Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Costa Rica. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING COSTA RICA: U.S. citizens entering by air need a tourist card (issued by your arriving airline) and proof of U.S. citizenship. We suggest bringing a valid U.S. passport. Your passport, as a general rule, should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. Citizens of other countries may need a visa and should check their nearest Costa Rican embassy. If required by the embassy or visa-granting entity, WINGS can provide a letter for you to use regarding your participation in the tour.
COSTA RICA MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Costa Rica in the University of Texas series here. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on Costa Rica here.
HEALTH: Medical services are good. Essential medicines are available. Drinking water is purified in San José hotels and restaurants. Costa Rica is an extremely sanitary country and it is our experience that water can be consumed throughout the country without ill effect. Still, we suggest bringing a bottle (or tablets) of Pepto Bismol or some other mild anti-diarrhea medication.
The more serious health hazards — amebic dysentery, malaria and typhoid — are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mention a risk for malaria in some provinces of Costa Rica but our ground agent assures us that none of the places we visit during our tours have reported cases of the disease, and the reported cases in the country have not been of tourists. The ground agent’s position is that there are unpleasant side effects of the anti-malaria drug, while the chances of getting malaria in Costa Rica are slim. It’s better just to bring (and use liberally) a good insect repellent, and when hiking in the forest, wear light-weight long pants and light-weight long-sleeved shirts. Your best prevention is to avoid being bitten. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
PACE OF THE TOUR: This tour will not be especially rigorous for participants who are reasonably fit and in good health. All days will begin with early breakfasts, usually at 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. (at least one day will begin with a 4:30 a.m. breakfast). Early mornings beg early bedtimes – most participants opt to turn in right after dinner. On the longer travel days during which we’ll be either birding or in the vehicle all day, we may arrive at our hotel around dark, a pace that could be daunting to some not used to this. When we are at a hotel for multiple nights, there will be at least a mid-day break and optional afternoon birding; one can elect to relax at the hotel during these afternoons. There will be several optional night bird forays by foot and/or bus.
We will be at an elevation of 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) briefly one day; otherwise our birding will be below 8,000 feet (2,450 meters). Because of the elevation and the birding, we’ll walk slowly. The longest birding walks can be as long as 2 1/2 miles (4 km) round trip, but at a slow pace that will take most of the morning. At Monteverde, La Selva and Bosque del Rio Tigre the trails can be muddy, eroded and steep in short sections, and although we do not walk at a strenuous pace they can be somewhat difficult for those whose legs and feet are not in perfect shape and for those with balance problems. Good foot gear is essential, walking sticks (with wrist straps) recommended, and some find portable collapsible stools a relief during periods when we are standing in one spot looking at birds. One of our birding walks at Bosque involves wading across a shallow creek four times (quite delightful, actually), for which sturdy sandals such as Chacos or Tevas are ideal, or one can borrow rubber boots from the lodge.
CLIMATE: Costa Rica’s climate varies with altitude. Temperatures will range from the 50s in the mountains to as high as the low 90s at lower elevations (rarely above 85 on the November trip). San José, at an altitude of 3,800 ft., can be cool. Those of you arriving in the evening will want to wear a light sweater. There will probably be some rain and, at higher elevations, mist and wind. We birdwatch one day at elevations between 9,000-10,900 ft.; temperatures may be cool and mist and/or rain is possible. Some tours experience more rain than others, especially in the eastern lowlands. Note that in the warm, humid lowlands, raincoats may produce as much moisture inside as they protect you from the outside.
ACCOMMODATIONS: All but one of our lodges have private baths with hot water. Bathrooms have tubs or showers or both. Bosque del Rio Tigre, where we stay three nights, has more the feel of a jungle lodge than a resort (including birding right on the grounds): the private rooms have solid walls but open ceilings (and mosquito netting over the beds for peace of mind only – they are not really necessary), bathrooms are shared but close to the rooms, and showers (with hot water) are in a separate building right next to the main lodge.
Occasionally small lizards, amphibians or unusual insects may visit a hotel room, especially in the lower elevations.
FOOD: Food in Costa Rica is not known for being distinctive but is consistently very good and not even remotely spicy. Fresh fruit, green vegetables, and tasty main dishes are served at our hotel restaurants. A well-liked staple for breakfast is gallo pinto, a mix of rice and beans, though cereals, eggs, and fresh fruit are also available.
TRANSPORTATION: We will be traveling by comfortable, air-conditioned minibuses.
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group, if possible.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Costa Rica will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: April 2012