Costa Rica is very easy to reach by direct flights from most European countries. The distances to the various locations I have visited are rather small, however because of heavy traffic it takes time to travel around.  Tourism is very important for Costa Rica and for years the country has been discovered by Americans who are frequent visitors and many consider Costa Rica as a perfect place to retire. Both, Caribbean and Pacific coasts are popular by sun and beach lovers. The inland however is completely different. It is mountainous and covered with rain and cloud forests and has a completey different climate. It also has rivers, marshes, swamps and subalpine paramo.This makes Costa Rica so rich in plants and animals. More than 850 different birds can be found. Before visiting Costa Rica I thought of a sunny tropical country. Which is true as far as it coastliness concerns, but more inland it can be cool and often rainy, depending on the time of the year.I assume, what happened to me will happen to many others on their first visit to Costa Rica. I did not pack the the right type of cloth. The people of Costa Rica are very friendly and helpful and I really had a marvellous time. Photography of birds in the dense forests can be difficult, but really challenging.  .The scenery is stunning and sure to add an extra ingredient to make this special holiday one to remember!

The first location I  visited was the gorgeous town of San Gerardo de Dota. This town lies in one of the most beautiful regions of Costa Rica, on the rim of the Central Valley in the San Jose Province. Located just 85 km southwest of the capital city San Jose, this picturesque town lays near the Inter-American highway on the western slopes of the Cerro de la Muerte at an elevation of 7,200 feet. At this altitude the temperatures are typically mild in the daytime to down right chilly at night. An amazingly stunning habitat for a plethora of bird and flora species, this region is mainly known for being the primary habitat for the resplendent Quetzal, Costa Rica's most famous bird... Many consider this area to be the best location anywhere to see a large selection of Chiriqui Highland endemics - species found only in the highlands of Costa Rica and extreme western Panama. The nearby Paramo habitat provides excellent birding for the Central American alpine species.

From here I travelled, via Providencia Road, to a beautiful Lodge at the Central Caribbean Foorhills, South east of San Jose at 2,5 hours drive. This location allows for birding day trips into the adjacent lowlands, middle elevations, and highlands thus providing an even greater diversity of habitats and wildlife.
It is located at an elevation of 3,000 feet on the Caribbean slope allowing for mild temperatures in the day and perfect sleeping conditions at night. Rain can occur at anytime but it is expected in the afternoons from May to October, with a break sometime in July to mid August.
 
My next stop was in the Caribbean Lowlands in a lodge onthe Sardinal River, 20 minutes west of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. It is approximately 25 minutes from the La Selva OTS Station and less than 2 hours from the San Jose airport. A nice selection of wildlife can be seen along the gallery forest next to the two adjoining rivers including the impressive Gray-necked Wood-Rail, several species of parrots and toucans, and the dancing White-collared Manakins on their lek. Being in the lowlands, the La Selva area is consistently warm and humid. Weather patterns are less predictable here compared to the Pacific lowlands. You are also more likely to encounter unseasonably rainy periods even in the dry season. As with most warm and humid lowlands in the tropics, bird and wildlife activity is highest in the early morning and late afternoon.

From the Carribean Lowlands I headed south for the famous Arenal Vulcano. This vulcano  is located NW of San Jose at approximately 25 minutes west of the town of La Fortuna and a total of 3½ hours by car from the San Jose International Airport. Its location serves as an excellent stopover between the La Selva de Sarapiqui region and the Monteverde area. Set amidst a beautiful protected rainforest in the Caribbean foothills and with an overlooking active volcano, a visit to this place is recommended for many reasons. Arenal Volcano is a perfect cinder cone and it is quite active. Eruptions of ash and gasses into the air are not uncommon and on a clear night you may even see lava oozing out of the top. The spectacle of the volcano is worth a visit alone but when combined with the rainforest and the abundance of birds and other wildlife, you can see why this area is so special. Whether you are looking for great birding, a romantic getaway, or just to commune with nature on a higher level, you will find that this area can provide all of that and much more. Located in the Caribbean foothills at 2,400 feet in elevation, you can expect mild temperatures with occasional warm temperatures in the middle of the day and very comfortable sleeping conditions at night. This area typically has a very unpredictable rain pattern and tropical down pours and drizzles can occur at anytime of year, even lasting for days. Clouds are a common sight in the area and can obscure the view of the volcano. However, with patience and luck, you should get good to spectacular views eventually.

My last stay I have choosen right on the Pacific Ocean between Tarcoles and Jaco. I good place to visit the very interesting Carara National Park.
It is consistently warm and humid in this area and the weather patterns closely follow the typical rain and dry season periods. It is unlikely that you would encounter rain in this area from Dec to mid April, Feb, March being the driest months. Bird and wildlife activity is highest in the early morning and late afternoon and you should take advantage of these cooler periods. A siesta in the middle of the day is often a good idea. Take drinking water on the trails to avoid dehydration. Mosquitoes are typically not prolific here unless after heavy rains, a few are always present.