5 Major Benefits of Custom Birding Tours in Costa Rica
Taking a birding tour in Costa Rica is the best and easiest way to see more birds. Sign up for that tour and you don't have to worry about finding and identifying hundreds of unfamiliar bird species. No worries about finding lodging, transportation, and meals either. The main issue is finding the right tour for you; a concern that brings up some vital questions.
With so many options available, which company do you go with? Costa Rica might be a small country but there are still several tours that follow different routes. What type of tour should you take? Do you really want to take a tour with a group of people you don't know? Do your birding and travel needs differ from other people in the group?
These questions have several answers but one of the easiest solutions is taking a custom birding tour to Costa Rica. Here's why:
Watch Birds How You Want to Watch Them
Not everyone likes to watch birds the same way. Some people take it slow and easy in comfortable settings, others prefer to push themselves to see as many birds as they can, and other people would rather focus on photography. It's all good but if you bird differently than other people on the same tour, that might not work out so well.
This is why it's so important for birding tour companies to be very clear about expectations and the pace of a tour. Depending on your needs, it's also why a custom tour might be the best solution. The best custom tours start with the tour operator speaking with a client to figure out exactly how they want to watch birds, and then going from there. That way, the tour can be geared to exactly how you want to experience birds in Costa Rica (or anywhere for that matter). You won't have to worry about your birding needs clashing with others in a group because the tour is specifically designed for you.
Stay in the Best Places for You
A good custom birding tour also means that you stay in the places that work best for you. If you don't mind rustic, basic places with great birding, we know the best options. If you would rather go for more comfort and enjoy birds in the hotel garden, we know those options too.
The most important thing is making sure that everything fits for the client's birding and travel desires and needs.
Focus on Target Birds
One of the biggest benefits of a custom birding tour in Costa Rica is being able to completely focus on the birds you want to see the most. When planning a custom tour, this might be the best first question to ask because certain target birds may require staying and traveling to specific sites.
In any case, a custom tour can spend more time in the best places for those special target species. This is also the most reliable way to see very local, rare, and difficult birds like Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Black-crowned Antpitta, cotingas, tinamous, antpittas, and other species.
Not All Birding Sites Are the Same
A big part of planning a custom birding tour also includes visiting sites suited for the client. Although a birding hotspot like Rincon de la Vieja might sound exciting, there are long, hot, and strenuous walks very much unsuited and potentially hazardous for some people. Instead, we would visit an easier trail and/or check spots outside the park.
The same goes for several remote hotspots, and certain trails in other national parks and reserves. If a client has mobility issues, we plan the tour accordingly. Ditto for clients ready and willing to hike in humid rainforest, or clients who would rather photograph birds in specific situations.
In the Hands of Local Experts
Most of all, a custom birding tour's biggest benefit is the tour being arranged by local, experienced experts. A highly experienced, local agency knows the crucial details that make for a successful, fantastic birding tour. In being locally situated, they can stay up to date on the latest sightings and ins and outs at birding sites (especially sightings not published on eBird), lodging, restaurants, and everything else. This holds true for custom birding tours in every part of the world, not just in Costa Rica.
Not sure if the group tour experience is your cup of tea? Would you rather focus on owls and tinamous instead of tanagers and woodcreepers? We have done successful custom owl tours (seeing all possible species), tours to lay eyes on Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Bare-necked Umbrellabird and more. Tell us about your target birds, your ideal trip, and your bird photo dreams- we can help!
Commenti