COSTA RICA 2026

COSTA RICA JULY 2026 - Scarlet and Great-green Macaws.
On this Parrot Ecotour we have the chance to explore the Pacific coastal regions as well as the Central mountain range with its valleys and the Northern area close to the Nicaraguan border
The Macaws are usually everyone's favourite however Costa Rica has a whole lot more to offer including the best place in the world to see Brown-headed Parrots whilst having breakfast. There are several Toucans, Toucanets and Aracaris and the amazing Resplendant Quetzal amongst many other species of Parrots, Birds and other Wildlife.

In previous trips we have seen 15 out of a possible 18 Parrot species and on this trip we have chances of seeing all 18 as well as in excess of 300 bird species as well as several mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

This is an easy tour to see lots of wildlife including the Parrots.
​All the photos below have been taken on previous trips to Costa Rica by myself, Steve Brookes.

Enquiry Form

Booking form

PRICE of Parrot Ecotour.
$ per person sharing a double/twin room
​$ single supplement
DEPOSIT $1200
Balance to be paid 60 days before the start of the trip.
Includes all road transfers within Costa Rica, accommodation, meals (from dinner on 23rd November to breakfast on 7th December), water, transport including drivers, English speaking guide, and all entry fees to National Parks and private ranches. Also includes a boat trip on the Tarcoles River.
NOT included:-
International flights, insurance, drinks, souvenirs, tips, any additional activities not mentioned in the itinerary.

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrive at San Jose International Airport with a transfer to our Hotel. Depending how early we are, there may be some time to do some birding around the grounds of the Hotel and possibly see our first Parrots of the trip the Crimson fronted Conures.
Overnight in San Jose

Day 2 - San Jose to Cedrela Lodge in the Talamanca Mountains
These mountains hold a whole new range of Birds and Parrots that are different from the lowland areas that we visit during the remainder of the trip.
We will be looking for Barred Parakeets, Red-fronted Parrotlets and Sulphur-winged Conures amongst the huge amount of bird species that we can see here.
Overnight at Cedrela Lodge

Day 3 - Cedrela Lodge
Early morning looking for the Parakeets and Parrotlets here again before starting our journey down into the valley of Savegre in search of the Sulphur-winged Conure – although rare it is fairly easy to see around the apple orchards but we have to be observant and patient which can be rewarded with some stunning photos.
Late morning and through the afternoon is the best time to see the Sulphur-winged Conures but all the time we are looking for these we should see lots of bird species that we will not see in any other place  on this trip due to the different habitat.
Overnight at Cedrela Lodge

Day 4 - Another day in the Talamancan mountains.
During the day we should be able to see the Sulphur-winged Conures again as well as many more bird species.
Hummingbirds are great to see in the gardens of the lodge and we can also see the Emerald Toucanet and the Acorn Woodpecker.
Near the lodge is an area to see the much sought after Respendant Quetzal.
If you have never seen this bird before you will be amazed at the iridescent colours of the birds and in particular the Male who has some really long feathers that are attached to its back but look like long tail feathers.
In the afternoon we travel back up to the top of the valley to look out for the Barred Parakeets again. These are best seen in the early morning or late afternoon. 
Overnight at Cedrela Lodge

Day 5 - Cedrela Lodge to Esquinas Rainforest Lodge
Very early morning before breakfast we have another chance to see the Barred Parakeets followed by a transfer to explore the Golfito area and see what Parrots we have here as well as all the other birds and wildlife. One favourite is the Fiery-billed Aracari. The Brown-throated Conure can be found here as well.
Overnight at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Day 6 - A full day in the Golfito area looking for all the parrots here including Scarlet Macaws, Crimson-fronted Conures, Orange-chinned Parakeets, Brown-hooded, Blue-headed and White-crowned Parrots as well as Red-lored and Mealy Amazons not forgetting the Toucans and many more birds. This is an area where the Panamanian sub-species of the Yellow-crowned Amazon can be found. It has recently extended its range from Panama into Costa Rica along this coast. In fact so recent that it is not recognised in most of the Bird  Guide Books yet.
Overnight at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Day 7 - Esquinas to Las Cruces
Early morning looking for the Parrots again or any of the other birds.
After breakfast we start our journey towards the southern Mountains to Las Cruces to explore the rarer species of Parrots – Red-fronted Parrotlet and Barred Parakeet (both very rarely photographed in the wild). I have seen the Parrotlets on a previous trip but the photo has eluded me however I have never seen the Barred Parakeet in Costa Rica yet but after several trips to this country my guide and myself have made many enquiries as to where we will be able to see them so hopefully we will have some rare sightings and photos from this trip. 
Overnight at La Cruces Research Station

Day 8 -  Las Cruces and Wilsons Botanical Gardens are home to over 400 Bird species, 2000 Plant species, 113 Mammals, 70 species of reptiles, and much more than 1,000 species of insects including 800 species of butterflies. We are here to see as many as possible with emphasis on the Parrots, of course.
Overnight at La Cruces Research Station

Day 9 - Today we will visit Wilsons Botanical garden in search of the Red-fronted Parrotlet and Barred Parakeet also known as the Lineolated Parakeet in aviculture which has been so common in bird collections around the world – I really wonder how they even found this Parakeet in the wild in the first place. Still our search goes on.
The Brown-throated Conure is also not far from here.
Overnight at La Cruces Research Station

Day 10 - La Cruces to Villa Lapas Jungle Village
We now set off North again coming out of the mountains and onto the Pacific coastal road on our way to our next lodge. At a place called Jaco we will have the chance to see Pelicans flying close by as well as the Scarlet Macaws either along the roadside or in the village eating their favourite almonds. We also have possibilities of lots of other birds and Parrots as we make the transfer by road with lots of stops along the way. A favourite place is the Tarcoles river bridge where the huge crocodiles which can grow up to 6 metres in length.  
Overnight at Villa Lapas Jungle Village

Day 11 - Villa Lapas to Laguna del Lagarta
We have an early morning start to be on the river by day break as we are going on a boat trip to the mangroves at the mouth of the River Tarcoles where we can see Orange-fronted Conures as well as Mealy and Yellow-naped Amazons amongst a vast amount of wading and water birds. The giant crocodiles will also be on the river and we may be able to get a little closer than on the bridge. If we have time we will check out the beach at Jaco again for the Scarlet Macaws.
Mid-morning we start our transfer to Laguna del Lagarta Lodge near the Nicaraguan border stopping for lunch at the Iguana restaurant. We will also stop at several places to observe more birds as we travel including several nesting trees of Great-green Macaws. Red-lored Amazons can sometimes be seen as we make our way to the lodge.
Overnight at Laguna del Lagarta Lodge

Day 12 - Our first full day at Laguna del Lagarta lodge where we shall soon settle in to the relaxed atmosphere of this smaller lodge with close views and ideal photo opportunities of Great Green Macaws, Red lored and Mealy Amazons, White crowned Pionus, Brown hooded Parrots, Orange chinned Parakeets as well as Olive throated and Crimson fronted Conures  - most of these within 100 metres of the Lodge including the Macaws.
Many of the Parrots can be seen coming down to the feeders close to the dining room along with the many other birds including Toucans and Aracaris as well as Woodpeckers and Honeycreepers – it is so difficult to concentrate on eating your breakfast or lunch whilst all these birds are around. It is a spectacle to savour. 
Overnight at Laguna del Lagarta Lodge

Day 13 - Another full day at Laguna del Lagarta and while we are here we will also take a short walk through the forest to a clearing where there is an amazing tree with 3 Great green Macaw nests as well as a Scarlet Macaw nest and several Crimson fronted Parakeet nests - ALL IN THE ONE TREE!!
Also more close up encounters of more of the Parrots around the dining area. 
Overnight at Laguna del Lagarta Lodge

Day 14 - Early morning around the Laguna Lodge and then after breakfast we start our journey towards the city of San Jose - stopping in Sarapiqui for lunch where there is a chance of more Great-green Macaws. The last time I was in Costa Rica four Great-green Macaws landed and sat eating almonds in the tree opposite the restaurant where we were having lunch. 
Overnight in San Jose

Day 15 - We will be taken to the airport for our flights home.

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Parrots that can be seen on this trip
Great-Green Macaw - Ara ambiguus 
Scarlet Macaw - Ara macao cyanopterus
Crimson-fronted Conure - Psittacara finschi
Olive-throated Conure - Eupsittula nana astec
Orange-fronted Conure - Eupsittula canicularis
Brown-throated Conure - Eupsittula pertinax ocularis
Sulphur-winged Conure - Pyrrhura hoffmanni
Barred Parakeet  (lineolated) - Bolborhynchus lineola
Orange-chinned Parakeet - Brotogeris jugularis
Red-fronted Parrotlet - Touit costaricensis
Brown-hooded Parrot - Pyrilia haematotis
Blue-headed Parrot - Pionus menstruus rubrigularis
White-crowned Parrot - Pionus senilis
White-fronted Amazon - Amazona albifrons nana
Red-lored Amazon - Amazona autumnalis autumnalis
Red-lored Amazon - Amazona autumnalis salvini
Mealy Amazon - Amazona farinosa virenticeps
Yellow-naped Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata
Yellow-crowned Amazon - Amazona ochrocephala panamensis
Please note:-
I cannot guarantee seeing all or any of these Parrots however we will have a great guide to help us in every way possible.
We will see lots of other bird and animal species.