides
** Prices are approximations made for mid-range hotels. You can upgrade to luxury accommodations for additional costs.
** Does not include transportation to Osa Peninsula. Includes ground transportation from the bus station or local airport near Palmar, Sierpe or Drake Bay. We’d be happy to arrange transportation for you either directly into Drake or Sierpe via air or sea.
** Ask about our group and children’s discount.
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Reviews
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Departure/Return Location
Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula -
Departure Time
Departures for tours leave between 5:30am and 6am -
Return Time
Approximately 2:30 PM -
Dress Code
Please see "What To Bring" Section above -
Included
AccommodationExpert GuideMealsPark Entrance FeesTelescopeTransport -
Not Included
FlashlightsFlights
From our gallery
Tour Plan
1
Day 1: Arrival To Drake Bay
Upon your arrival to Drake Bay you will meet your local birding guide that will bring you to your hotel for check-in at your accommodations. After lunch the first guided birdwalk around a local birding hotspot in town to start getting you familiarized with the local birdlife, target species here are Golden-naped Woodpecker (END)* ,Charmming Hummingbird (END)*, Spot-crowned Euphonia (END)*, Black-hooded Antshrike (END)*,Riverside Wren (END)*, Costa Rican Swif t(END)*, Scarlet Macaw, Yellow-throated Toucan, Green Honeycreeper and Bay-headed Tanager among many others. After dinner, your group will return to your room to get ready for the next day's adventure.
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Day 2: Los Planes
We begin the day with a typical Costa Rican breakfast at your designated lodging. Early morning you will go by land to the small town of Los Planes, a locality in Drake with amazing landscapes of the rainforest which surround the hills along with the rustic road that leads to this place, just 20 min by car. The community holds one of the best birding trails in the Osa Peninsula at the local Corcovado National Park station, there you can find extraordinary mixed flocks with highligthts such as Black-cheeked Ant-tanager (Endemic to C.R)*, Black and White-throated Shrike-tanager(END)***, Baird´s Trogon (END)*,Orange-collared Manakin(END)*, Black-bellied Wren(END)***, Tuquoise Cotinga (END)*, Fiery-billed Aracary (END)*, King Vulture are just some of the must see species. The exuberant rainforest in this area, private reserves, cattle fields, gardens and roadsides provide a nice variety of bird habitats waiting for you to explore around. Lunch will take place on the property, then we walk around the view point to Rio Claro.
Around 1:30 we take you back to your hotel for lunch. Get some time to relax before dinner.
3
Day 3: Sirena Ranger Station
Breakfast will be at 5am at your hotel. We depart 5:3 a.m. and return from Sirena 12p.m.
The boat ride takes around 1 hour to the Ranger Station. This is the most remote of the stations within the national park. This station is one of the best areas in Costa Rica to observe very endangered mammals, about 4 species of monkeys, peccaries, a well preserved sanctuary to observe the tapir, monster crocodiles, caimans to mention a few.
Birdlife in the area is incredible. Corcovado National Park is considered one of the top hotspot in Puntarenas based on E-Bird statistics. It boasts a wide variety of habitats like open areas, rivers, streams and long beach extensions, secondary and first growth forest, and the station's gardens and airstrip area, becoming very ideal to collect an extensive variety of species. Commonly seen from shore are birds like Ruddy Turstone, Semipalmated Plover among others, Ringed Kingfisher, Pygmy Kingfisher, Great Currassows, Crested Guans, all four species of trogons from the locality, Great Tinamu, Rufous-tailed Jacamar. Many of the regional endemics frequent the area too, and if the moment comes around, maybe spot the rare Red-throated Caracara.
Lunch in the Station
Returns 12 p.m.
4
Day 4: Mangrove Birding Tour (With Optional Extension)
As early as we can after breakfast we will take our boat to bring us deep in to the pristine and extensive Terraba-Sierpe National Wetland, the largest wetland in Costa Rica, the world-famous birding hotspot home of two of our major highlights, the Yellow-billed Cotinga (END)* and the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird (Endemic to C.R)** Mangroves Hummingbirds are considered one of the most vulnerable species found in CR due to its specific environmental requirements needed that are only found in the mangroves from the pacific slope, a habitat that is day bay day threatened due to the extensive expansion of rice fields, palm-oil plantations, and terrible fires during the driest months of the year. Also Red-footed Booby (river mouth), kingfishers, Common Potoo ,woodpeckers, Anhinga, among several other waterbirds are a delight. The afternoon
Optional Extension: In the morning guests will check out of their hotel. Once in Sierpe, we go 1 hour by land to Ciudad Neilly to explore one of the top hotspots in the country, the rice fields located next to the Hospital. Here it is possible to spot a few South American species that range is found as north as this point in Costa Rica. Key species are Savanna Hawk, Sapphire-throated Hummingbird (END***) and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture. We continue to lunch, then a transfer to Las Cruces Biological Station. Check-in accommodations. Dinner
5
Day 5: Check Out/Return To Drake Bay
Early birdwatching around the Hotel, Breakfast, Check Out and then water transfer to Sierpe or land transfer to Drake Bay airport
⦁ Breakfast
⦁ Check Out
⦁ Transfer to Sierpe or Drake Bay Airport
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Optional Day 6: Las Cruces Biological Station
Las Cruces station and San Vito are a hotspot to find middle elevation species, as well as highland species. The proximity with La Amistad National Park (PILA) provides unique opportunities to see restricted range species such as Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Scaled Pigeon, Lanced-tailed Manakin among a few more.
The day begins with an early birding around the gardens, facilities surroundings and bird-tables. After a good breakfast we will explore the trails, watchtower and botanical gardens*?
Breakfast. Then birding in the trails, watch-tower and viewpoints.
Lunch
Afternoon birding other hotspots around San Vito.
Typical Dinner
7
Optional Day 7: Check Out
DAY#7
⦁ Early birdwalk in Las Cruces
⦁ Breakfast
⦁ Check Out
⦁ Flight or land transfer to San Jose or next place.
FIRST AID / MEDICINE
Below is a suggestion for items that may be helpful during your journey. Please pack any personal medicines that you may need.- Band-aides
- Antihistamine tablets and cream for insect bites that are severely irritated.
- Antiseptic lotion or swabs
- Anti-fungal cream
- Environmentally friendly sunscreen
- Insect repellent (We prefer the natural kinds like Citronella that work great)
EQUIPMENT
- Binoculars
- Camera and lenses
- Compass
- Headlamp
- Pocket knife
- Flashlight & spare batteries
- Dry bag
- Water bottle
CLOTHING
- Lightweight pants or trousers. Trekking clothes work great
- Items that dry easily
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Sandals
- Comfortable hiking boots or shoes with good grips. Rubber boots also work great.
- Long sleeved shirt
- Activewear and rainwear / raincoat
- Several pairs of socks
- A light towel or sarong
- Swimsuit