You´re already winning just by participating!
In this contest, everyone wins, nobody loses! The best prize is living an amazing experience in a real birding paradise like Costa Rica and besides, you can help the environment donating a 3% of the total cost to the Costa Rica's Ornithologist Association (site only in Spanish), which is a non-profit organization whose main objective is to contribute to the study, research and conservation of wild birds and their habitats, helping to guide official and private policies in this field. It is also AOCR's priority to collaborate in the dissemination of knowledge about the 920 bird species of Costa Rica. In 1999 the association was declared of "public utility" by the Government of Costa Rica.
You will also recieve great surprises from our sponsors!
What is Costa Rica Birding Contest?
The Costa Rica Birding Contest is an excellent opportunity for all amateur and passionate birders to add more bird species to their lists in one of the most wonderful places in the world. The country is home to more than 900 species of birds of which about 600 species are resident and the rest migrate from North America during winter, stop in Costa Rica before continuing their journey to South America. There are about 103 endemic species in the region. The density of avifauna in a very small territory of only 51’100 km2 makes Costa Rica one of the top five countries in bird counting in the world. Some of our past groups were able to spot over 500 species in just one week!
The Costa Rica Birding Contest is organized by ARA Tours, a well-established tour operator in Costa Rica since more than 25 years. We have put together a great itinerary along the main birdwatching hotspots in the country and invite you to join one of the small groups competing against each other.
How does it work?
The Costa Rica Birding Contest takes place from September 24 to October 3, 2019, right during the great bird migration period.
Each team of maximum 6 birdwatchers will be accompanied by one of our specialist guides, who will assist you to spot and identify the highest possible amount of species. The teams will travel the same itinerary but in different order along the birding hotspots of Costa Rica and compete with each other in spotting more species of birds.
The team that achieves the highest number during this contest will be the winner.
Of course you will also enjoy great landscapes, other animals, a fantastic flora and the cuisine and culture of the “ticos”.
Upon arrival we will offer a welcome cocktail and briefing, in which we will give you all the details, rules and instructions about the contest.
You will then travel along the birding hotspots for 10 days. The last day before your departure or extension program, all the teams meet again for a Farewell Dinner during which the winner team will be defined and prizes will be awarded.
Who can participate?
Any amateur and passionate birder that wants to add more species of birds to his list and enjoy Costa Rica beautiful nature with other people of the same passion. In this contest, three different categories can participate:
- An individual traveler is a birdwatcher who comes either on it’s own or accompanied with some partners to enjoy the Costa Rican birding paradise. If you are traveling solo and don't mind sharing a room for a better price, ask for half a double room and we will try to find a partner for the tour.
-A group is composed by 4-6 members of an asociation, tour operator or travel agency who join to compete together in the contest.
-Non Contest-participating companion: family or friends traveling to Costa Rica, but not wanting to participate on the contest. They rather join an alternative program through this land.
If you are an organizer of birdwatching tours, we invite you to register your own team of maximum 6 birdwatchers and compete under your company name.
If you are a private birdwatcher, we invite you to register and we will allocate you in one of the international mixed teams.
Services provided
Included
- Bird Guide of Costa Rica.
- 1 Bottle of water per day.
- Personalized welcome at the airport.
- Transfer from the airport to the hotel in San José the first night.
- Participation in the Welcome Briefing Cocktail.
- Accommodation in a single or double room in specialized birdwatching hotels.
- Fullboard (breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks depending on the itinerary. No alcoholic drinks included)
- Entrance Fee to National Parks
- Private guide specialized in birdwatching.
- Private transportation for each team.
- Farewell dinner.
Not Included
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Optional activities.
- Professional equipment such as: telescope, binoculars and others
- Tips.
Do you want to participate?
Costa Rica Birding Contest
Online Registration Form
An individual traveler is a birdwatcher who comes either on it’s own or accompanied with some partners to enjoy the Costa Rican birding paradise. If you are traveling solo and don't mind sharing a room for a better price, ask for half a double room and we will try to find a partner for the tour.
-A group is composed by 4-6 members of an asociation, tour operator or travel agency who join to compete together in the contest.
-Non Contest-participating companion: family and/or friends traveling to Costa Rica, but not wanting to participate on the contest. They rather join an alternativ program through this land.