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Quetzal to Corcovado

Seven days from the quetzal's oak forests and the páramo above the treeline down to the wildest rainforest on the Pacific.

Next departure: 6–12 March 2027

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7 days · airport to airport · 6 nights · Small group · max 6 travellers · San Gerardo de Dota · Drake Bay & Corcovado

A male resplendent quetzal perched on a branch in Los Quetzales National Park, in the Talamanca highlands01 / 04

Los Quetzales National Park

Dates

Key facts

  • 6 nights
  • 3 ecosystems
  • 3 days with our naturalist guide
  • 3 small-group guided outings
  • 3 meals a day
  • max 6 travellers

The journey

The second half of our Costa Rica on Foot route, on its own. Up into the Talamanca range for the resplendent quetzal and the páramo above the treeline, then down through the Sierpe mangroves to Drake Bay and Corcovado, the richest wildlife area in the country. March and April are the heart of the quetzal's breeding season and the dry season on the Osa Peninsula.

The ecosystems

3 ecosystems, one route.

  1. 01

    Oak cloud forest

    San Gerardo de Dota · days 2–3

    The best place in the country for the quetzal; March and April are the heart of the breeding season. Moss-covered oak forests.

  2. 02

    Páramo

    Cerro Buena Vista, 3,491 m · day 3

    Páramo vegetation above the treeline and birds that live only in the Talamanca heights.

  3. 03

    Pacific primary rainforest

    Drake Bay and Corcovado · days 4–6

    The Sierpe River mangroves and Sirena Station, in the heart of Corcovado: home to tapirs, all four of the country's monkey species, scarlet macaws and peccaries.

The route

Every leg, handled.

  1. 01San Gerardo de Dota
  2. 02Cerro Buena Vista
  3. 03Drake Bay
  4. 04Corcovado

Solid lines are road transfers, dashed lines boats and dotted lines flights.

Quetzal to Corcovado — route mapSAN JOSÉSAN GERARDO DE DOTASIERPEDRAKE BAYSIRENA, DAY EXCURSION
N 8°–10° · W 83°–85°roadboatflight

Day by day

7 days, airport to airport.

  1. Day 01

    Arrival — San José

    Transfer from the airport to your lodging, a few minutes away. Rest after the flight.

    Meals
    none (arrival day)
  2. Day 02

    Up into the Talamanca

    Our guide collects you and you drive south on the Inter-American Highway, over the Cerro de la Muerte pass and down into the Savegre valley at about 2,200 m (around 3 hours with stops). An afternoon by the river among oaks and hummingbirds.

    Walking
    stops en route, valley walk
    Guiding
    our guide
    Meals
    breakfast, lunch, dinner
  3. Day 03

    The quetzal and the páramo

    Before dawn, to the quetzal's territories in the heart of the breeding season. Then across the páramo of Cerro Buena Vista at 3,491 m, above the treeline, and down through the oak forests of Los Quetzales National Park.

    Walking
    quetzal 2.5 h · páramo 3–4 h
    Guiding
    our guide
    Meals
    breakfast, picnic, dinner
  4. Day 04

    Through the mangroves to Drake Bay

    Our guide drives you to Sierpe (about 3.5 hours). A boat carries you through the Sierpe mangroves out to the Pacific and a beach landing at Drake Bay. After dark, a guided night walk looking for frogs, insects and snakes.

    Walking
    night walk 2 h
    Guiding
    our guide to Sierpe; specialist guide at night
    Meals
    breakfast, lunch, dinner
  5. Day 05

    Corcovado: Sirena Station

    An early boat to Sirena and a guided hike through the heart of Corcovado, the country's richest wildlife area, home to tapirs, monkeys, scarlet macaws and peccaries. Lunch in the park, back in the afternoon.

    Walking
    5–6 h
    Guiding
    certified guide, small group
    Meals
    breakfast, lunch, dinner
  6. Day 06

    Drake Bay birds and the flight back

    Dawn birding with a local guide and the coastal trail between beaches and forest. At midday, a short flight to San José and a transfer to your lodging.

    Walking
    birding 2 h · coastal trail 1.5 h
    Guiding
    local guide, small group
    Meals
    breakfast, lunch, dinner
  7. Day 07

    Departure

    Breakfast and your transfer to the airport.

    Meals
    breakfast

How the guiding works

Our naturalist guide travels with you for three days — from San José up into the Talamanca, the quetzal and páramo day, and down to Sierpe — with binoculars and a spotting scope, and never more than six travellers. In Drake Bay and Corcovado you're with certified local guides in small groups, which may include other visitors.

Where you stay

Six nights: San José on arrival, two in the Savegre valley, two in Drake Bay and a last night in San José.

  • Tier 1Relaxed & characterfulSimple, comfortable places chosen for their natural setting.
  • Tier 2More comfortLodges with more services and more space.
  • Tier 3Most exclusiveThe most exclusive addresses in each area.

Each traveller chooses their own tier when requesting a place, and travellers on the same departure can choose different ones: you sleep where you chose and share every guided day with the group. Whichever you choose, a private room whenever possible.

Getting around

Transport with our guide as far as Sierpe, boats through the mangroves and out to Sirena, and a short flight back to San José. Always licensed tourist transport, never public buses.

What’s included

  • Airport transfers
  • 6 nights in the tier you choose, a private room whenever possible
  • All meals from day 2 to day 6, and breakfast on day 7
  • Our naturalist guide on 3 days, with a spotting scope
  • A night walk and dawn birding in Drake Bay; the Sirena hike with a certified guide
  • Park and reserve fees in the programme
  • Transport with our guide, the Sierpe–Drake Bay boat, the boat to Sirena and the Drake Bay–San José flight
  • Binoculars and a headlamp for the whole trip
  • Support throughout your trip

Not included

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance (recommended)
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses and laundry
  • Excess baggage

The essentials

Airport to airport

We collect you at the airport and take you back at the end.

Small group

Max 6 travellers.

Where you stay

In the tier you choose.

Pricing

Priced on enquiry, depending on the tier you choose.

Dates

6–12 March 2027 · 17–23 April 2027

Enquiry only · no online payment

How booking works

  1. 01

    Request a place

    Choose your date and your lodging tier, and tell us who's travelling. No payment and no commitment.

  2. 02

    Your proposal

    We send the full programme, the price for your tier and the booking contract.

  3. 03

    Confirm

    A 50% deposit by bank transfer confirms your place and your acceptance of the contract. The balance is due 90 days before the start. You cover any bank fees on your transfers.

  4. 04

    Changed your mind?

    Within 8 business days of accepting, you can withdraw with a full refund.

Questions

The things people ask us first.

How fit do I need to be?
Expect hikes of up to 5–6 hours, altitude up to 3,491 m, heat and humidity on the Osa, and boat rides with beach landings.
Will we see a quetzal?
March and April are the heart of the breeding season, when quetzals are most active near their nests, but no sighting can be guaranteed.
What about luggage?
Pack light: the domestic flight has a strict weight limit that depends on the fare, and the boats land on the beach.
Is this part of Costa Rica on Foot?
It's the second half of that route — the Talamanca and the Osa — on its own dates, as a shorter trip. Costa Rica on Foot
Can I do it privately?
Yes, on your dates. Enquire about a private journey
Can I choose where I stay?
Yes. Every departure runs in all three lodging tiers, and each traveller chooses their own when requesting a place. The price depends on the tier.
What if a park or trail closes?
The programme runs rain or shine and is subject to change for reasons beyond our control, such as weather, rough seas or an official closure. If something can't go ahead, we replace it with an equivalent alternative.
What if I need to cancel?
Within 8 business days of accepting, you can withdraw with a full refund. After that: 91 days or more before the start, we keep 20% of the deposit and you choose between a refund of the rest and credit for a future trip; 90 to 61 days before, we keep 25% of the trip price, the rest of the deposit stays as credit and we refund any balance you've paid; 60 to 31 days before, we keep 50% of the trip price and refund any balance you've paid; 30 days or less, there's no refund, except anything our suppliers refund to us. Credit is valid for a trip starting within 12 months and can be passed to someone else. Refunds are made within 30 days. Your booking contract has the full terms.
Can I change my dates?
Up to 91 days before the start, once and free of charge; from 90 to 61 days before, once, with a change fee; within 60 days, the dates can't change and the cancellation terms apply. New dates depend on availability.
Do I need travel insurance?
It isn't required, but we strongly recommend it, with cover for cancellation and medical care.

Next departure · 6–12 March 2027

Six places. From the páramo to the Pacific.

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