BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:cdbec1ce5cd3a3ed2ae95617b27328e4 CATEGORIES:Central America CREATED:20170802T115453 SUMMARY:Costa Rica DESCRIPTION:
We invite you to explore Costa Rica’s scenic network of national parks an d wildlife preserves from lowland rain forest to the northernmost páramo—or tropical alpine zone—in Central America. A population of nearly 100 Scarle t Macaws inhabits Carara National Park. Carara is also the home of Baird’s Trogons, Fiery-billed Araçaris, Orange-collared Manakins, and perhaps the f inest lowland birding in the entire country. At our accommodations adjacent to Carara our groups are frequently treated to Scarlet Macaws flying overh ead to roost in the late afternoon. High on the Cordillera Talamanca the Rí o Savegre has emerged as a reliable location for the Resplendent Quetzal. P ast groups have had saturation looks of these fabulous birds, reputedly the most beautiful species in the Western Hemisphere. Aside from quetzals, at the Río Savegre we’ll also search for handsome little Flame-throated Warble rs, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatchers, and elusive Wrenthrushes (or Zeledonias) . Across the continental divide, Rancho Naturalista is located in the footh ills on the southern Caribbean slope. Overlooking the Tuis River Valley, th e lodge has earned a reputation as the best location in Costa Rica to see a Snowcap, a deep purple little hummingbird with a white crown and a white t ail. It is just one of 15 species of hummingbirds that exploit the Rancho’s feeders and lush plantings. Other birds we may encounter at Rancho Natural ista include Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, Brown-billed Scythebill, Tawny-che sted Flycatcher, White-ruffed and White-collared Manakins, and the stunning velvet black-and-crimson red Passerini’s Tanager (half of the former “Scar let-rumped Tanager” complex). While at the Rancho we’ll also enjoy the thro ngs of birds patronizing the fruit and rice feeders at sunrise. Great cooki ng combined with great birding makes the Rancho the perfect base for explor ing the bird-rich foothill zone of the Cordillera Central. Some 400 species of birds are known from La Selva field station in the lowland Caribbean ra in forest, including Great Tinamou, Great Potoo, Long-tailed Tyrant, Garter ed (Violaceous) Trogon, and the beautiful Snowy Cotinga. Many of our groups at La Selva have been rewarded with views of both King Vulture and Great G reen Macaw. At the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the “Blue-throated” subspecies of Emerald Toucanets have to compete for attention at this Quaker sanctuary with a rainbow of hummingbirds and gorgeous array of orchids and tree fern s. Including the jewels at Monteverde, past groups have seen a total of ove r 30 species of hummingbirds along this route. Mealy Parrots, Chestnut-mand ibled Toucans, Blue-crowned Motmots, and graceful ballets performed by grou ps of Swallow-tailed Kites are just a few other examples of the bird riches we can expect on our trip to this enchanting Central American democracy. A pproximately 880 species occur here, more than are found in all the United States, Canada, and Alaska combined—although little Costa Rica is only abou t the land area of two Arizona counties. Mammals we will look for include t hree kinds of monkeys, Coatis, Kinkajous, Agouti, Collared Peccaries, two d ifferent sloths, Southern River Otters, and possibly Tamandua—the Saddle-ba ck Anteater. Ungainly Iguanas are common in the lowlands and American Croco diles are almost certain near Carara. Approximately 12 percent of Costa Ric a has been dedicated to their National Park system, twice the amount protec ted in the United States. Our tour has been deliberately set during the “of f-season” for tourists, when temperatures are 10-15°F cooler than the windy dry season that corresponds to the North American spring. Many of the resi dent tropical birds will still be breeding and others will be feeding newly fledged young. Our beautiful accommodations vary from backcountry lodges a djacent to parks designed for ecology groups like ours, to modern hotels wi th full amenities.
Leaders:< /strong> Carlo s "Charlie" Gómez & John Yerger
Cost of Costa Rica includes all accommodations, all mea ls, all transportation, and all entrances beginning and ending in San José, Costa Rica—$4495.
Photo: Red-eyed Tree Frog
Photo by:&nb
sp; Rick Taylor