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.
The Costa Rica Birding Contest takes place from September 29th through October 9th 2020, 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.