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Macaw Lodge

Central Pacific  >  Costa Rica

The reserve contains mature and secondary forests, rivers, small waterfalls and agroforestry productive areas, which are the habitat of over 350 bird species.

Added* by Dragan Simic
Most recent update 26 March 2024

Description

The Carara area serves as a unique convergence point for Meso-American and South-American flora and fauna. Macaw Lodge is located between the humid lowland rainforest and the high humidity pre-montane forest, and is surrounded by expanses of rural roads, pastures, mature and secondary forests, and organic farming plots.

At Macaw Lodge itself, enthusiasts have observed an impressive 358 bird species recorded so far along the 9 km / 6 mi of the reserve trail system. Some of the highlights are Scarlet Macaw and Orange-collared Manakin , together with Baird's Trogon , Black-faced Antthrush , Blue-crowned Manakin , Charming Hummingbird , Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner , Collared Forest-Falcon , Costa Rican Swift , Dot-winged Antwren (Boucard's) , Fiery-billed Aracari , Golden-crowned Spadebill , Golden-naped Woodpecker , King Vulture , Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift , Long-billed Gnatwren , Marbled Wood-Quail , Royal Flycatcher , Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher , Rufous Piha , Rufous-winged Woodpecker , Scaly-breasted Wren , Scarlet-thighed Dacnis , Stub-tailed Spadebill , Sunbittern , Uniform Crake , White-crested Coquette , White-necked Jacobin , White-tipped Sicklebill , White-whiskered Puffbird , and White-winged Becard , among many other.

Within a 30-kilometer span, visitors can explore habitats ranging from coastal mangroves to tropical dry and rain forests in the lowlands, and up to the premontane and oak forest in the Turrubares and Potentiana mountains, the sole high coastal mountain range in Central America.

A short drive away lies the entrance to Carara National Park, home to over 427 recorded species, and the nearby Tárcoles Mangroves, where 326 species have been documented. In the highlands of La Potenciana, the cloud forest hosts a recorded 224 bird species.

Serving as a central hub for day trips to these top birding hotspots, Macaw Lodge provides access to a range of experiences, from sea-level mangroves to the heights of Turrubares Mountain at 1,739 meters (2,425 feet).

Details

Access

Macaw Lodge is located in the mountains of the Costa Rican Central Pacific, two hours drive from the capital, San Jose. Zoom in on the map and click on the "P" (parking) sign by the main lodge building for directions.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Lake , Valley , River

Conditions

Hilly , Slippery

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

No

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Unpaved road , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

There are no full-time in-house bird guides, and if you want a guided walk, enquire in advance.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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Comments & Tips

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