Monteverde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been called a birders paradise. The Monteverde Cloud Forest, although hard to get to, holds some of the rarest birds on earth.
I went with my sister in December 2004 and had a BLAST. First, cloud forests are high forests that are often in clouds, as compared to rain forests which tend to get constant rain and humidity. Both have a lot of precipitation so visiting one should include a sweater, rain coat, rain hat, and of course binoculars and camera.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is located in the middle of Costa Rica, and can only be gotten to over very bumpy, pothole-ridden dirt and gravel roads. This is on purpose - the Quakers who settled here in the 50s have no desire to see giant tour busses and belching smoke in thier quiet area. Only the hearty will venture here to unlock the secrets.
You want to get to the forest early - there is a capacity cap to entry in the forest. If you get there late, you literally have to wait outside for 2 hours or more until people begin to emerge. There are many birding tours that begin at 7am and 7:30am, running for 2-3 hours. The guides use walkie-talkies to alert each other to rare sightings - howler monkeys, the quetzal bird, and more.
The walking is fairly gentle but is constant. If you go from Dec - Mar you will be in the dry season, but even so it will be raining. If you choose to go during wet season, be prepared to be drenched!
I highly recommend you sign up for low fare alerts, and when you see a Costa Rica trip come up for little money, grab it! This is a fantastic place to visit, and a real treat for birders.
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Birding Basics
Birding Tips and Photos
Birding Help Hints Tips and Information