Cahuita
Located in the far southeast of Costa Rica, 42 km south of Limón, Cahuita combines an outstanding offshore reef with large areas of Caribbean coastal lowland forest. The forest behind the beaches south of the town, and the coral reef offshore, are part of Cahuita National Park.
The village was settled originally, more than a century and a half ago, by Afro-Caribbean fishermen and laborers. Most of its people today are English-speaking blacks whose culture and language set them apart from other Costa Ricans. It is a slow -paced Caribbean village, a few dirt and gravel streets with a scattering of bicycles, pedestrians and an occasional car.
In the surrounding areas there are some interesting birding spots, including species, like the White-crowned Pigeon, more associated with the Caribbean islands than with mainland Central America. Special birds include, in addition to the White-crowned Pigeons, Green Ibis, Lovely Cotinga, Canebrake Wren, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, three euphonies, and other treats.
Non-birders will also find the town attractive. Most visitors come to Cahuita not for its birds but for its miles of lovely beaches and offshore reefs.
La Selva Biological Station
The station is located 2 miles (3 km) south of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí which is 79 km from San José via Braulio Carrillo Park. (The station is contiguous with Braulio Carrillo National Park).
Half-day guided natural history (not simply birding) walks, led by bilingual guides, begin daily at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Groups are limited to abut 10 people per guide, so reserve beforehand. The station has in total some 35 km of trails.
La Selva is home to 420 bird species, including Great Green Macaw, Slaty-breasted and Great Tinamous, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Canebrake Wren, Slate-colored Grosbeak, Checker-throated Antwren, and many more. Imagine a site with a list that includes 12 species of heron, 37 raptors, 24 hummingbirds, 5 toucans, 44 tyrant flycatchers, 26 tanagers, and 11 cotingas. It is said to be one of the best places in Costa Rica to see tinamous, which have become relatively accustomed to the presence of people.
When you leave La Selva, if your turn to the right about half a mile, on the left side of the road there is a wet meadow which is excellent for seeing Gray-capped
In addition La Selva boasts 120 species of mammals, including howler, spider and white-faced monkeys, agoutis, jaguars, tapirs, 60 species of bat, 2,000 species of vascular plants, and 500 species of butterflies.
Annual rainfall is about 152 inches. 4+ inches (100 mm) fall in the dry season, February to April. La Selva weather is at its best weather in October. Elevation ranges from 115 to 492 feet (35 to 150 m) and average temperature is 75°F (24°C).
Laguna
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park, with 20,000 hectares of lowland forest, is located in the northeast part of Costa Rica’s Atlantic coast. It is usually reached by boat from Moín, a suburb of Puerto Limón. Puerto Limón is reached via the Braulio Carrillo highway to Guapiles and then the Sao Pin road to Puerto Limón. The trip from Puerto Limón to the town of Tortuguero takes about six hours.
Motorboats and canoes, which can be rented in Tortuguero, provide by far the best way to move among the streams and lagoons to bird and otherwise explore the area.
Tortuguero is one of Costa Rica's best-known parks because it is the most important nesting site for the green turtle in the western half of the Caribbean, and serves as a refuge for other turtles, such as leatherbacks, and hawksbills.
Other resident fauna include the tapir, ocelots, jaguars, collared peccaries, river otters, sloths, grisons (furry, weasel-like mammal native to Mexico, Central America, and South America), frogs, and bulldog bats (which feed on fish).