The exquisite and diminutive Black-crested Coquette is one of many hummers we should see at Arenal Kevin Easley

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1 Costa Rica NORTHERN COSTA RICA The exquisite and diminutive Black-crested Coquette is one of many hummers we should see at Arenal Kevin Easley 2018 Wednesday 18th - Sunday 29th April (12 days) Small group tour with Mike Crewe & local guide Extended to 12 days with an itinerary designed to take advantage of British Airways nonstop flights to San José, our April tour to Northern Costa Rica features two nights amid the spectacular cloud forests of Monteverde, plus visits to the Arenal and Poas volcanoes, and the wonderful wetlands of Caño Negro. April is an excellent time to visit and this super trip offers the perfect complement to our longer Classic Costa Rica tour, with a wealth of species that will be new even to those who have birded there before. Hand-picked selection of prime birding sites in Northern Costa Rica Extra day added at Poas Volcano - with its highland bird specialities and spectacular crater lake Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Long-tailed Manakin Incredible hummingbird feeders in Monteverde and at La Paz Waterfall Garden Arenal Volcano: Ornate Hawk-eagle, Great Curassow, Crested Guan, Black-crested Coquette 3 boat trips at Caño Negro - Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron, the localised Nicaraguan Grackle Small group tour - maximum of 10 participants Expertly led by Limosa's Mike Crewe and our resident Costa Rican bird guide Herman Venegas What's Included? Limosa Tour Leader Expert English-speaking Costa Rican bird guide Return flights - London Gatwick to San José (Costa Rica), nonstop with British Airways 10 nights accommodation at comfortable hotels and lodges in Costa Rica All main meals included - with drinking water provided during the day Travel by comfortable Toyota Coaster bus with experienced local driver Three great boat trips in the Caño Negro area All excursions, permits, entry fees, tour based tips (inc. lodges, driver, local guides) and taxes LIMOSA HOLIDAYS, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Outline Itinerary Day 1: Days 2-3: Days 4-6: Days 7-8: We fly nonstop London-San José. Night Trapp Family Country Inn, San José (elevation 650m) Guanacaste birding & Monteverde cloud forests. Trapp Family Lodge, Monteverde (2 nts, 1450m) Caribbean foothills of the Arenal Volcano including the unique Arenal Hanging Bridges. Arenal Observatory Lodge (3 nts, 730m) Caño Negro wetlands, including three rewarding boat trips. Caño Negro Natural Lodge (2 nts, 30m) Days 9-10: We explore patches of forest at Caño Negro, then lunch enjoying the hummingbird bonanza at La Paz Waterfall Garden on our way to the Poas Volcano (2700m). Poas Volcano Lodge (2 nts, 1850m) Day 11: Day 12: Tour Overview Birding around the lodge and return to San José. Fly British Airways nonstop San José to London Arrival London Gatwick This superb April tour - extended in 2018, both to take advantage of British Airways nonstop flights from London to San José and to allow for an extra night's stay at the superb Poas Volcano Lodge - is designed not only for birders coming to Costa Rica for the first time, but also for those who may have already been to Costa Rica before and keen to discover other new and exciting areas this species-rich destination has to offer. Our fresh new itinerary focuses on the northern part of Costa Rica, taking in an excellent variety of habitats along the way to guarantee a truly amazing variety of birds - including plenty that will be new to birders who may already have taken Limosa's longer Classic Costa Rica tour. For 2018, we include a third boat trip at Caño Negro and spend our final two nights in Costa Rica at wonderful Poas Volcano Lodge for the perfect finale - it's a remarkable spot for birding, yet only an hour's drive from the capital, San José. We begin by contrasting the dry Guanacaste along Costa's Rica's Pacific coast with the lush cloud forests of Monteverde, at an elevation of 1525m (5000ft); move on from there to explore the Caribbean foothill rainforest surrounding the impressive Arenal Volcano and the bird-rich Caribbean lowland wetlands and forest patches of Caño Negro; and conclude our birding with a visit to the highland forests of Poas Volcano National Park, at nearly 2700m (9000ft). From the moment we first step out into the garden of our San José hotel, we can expect to see a mind-boggling array of tropical treats - everything from motmots, trogons and toucanets to tantalising tyrannulets, spinetails and exotic tanagers. Blue-throated Toucanet, Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black-bellied and Fiery-throated Hummingbirds, Long-tailed and Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatchers, Longtailed Manakin, Spangle-cheeked Tanager and Large-footed Finch are just some of the magical rainforest names to conjure with. The splendid Caño Negro wetlands offer both a change of scenery and birds, bringing a host of specialities that includes Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron, Pinnated Bittern, Black-and-white Owl, Great and Common Potoos, Nicaraguan Seed- Finch and the localised Nicaraguan Grackle. During our travels, we might also be lucky to find some of Costa Rica s rarer residents, such as Chiriqui Quail-dove and Keel-billed Motmot. Among many special highlights, our Northern Costa Rica tour features visits to two remarkable hummingbird galleries - at Monteverde and La Paz Waterfall Garden; includes three terrific boat rides at Caño Negro; and explores trails near the Arenal Hanging Bridges which pass through an area of steep ravines and primary rainforest that offers a great opportunity for viewing forest specialities in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano. While more distant viewing is necessary here for the volcano itself, our final port of call, the dormant Poas Volcano above San José, promises a mix of great birding and spectacular views of the crater lake on top. With brilliant birding further enhanced by our expert English-speaking Costa Rican bird guide, info@limosaholidays.co.uk

3 comfortable transport with a safe and dedicated driver, delicious food and good accommodation, this April tour offers a fantastic introduction to the birds of Costa Rica - including a host of localised specialities. Limosa has been operating bird tours to Costa Rica since Guide Mike Crewe led our April 2017 tour to Northern Costa Rica and this year's trip will be his fifth visit to Costa Rica. Daily Itinerary Day 1 FLY LONDON NONSTOP TO SAN JOSÉ Our April birdwatching tour to Costa Rica begins with a morning departure from London Gatwick on British Airways nonstop service to Costa Rica. We ll be met on arrival in San José this afternoon and transfer the short distance to our comfortable hotel nearby. The Trapp Family Country Inn is a tropical oasis located just one mile from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (near Alajuela), in Costa Rica s beautiful Central Valley. This colonial style hotel is surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens and the perfect place to begin our tour. Night Trapp Family Country Inn, San José Day 2 GUANACASTE COAST & HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS AT MONTEVERDE The gardens of our San José hotel will provide early risers with an exciting start to the tour as we get to grips with some of Costa Rica's more familiar birds. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Red-billed Pigeon, Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Clay-coloured Thrush and Blue-grey Tanager are among possible treats in store! Our route to the lush cloud forests of Monteverde will take us through a very different environment: the dry Guanacaste, along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. Within an hour of our departure from the hotel we will find ourselves birding this unique habitat in search of Doublestriped Thick-Knee, Turquoise-browed Motmot, White-throated Magpie-jay, Banded Wren, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Scrub Euphonia and many more. A stop at Caldera Bay should produce menacing Magnificent Frigatebirds and the big Brown Pelican. The nearby salt pans hold an assortment of terns, gulls and waders such as Willet, Stilt and Pectoral Sandpipers, Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers and Black Skimmer. As the temperature starts to rise, so shall we - in altitude that is! - as we make our way up the winding and very scenic mountain road to the cool climes surrounding Monteverde. In the afternoon we will visit the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery, where no fewer than seven species of these beautiful winged jewels can be studied at close range. Specialities here include the lovely Magenta-throated Woodstar, the endemic Coppery-headed Emerald, the enormous (... for a hummingbird!) Violet Sabrewing and the vibrant Purple-throated Mountaingem. Our destination for this and the following night is a new timber lodge enjoying views over the gardens to the cloud forest beyond. Night Trapp Family Lodge, Monteverde Day 3 CLOUD FORESTS OF MONTEVERDE An early visit to the nearby entrance of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve will always produce something of interest. Resplendent Quetzals feeding in a fruiting tree; Goldenbellied Flycatchers picking off insects at the night light; or Blue-throated Toucanets working on a nest hole are just a few of the possibilities. After breakfast, we head to Curi Cancha Reserve, where we have another chance to see Resplendent Quetzal. Once inside the forests here we will be on the lookout for many species of furnariids (or ovenbirds), which are well represented here. Possibilities include Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Barbtail, Lineated Foliagegleaner, Streak-breasted Treehunter and the elusive Grey-throated Leaftosser... you have to love those names! Mixed species flocks moving through the forest canopy and undergrowth may contain Spotted and Olivaceous Woodcreepers, info@limosaholidays.co.uk

4 Yellowish Flycatcher, Ochraceous Wren, Greybreasted Wood-wren and Black-eared Warbler. We might also find Prong-billed Barbet, Goldenbrowed Chlorophonia and the spritely Slatethroated Whitestart, too. Elusive skulkers to watch for on the forest floor include Highland Tinamou and Buff-fronted Quail-dove, while the handsome Azure-hooded Jay lurks in the canopy. And there are some fascinating forest mammals, with chances of White-throated Capuchin, Central American Agouti and Hoffman's and Brown-throated Sloths. As night falls over Monteverde's forests, we return for another delicious dinner at our lodge - and an option afterwards to search for Mottled Owl and Bare-shanked Screech Owl; both are resident here. Nights at Trapp Family Lodge, Monteverde Day 4 THE TOLLING OF THE BELLBIRD & TRANSFER TO ARENAL VOLCANO One key species we hope to see this morning is the amazing Three-wattled Bellbird. They are easily heard throughout the Monteverde area at this time of year and, with patience, we may enjoy views of a displaying male with its three characteristic worm-like extensions dangling at the base of its beak. Other species to look for in the Bellbird reserve include the shy Chiriqui Quail-dove, Lesson's Motmot, Long-tailed Manakin, Rufous-and-white Wren, White-eared Ground Sparrow and Elegant Euphonia. After lunch in Monteverde, we will transfer to our next exciting destination: Arenal. Soon, the pastures and farms along the route give way to a beautiful lush rainforest encircling the base of this impressive cinder cone volcano. As we make our way into new habitats, new birds will likely come thick and fast! By late afternoon we will have arrived at our beautiful home for the next three nights. Perched high on a ridge less than two miles from the Arenal Volcano, our lodge here offers stunning views of both the cinder cone and Arenal Lake. Night Arenal Observatory Lodge Days 5-6 THE ARENAL VOLCANO AREA The Caribbean foothills of the Arenal Volcano are indeed spectacular and with two full days here we will be able to explore them thoroughly. The gardens, woodland edge and forest trails of the Arenal Observatory Lodge are not only beautiful but provide excellent birding opportunities. Hummingbirds are abundant amongst the vervain flowers. Stripe-throated Hermit, Crowned Woodnymph, Brown Violetear, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Violetheaded Hummingbird and the enchanting Blackcrested Coquette are typical species to watch for. Around the edge of the garden and along Arenal's forest trails, we will endeavour to entice out 'skulkers' such as Thicket Antpitta, Spotted Antbird and no fewer than nine species of wren, including Song, Northern Nightingale, Blackthroated and Stripe-breasted, as well as the attractive White-breasted Wood Wren. The fruit feeding station near the restaurant is a gathering place for our group... and for good reason! A fruit salad of watermelon, papaya and bananas put out by the lodge staff attracts a fabulous variety of colourful birds. Here, the blues of Red-legged Honeycreepers and Goldenhooded Tanagers mix with the greens of Green Honeycreepers, yellow of Yellow-throated Euphonia, reds and blacks of Passerini s and Crimson-collared Tanagers, and chestnut of Montezuma Oropendolas... to dazzling effect! Scraps that fall beneath the feeders attract engaging White-nosed Coatis, along with foraging Black-striped Sparrows and even the occasional Great Curassow. While all this is going on, we will enjoy our own breakfast in sight of the feeders. Birding beside picturesque Lake Arenal is equally rewarding. Every stop is likely to produce new and interesting species. This is a superb area for Crested Guan and Grey-headed Chachalaca, while toucans are well represented with Keel-billed and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, Collared Aracari and occasionally even the rare Yellow-eared Toucanet. We ll also watch for three species of motmot: the big Rufous, Broad-billed and the rare Keel-billed Motmot. No less than four species of antshrike info@limosaholidays.co.uk

5 occur here, too: Russet, Great, Fasciated and Barred, while two more crowd pleasers - Rufous-tailed Jacamar and Long-tailed Tyrant - can often be seen hunting for insects beside the road. In the vine tangles we will search for Long-billed Gnatwren and Yellow-billed Cacique, while the grassy bits hide Whitethroated Crake, Slaty Spinetail, both Olivecrowned and Grey-crowned Yellowthroats, and up to five species of seedeaters. Some very interesting raptors could also be seen overhead and possibilities include the beautiful White Hawk and Ornate Hawk-eagle. Costa Rica s forest mammals are often tricky to find, but we could see three species of monkey at Arenal: Mantled Howler, Central American Spider Monkey and White-throated Capuchin. Two-toed (or Brown-throated) Sloths are also present in the trees - though not always easy to spot as they are not quite so active! On our second morning at Observatory Lodge we explore trails near the Arenal Hanging Bridges, which pass through an area of steep ravines and primary rainforest that offers a great opportunity for viewing specialist forest species. Mixed feeding flocks in this area can carry with them an array of local specialities, with such treats as White-ruffed Manakin, Tawny-capped Euphonia and Emerald Tanager to check for amidst more numerous flock components such as Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Spotted Woodcreeper and White-shouldered, Bayheaded and Speckled Tanagers. Whilst working Arenal s trails we will keep watch for undergrowth skulkers such as Dullmantled Antbird, Black-headed Nightingalethrush and several of the aforementioned wrens. A real coup would be to encounter an army ant swarm with its attendant Spotted, Bicolored and Ocellated Antbirds! Just walking through the forest is reason enough to visit this marvellous site, but the potential for finding such seldom seen species should make this a truly unforgettable morning of birding. All in all, our three-night stay in Arenal should prove to be very special, packed with dramatic scenery, good food... and plenty of great birds! Nights Arenal Observatory Lodge Day 7 LA FORTUNA, LOS CHILES BOAT TRIP & CAÑO NEGRO After savouring a final early morning near the Observatory Lodge, we travel to nearby La Fortuna to visit a reserve on the edge of town. Banana feeders attract a multitude of colourful tropical species making it an excellent spot to photograph them at close range. Goodies within this small private reserve include the diminutive (for a woodpecker) Olivaceous Piculet, Slaty Spinetail and the localised Uniform Crake along with the sometimes more confiding Whitethroated Crake and Rufous-naped Wood Rail. Following lunch we bid farewell to the Arenal area and travel to the far north-central sector of Costa Rica - and the wetlands of Caño Negro. Late afternoon will find us enjoying a boat trip on a canal near Los Chiles. This new addition for birders has proved to be a gold mine for a number of localized specialities including Pinnated Bittern, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Plain-breasted Ground Dove, Nicaraguan Seedfinch, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater and the rare Nicaraguan Grackle to name but a few. Crakes are well represented here so we'll keep alert for these denizens of the wet edges. Our destination for dinner this evening is Caño Negro, where we will spend two nights at the comfortable and air-conditioned Natural Lodge. Night Natural Lodge, Caño Negro Day 8 CAÑO NEGRO BOAT TRIPS A major highlight of this area for visiting birders is the opportunity to enjoy some excellent boat trips along the Caño Negro waterways. Birds are plentiful and the Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge is home to a fine array of speciality birds. This area is the only regular site in Costa Rica for Black-collared Hawk, Grey-headed Dove and Spot-breasted Wren. But perhaps the most notable species here is the Nicaraguan Grackle, a species whose range is restricted to only three lakes and surrounding wetlands - two in Nicaragua, and here in the Caño Negro region of Costa Rica. Even here, the grackle is present only as a breeding visitor from Nicaragua - but April represents the heart of the nesting season, info@limosaholidays.co.uk

6 so we should have little difficulty finding this localised speciality on our boat trips in the area. During the morning trip, we will be keeping a keen eye open for the strange Boat-billed Heron hiding in trees at their day roosts. Other possible highlights may include the pied-footed Sungrebe swimming near trees overhanging the water, the enormous Jabiru, Mangrove Cuckoo and an abundance of kingfishers. Spectacled Caiman are common. If conditions allow, we may go ashore to investigate wooded bluffs alongside the river - Lineated, Black-cheeked and Hoffmann's Woodpeckers, Olivaceous Piculet and Northern Royal Flycatcher are possible. After lunch and a welcome siesta back at the lodge, we will take a second boat trip along a different section of the Caño Negro, providing more sightings and photographic opportunities in this bird-rich environment. Returning to shore, we have a chance to check for Great Potoo not far from the lodge. Night Natural Lodge, Caño Negro [Please note that operation of the above boat trips is dependent on water levels and river access at the time of our visit.] Day 9 CAÑO NEGRO TO LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & POAS VOLCANO LODGE We depart Caño Negro after breakfast and bird our way back to the main road. This can be a good stretch for raptors with Black-collared Hawk, Bat and Laughing Falcons, and Harris's Hawk seen last time. We travel on to La Paz Waterfall Garden, where a buffet lunch fit for a king awaits us! After lunch we will concentrate on the variety of hummingbird species that attend the garden s feeders, enjoying the ceaseless comings and goings of Green Hermit, Green Thorntail, Violet Sabrewing, Purple-throated Mountaingem and Black-bellied Hummingbird to name but a few. There are plenty of other birds in the area, too - from Silver-throated and Crimson-collared Tanagers to Sooty-faced Finches and Blackcowled Orioles. Along the forest trails we may well run into roving feeding flocks that can hold Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Barbtail, Spotted Woodcreeper, Slaty-backed Nightingale-thrush and gorgeous Bay-headed and Spangled-cheeked Tanagers among many others. From La Paz, we continue the short distance to reach Poas Volcano Lodge, where we spend two nights. Set at an elevation of 1850m (6000ft), it will be quite cool here this evening. Night at Poas Volcano Lodge Day 10 POAS VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK After a good breakfast at the lodge, we set off for the nearby Poas Volcano National Park, just 25 minutes drive from our lodge. This being our first visit to the highlands, new species will come with relative ease. Poas also gives us another opportunity to look for what many birders consider the most beautiful bird in the New World: the Resplendent Quetzal. Other highlights in this wonderful oak-dominated highland forest might include Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Long-tailed and Black-andyellow Silky-flycatchers, Sooty Thrush, Blackbilled Nightingale-thrush, Yellow-winged Vireo, Black-cheeked Warbler, Sooty-capped Bush Tanager, Large-footed Finch, Black-thighed Grosbeak... and perhaps even a rarity such as Zeledonia (or Wrenthrush). Situated at an elevation of 2700m (8858ft), the impressive crater lake of the Poas Volcano is another must see today, with its turquoise and green waters and sulphurous fumaroles. We will take the trail to the overlook to witness this amazing natural spectacle. Night Poas Volcano Lodge Day 11 RETURN TO SAN JOSÉ, FLY LONDON There should be time to enjoy some final birding around Poas Volcano Lodge this morning. We board our bus for the transfer back to San José and check-in there for our British Airways afternoon flight home. Day 12 ARRIVAL IN LONDON Morning arrival at London Gatwick, where our April birdwatching tour to Northern Costa Rica concludes info@limosaholidays.co.uk

7 Trip Information Group Size Max of 10 participants & 2 guides (both guides will travel regardless of group size) Birds species Mammals We should encounter a good variety of mammals, typically seeing between species. Possibilities include up to three species of Neotropical monkey, two species of sloth, Neotropical River Otter, White-nosed Coati, Central American Agouti and Long-nosed Bats. Accommodation 10 nights accommodation in Costa Rica, staying at a hand-picked selection of hotels and lodges, including: 1 night at the Trapp Family Country Inn (San José); two nights at the Trapp Family Lodge (Monteverde); three nights at the Arenal Observatory Lodge; two nights at Caño Negro Natural Lodge (Caño Negro); and two nights at Poas Volcano Lodge (Poas National Park). All rooms have private facilities. Meals All main meals (with drinking water provided during the day) are included in the tour price, commencing with dinner in Costa Rica on Day 1 and concluding with breakfast / brunch there on Day 11. Food is good to excellent in Costa Rica, with much that is locally grown - including the coffee. Walking & Altitude Costa Rica is a mountainous country so all visitors should expect some trails to be steeper in parts - but these are always taken slowly, with frequent stops to bird. The walking effort is mostly easy, but can be moderate at times due to the terrain. Monteverde is located on the Pacific slope near the Continental Divide, at an altitude of 1450m (4700ft), while Arenal Volcano Observatory Lodge stands at 730m (2400ft). Our birding at Caño Negro is much lower, at just 30m (100ft) above sea level. During our visit to the Poas Volcano we shall mostly be birding at elevations around 2400m (8000ft), plus about an hour or so spent at the crater lake at 2700m (9000ft). As one would expect, rainforest trails can sometimes be muddy, so sturdy waterproof walking shoes or boots with good grip essential. Maximum elevation this tour: 2700m (9000ft) around the Poas Volcano crater lake viewpoint area (for approx. 1hr only). Weather Tropical to temperate climate, according to altitude. Our April tour runs during Costa Rica s major dry season but rainfall can - and does of course - occur year-round in the country's mountains and rainforests! It can be cool and misty in the cloud forest at Monteverde; usually quite comfortable at Arenal Observatory Lodge, and generally hotter and sunnier in the lowlands of Caño Negro and in the Central Valley. Overall, April is an excellent month to visit Costa Rica. Birding in Costa Rica is outstanding year round, but we are frequently asked about the best time to visit the country - particularly by those anxious to avoid the rainy season. To help you, our local agents in San Jose have provided the following climatic summary: We have 2 rainy seasons and 2 dry seasons here in Costa Rica. The 2 rainy seasons can be separated into 2 catagories: Major Rainy Season - mid-sept through Oct (except in far SE); Medium Rainy Season - mid-may through mid- July. The 2 dry seasons can also be separated into 2 catagories: Major Dry Season (or verano) - mid-jan through April; Medium Dry Season (or veranito) - mid-july through Aug. As with weather patterns anywhere, be aware that these may vary from year to year but they basically hold true. Flights On this tour we take advantage of British Airways twice-weekly nonstop service from London Gatwick to San José (Costa Rica), and return. Our flight-inclusive tour cost also includes the Costa Rica departure tax (US $29). Ground Transport By comfortable Toyota Coaster (minicoach) with air-conditioning and driven by the same excellent local drivers that we've worked with for many years. (A minibus may be used in the event of a small group). Boat Trips Our tour price includes three special boat trips - two at Caño Negro and one near Los Chiles (see main itinerary). Boats are large info@limosaholidays.co.uk

8 enough to accommodate our whole group. The boat trips at Caño Negro usually lasts approx. 3 hrs, while the boat trip near Los Chiles typically takes approx. 2 hrs. [Please note that the operation of all the above boat trips is dependent on water levels and river access at the time of our visit.] Insects There is currently no malaria risk in any of the areas visited on our tour (see also Health, below) Photos Excellent photographic opportunities in more open habitats, especially at feeders around the lodges and in wetland areas - birds, other wildlife and scenic shots. Generally tricky in the forest due to low light levels. Tour Cost 2018 (12 days): 3995 (inc flights from London to San José, nonstop with British Airways) Land only cost: 3395 Deposit: 500 Single Supp: 495 Cost includes Services of Limosa guide Expert English-speaking Costa Rican guide Return flights London Gatwick-San José 10 nights accommodation in Costa Rica All main meals (with drinking water provided) All local travel by Coaster bus with driver Boat rides at Caño Negro and Los Chiles All excursions, permits, entry fees to parks, tour based tips (lodges, driver, local guides) & taxes (inc. Costa Rica departure tax, US$29) Map & Limosa checklist of birds Cost excludes Insurance, airport snacks/meals, drinks & other items of a personal nature. About Your Guides Mike Crewe Born and raised in Oxford, Mike first joined Limosa in 1997 having spent 16 years working in horticulture - his love and knowledge of which subject still often shines through. In 2009, after 13 years working for us - both at the Limosa office and as a guide - Mike emigrated to New Jersey (with his American wife Megan), to take up a post at the Cape May Bird Observatory. Tour leading has always been his first love however, and he returned to the fold early in 2016 to resume his tour leading duties with Limosa!! Aside from birds, Megan of course and a fondness for blackcurrant ice cream, Mike claims his other real passion is for plants. Those who have travelled with him on tour will know that this isn t strictly true however, for one quickly comes to realise that he s a highly accomplished all-round naturalist who takes great pleasure in sharing his discoveries with others. When he s not away from home guiding our groups across Europe, Asia, Africa or the Americas, Mike s is also one of the voices that may greet you when phoning the Limosa office. Our April 2018 tour will be Mike's 5th visit to Costa Rica, and his 13th to Central America and the Caribbean. Herman Venegas A native Costa Rican, Herman s story of how he got into birding shows how contagious the love of birds can be. He began working at Rancho Naturalista Lodge in jobs unrelated to birding. Soon the resident bird guides there noticed that he showed a great interest in birds - and was eager to learn more. Of course they obliged, and soon Herman was joining them on walks and day trips in his free time. Herman progressed to become the resident bird guide at Rancho Naturalista and held that position for 6 years. As many guides do, Herman wanted to branch out and get to know all of Costa Rica's birds, taking every opportunity to travel with his fellow birding friends. He has worked as a full time Costa Rica bird guide for the last 7 years, and his bird finding skills and easy personality - not to mention his knowledge of all things Costa Rica - will add greatly to your personal enjoyment of the tour. Herman lives in Platanillo (near Rancho Naturalista Lodge) with his wife Jenni and son Yurel info@limosaholidays.co.uk

9 What You Say " Great leader, very good accommodation, most of the birds were new to me and very colourful. Overall a superb birding tour." GN, Northern Costa Rica tour Financial Security Limosa Holidays is a fully bonded Tour Operator and a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). We hold an ATOL (Air Tour Operators Licence) granted by the CAA, providing for your protection in the event of Limosa Holidays' insolvency. Our licence number is ATOL For tours not including the cost of a flight from the UK or for holidays booked by you as Land Only, all payments made to us are fully bonded through the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). Our ABTOT membership number is For details please see our brochure or website: Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their 5th trip *1. Remember to request your discount at time of booking! *1 Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commissionbased trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. How To Book Check availability on our website or with our office. We are happy to hold Provisional Reservations for up to 7 days. After this, we do require a Booking Form and deposit to confirm your place on tour. Any unconfirmed space will be released. Book Online, by Phone or by Post You can book and pay the deposit simply and securely Online via our website, using the Book This Tour button on the relevant tour page or the Booking tab at the top of the page. Telephone bookings must be confirmed in writing by completion of a Booking Form (there's one tucked inside every brochure or as a PDF download from our website), which can be mailed to us in the time honoured way. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information (found at the back of our brochure, on our website or available from our office on request) prior to booking. When to Book Early booking is advised since flights and accommodation are much more easily secured well in advance. To encourage early booking, we are pleased to offer an Early Bird Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. Our tours are limited to small group sizes. So they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute Bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks! Payments Deposit: The amount of booking deposit per person is shown alongside every tour. We accept deposit payments by debit card, cheque (made payable to Limosa Holidays and drawn on a UK bank in GB Pounds Sterling) or by electronic bank transfer (please ask for our bank details) info@limosaholidays.co.uk

10 For payment of booking deposits only we are also able to accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Balance: Full payment of the tour balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (20 weeks in the case of certain tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice before the balance is due. We accept balance payments and any additional payments (e.g. interim flight deposits, flight upgrades, extra hotels etc) by UK debit card, cheque or electronic bank transfer. Please note: From 1 January 2018, credit card payments and overseas debit card payments will not be accepted for interim / balance payments. Payment by overseas customers must be in GB Pounds Sterling and may be made by transfer to our bank (please ask for our bank details). Note that we do not accept cheques on US Banks in US Dollars, or cheques in Euros or Eurocheques. Late Booking Payments: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas Your passport should have at least one day s validity from the date you are leaving Costa Rica. No additional period of validity beyond this is required, BUT when travelling anywhere overseas we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home, in case of unforeseen delay. VISA NOT REQUIRED by British nationals for entry into Costa Rica. All others should contact their nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate to check whether or not they require a visa/s. If a visa/s is required, you will need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an allinclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Health & Vaccinations Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), visit: travelhealthpro.org.uk/countryinformation/ and by NHS (Scotland), visit: Useful information and advice about healthcare abroad is also available at NHS Choices website: ad/pages/healthcareabroad.aspx Compulsory vaccinations: None for travellers arriving from the UK. [However, note that all visitors to Costa Rica arriving from any of the following countries - Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guyana, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Gambia and Sudan - are required to produce an International Certificate of Vaccination documenting yellow fever vaccination before entry to Costa Rica will be granted. NB. Be aware that such certificates only become valid 10 days after the date of vaccination.] Recommended vaccinations: tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis A. Consult your doctor for current advice regarding diphtheria, TB, hepatitis B and typhoid, which may also be recommended in some circumstances. Malaria: Our agents in Costa Rica advise that there is currently no malaria risk in the areas to be visited on our tour. Nonetheless, we always recommend that you check with your doctor prior to travel as areas of risk can change. See info@limosaholidays.co.uk

11 ral-america/costa-rica.aspx Other: A sun hat is essential, and the use of an effective barrier cream and sunglasses advised. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. For full and latest health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the threat it may pose to your safety and security. The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (ca. 2-3 weeks prior to the trip). Travel Aware - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Be aware that some destinations may require you to produce proof of comprehensive travel insurance (e.g. valid insurance certificate) at immigration on arrival in the country, so you should carry your documentation with you. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number info@limosaholidays.co.uk

12 Important things to note about Insurance Be aware Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! revck General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements info@limosaholidays.co.uk