Trip Leader BBC TV Presenter, Writer & Naturalist, Mike Dilger

This trip visits some of the most prolific and diverse wildlife and birdlife destinations within a two week trip to Costa Rica.  It will be led by presenter, writer and naturalist Mike Dilger, who is not only a walking encyclopaedia on natural history, but a highly inspiring and enjoyable person to spend time with.

Mike has spent extended periods in Latin America, and of Costa Rica he is particularly familiar with forests surrounding the La Selva Research Station.  This is where he spent seven weeks filming hummingbirds and some of the other 448 species of birds to be found here.  To ensure the best possible opportunities for observation, he will be accompanied by a Costa Rican expert naturalist and bird watching guide.

Costa Rica contains a huge diversity of habitats and fauna within a relatively small area.  This makes it possible for us to explore lowland rainforest both on the Pacific and Caribbean sides of its Central Highlands at the Corcovado National Park and Sarapiqui respectively.

From the Corcovado, we can also explore the Caño Island Biological Reserve which is one of the best places in Central America to see dolphins and humpback whales.  For those interested to snorkel or dive here, it is also a tremendous place to see huge shoals of fish, sharks, giant manta rays and olive ridley turtles.

From lowlands to highlands, we explore the country’s best area of cloud forests for seeing resplendent quetzals: San Gerardo de Dota.  Here we stay at 7,000 feet to take advantage of some of Costa Rica’s higher altitude flora and fauna, which in bird terms includes a high diversity of hummingbirds.

We visit two further cloud forest locations: firstly close to Poas Volcano and lastly at the private reserve of Los Angeles.  Poas volcano (2644m) is one of the most active in Latin America having erupted some 40 times since the mid 1800s.  Close to the volcano we visit the beautiful La Paz waterfall and surrounding forests which include the private La Paz gardens.  At Los Angeles we stay at the ranch of the former president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Carazón.  There are some excellent forests here which in addition to 210 species of birds and 3 out of Costa Rica’s 4 species monkeys.

In addition to altitude and geographical position, diversity in Costa Rica is also defined by the kind of environments we visit.  The Carara National Park is of particular interest to the natural history visitor because it bridges rainforest and tropical dry forest environments.  There are more than 400 species of bird to be found here of which one of the country’s largest populations of scarlet macaw is a notable sight.  We can make use of the park’s aerial walkways here to conduct exploration of the forest from within the canopy as well as at ground level.

We also explore wetland, riverine and coastal environments at Sarapiqui and the Corcovado.  The coast of the Corcovado is quite unique because along 35km of unbroken coastal rainforest, you can see marine and terrestrial species at the same time.  Offshore, we can hope to see dolphins and pelicans, and tidal inlets are a great place to see crocodiles and the odd small shark.  The beach is a particularly good place to see the Corcovado’s ubiquitous coatimundis and it is not unknown to see  tapir or capuchin monkeys here.  There are also some extensive stands of mangroves in the Corcovado which we will be able to observe on our way into and out of the park.

Click here for a draft itinerary.

Mike Dilger is fast becoming one of the UK’s best known TV naturalists , with regular appearances on the One Show, Springwatch and Radio 4 programmes such as Extreme Britain and Wild Underground.  He is currently presenting Nature’s Top 40: Britain’s Best Wildlife on the BBC 2’s Nature’s Calendar and has written the accompanying book.  Mike’s link to the Aqua-Firma goes back to days when he and director, Ralph Pannell, both worked full time for Rainforest Concern.  Mike spent most of his time in the field, including the Choco-Andean Rainforest Corridor of Ecuador where he studied moths for his thesis and became fluent in Spanish. Mike will be leading another Aqua-Firma trip to these forests and the Galapagos islands in Nov 2009.

Dates 8th – 21st March 2009 Price £1995 per person sharing excluding international flights Single supplement £299 Group size: Min 9 Max 14 Note: We can make tailor made additions to your trip to other parts of Costa Rica and Latin America if you wish, before or after this trip.  Late March starts to see the arrival of Giant Leatherback Turtles on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Panama whilst the weather during and before this trip is usually particularly good for visiting other parts of the country. International Flights   We can arrange these or you are welcome to do this yourself.  Flights are available with Aqua-Firma as follows, though alternative dates can be arranged if you wish to extend your stay before or after the trip: OUT 8th March Dep London Heathrow @ 09:40 (British Airways) Arr Miami @ 15:25 Dep Miami @ 17:30 (Taca) Arr San Salvador @ 18:15 Dep San Salvador @ 19:35 (Lacsa) Arr San Jose @ 20:55 RETURN 21st March (landing 22nd) Dep San Jose @ 06:33 (Lacsa) Arr San Salvador @ 07:45 Dep San Salvador @ 08:55 (Taca) Arr Miami @ 13:25 Dep Miami @ 18:05 (British Airways) Arr London Heathrow @ 06:20 on 22nd March Flight price: £699 inclusive of taxes Note: Fares are subject to change up to the point of booking.

Mike Dilger will be speaking at the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts British Bird Fair on 15th, 16th & 17th August.  For details click here.

Photographs kindly provided by Mike Dilger, Natalia Lizano, the La Selva Research Station, the Neotropic Foundation, ICT, Ralph Pannell

Responsible Travel  -  Bird Watching Holiday  -  Birdwatching  -  Natural History  -  Costa Rica

Carbon emissions for all flights booked through Aqua-Firma for this trip will be offset via the Rainforest4Climate programme.

Committed 
    to Nature