Wings Over Costa Rico - Itinerary for 12 Days

Thankfully there are a lot of birds to be found in our ten acres of gardens but this one stand out!

No visit to the Hotel Bougainvillea is complete without a photo op with our resident celebrity, Quincho. Rain or shine, he can always be found in the botanical garden taking a load off his tired feet. He’s happy to make space for you on his bench, and he’s a great listener no matter what language you speak.

The garden can be seen on the look out tower and is an ongoing project, it has taken 28 years to get where it is today and things are constantly changing!

There are several lakes spread out on the grounds.

The great variety of tropical plants, including heliconias, bromeliads, orchids,and trees attract butterflies and birds which brighten the environment with their colors and sounds.

Close-up of beehive ginger plant and its beautiful flower growing in a rainforest in Costa Rica;

The 10 acres of botanical gardens is truly the jewel of the Bougainvillea’s hotel family, one of the main attractions of the hotel.

Visit the Central Bank's building, which also houses the fascinating Pre-Columbian Gold Museum. 

As we wandered around San Jose we found these! We took a bunch of photos . Obviously  they were more important than we initially realized, these statues help signify culture and socio-economic history of Costa Ricans.

Stroll through the vibrant Central Market, where the colors, scents, and sounds create an unforgettable sensory experience. 

Conclude your tour at the bustling Central Market. Experience the vibrant local culture, sample traditional foods, and browse stalls selling everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts.

La Gorda Gertrudis La Gorda Gertrudis is a large bronze sculpture by the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero. It sits in the centre of the Plaza Santo Domingo and is a great photo opportunity.

A fiberglass bull which is part of the 'CowParade'. Avenida Central, San José, San José Province, Costa Rica.

It is part of a series of public art statues found in various places around downtown.

We stopped and tried their specialty coffee, produced by microbeneficios in Costa Rica. To witness why they were the "winners of the Cup of Excellence".

It's official “city brand” with a large sculpture of “SJO ¡Vive!” , (San José Lives), in an act in the Central Park of the capital city and with the objective of attracting tourism.

Is primarily under the stewardship of Incofer (Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles), an autonomous institution of the state. Incofer owns the national railway infrastructure and operates virtually all freight and passenger services, which consist primarily of commuter trains through the highly populated Central Valley.

The Second Battle of Rivas occurred on 11 April 1856 between Costa Rican militia under General Juan Rafael Mora Porras and the Nicaraguan forces of American mercenary William Walker. 

Parque Nacional is home to several historical monuments and statues and the red sign that commemorates the important figures and events in the nation's history.

This is a very small strip of land that is designated as a park commemorating the electoral freedom of Costa Rica.

Visitors to Parque Nacional can engage in a variety of activities such as picnicking, walking along the trails, observing the local flora and fauna, and enjoying the historical monuments and statues within the park.

It's a popular spot for both locals and tourists to enjoy outdoor activities.

According to our tour guide It is regarded as a very important plaza of course with the building that it is in front of: Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones. It came into existence after the decision was taken to abolish the army. Disputes will be decided by elections. 

Just one of the beautiful trees that's been here for many years!

Parque Nacional is a national park located in San Jose, known for its lush green spaces, monuments, and pathways that provide a peaceful retreat from the urban environment. 

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

 The gold collection dates from 300 to 400 BC to 1550 AD. The collection includes animal (notably frogs, eagles, jaguars, alligators, deers) figurines, amulets, earrings, erotic statuettes and several dioramas including El Guerrero, a life sized gold warrior figure adorned with gold ornaments in a glass case and a detailed scale model of a Pre-Columbian village.

The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is a museum in San José, Costa Rica. It is located in a subterranean building underneath the "Plaza de la Cultura" and is owned and curated by the Banco Central de Costa Rica.

The museum has an archaeological collection of 3,567 Pre-Columbian artifacts made up of 1,922 ceramic pieces, 1,586 gold objects, 46 stone objects, 4 jade, and 9 glass or bead objects. 

The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum — located at the heart of downtown San José, within one of the most iconic buildings in Costa Rica — is a subterranean modern masterpiece building below the central Plaza de la Cultura. It holds one of the most relevant archaeological collections in Costa Rica and the world. Its new design reimagines the museum experience as a space for learning and interaction.

You'll find one of the most relevant archaeological collections in Costa Rica and the world. Its new design reimagines the museum experience as a space for learning and interaction.

We will enter the lobby where you get a good glimpse of what the museum has to offer.

We believe that the best way to truly experience a destination is to get off the beaten path. Our expert guide took us to hidden gems and secret spots that most tourists never get to see.

Gold pendant shaped like a harpy eagle with a cord headdress related with the presence of protective spirits exhibited at Museo de Oro Precolombino del Banco Central de Costa Rica, San José. South Pacific, 700-1550 AD.

Discover the Costa Rican indigenous legacy through the largest collection in The Americas. 

By the second millennium BC sedentary farming communities already existed. Between 300 BC and AD 300 many communities moved from a tribal, clan-centric organization – kinship-based, rarely hierarchical and dependent on self-sustenance.

The project aims to bring the pre-Columbian people and their living ancestors to life and make a meaningful interaction with the visitor.

Juan Mora Fernández (1784 San José - 1854) was Costa Rica's first elected head of state in 1825. He was considered a liberal and moved the capital from Cartago to San José. He is remembered for bringing in land reform. He followed a progressive course.

On the southern side of the Plaza de la Cultura resides the Teatro Nacional, San José’s most revered building. Constructed in 1897, it features a columned neoclassical facade flanked by statues of Beethoven and famous 17th-century Spanish dramatist Calderón de la Barca.

Pedro Calderón de la Barca was a Spanish dramatist, poet, and writer. He is known as one of the most distinguished poets and writers of the Spanish Golden Age, especially for the many verse dramas he wrote for the theatre.

Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period, who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of his era, one whose "poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation"

Since 1897, this elegant theater has been a source of pride.

The 1,140-seat National Theatre of Costa Rica's construction began in 1891, and it opened to the public on 21 October 1897.

Travel to your dream destination with ease and comfort, thanks to our expert travel planning services. We take care of everything so that you can focus on what really matters: enjoying your trip.

Many things to see in the market!

Travel with confidence knowing that she's got you covered.

Looking for a truly unique experience? Our 30-Minute adventure tours will take you to the most breathtaking places on earth!

We understand that everyone has different travel needs and preferences. 

This was indeed a great stop!

 Our expert guide took us to this hidden gem and secret spots that many tourists never get to see.

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles is a Roman Catholic basilica in Costa Rica, located in the city of Cartago and dedicated to the Virgen de los Pardos, officially known as Virgen de los Ángeles. The basilica was built in 1639 and was partially destroyed by an earthquake.

Awaiting you at the door!

Announcing a visit to Cartago’s Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles.

It is a place to come and learn about the culture and history of the country.

Over 2 million people may be completing their pilgrimage, “the romeria” in which many begin their grueling journey in honor of the country’s beloved patron saint in July. It is a 22km pilgrimage of devotion, respect, and prayer. Many walk for days coming from all over the country showing their dedication to their honored patron saint.

Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, or Our Lady of the Angels Basilica, is Costa Rica’s largest and most important church. 

Every year, on August 2, millions of worshipers come here on their hands and knees into the basilica.

 Their farm is located in the middle of a major flyway for neotropical migratory birds in Costa Rica. The farm provides important habitat for species that breed in North America and winter in the tropics. 

The coffee plants on our farm are one important piece of an ecosystem which we have been working hard to encourage and maintain.   Here's the coffee grinder.

When you purchase our coffee, you are directly supporting our conservation efforts and helping these and many other native species survive.

Finca Cristina

They're dedicated to producing the finest Arabica coffee while protecting and preserving native flora and fauna. Finca Cristina's shadegrown regenerative practices encourage healthy diversity. 

Everyone plays a very important role in making Café Cristina a superb place to visit.

Highly recommended by our happy hosts!

Rancho Naturalista is one of the finest birdwatching lodges in Central America. From our spacious balcony, you can observe numerous species of hummingbirds and other birds while enjoying a stunning view of the distant, smoking Turrialba volcano. 

Over 450 species of birds have been recorded in our private forest reserve and within the local area. You can hike and bird the trails on your own and excellent guides are also available. The weather is almost perfect year-round, not too hot and not too cold. Make Rancho Naturalista the highlight of your trip to Costa Rica!

Located within its private premontane forest reserve at 3000 ft / 900 m a.s.l. inside middle elevations of the Caribbean foothills biome, the lodge has four trails.

Experience the Golden Bean Coffee Tour, where you will discover every aspect of the gourmet coffee production process—from the coffee cherry on the plant to the cup of coffee on your table!

Downhill from the main lodge, but within Rancho Naturalista Reserve, lies a lot of flowering trees and additional hedges.

This is a perfect activity for the people that love other wildlife besides birds. It is a post-dinner activity where you will spend a couple of hours with a guide exploring the grounds and forest trails in search of a whole range of interesting creatures less likely to be found by day. This tour has a strong focus on insects, Arachnids, Amphibians and Reptiles but with nocturnal bird and mammal sightings possible.

Located in the cloud forest of Costa Rica, Rancho Naturalista is a birding lodge with over 450 bird species. In addition, the wildlife that can be seen directly from the balcony, the lodge offers delicious food, served family style.

At dawn, bananas are placed out on fruit feeders for the birds. Next, hummingbird feeders are set out ready for action. 

Also many other bird species also come in to feed on the fruit feeders. 

This beautiful display was waiting for us on the bed!  It was all of our towels and it was hard taking it apart! 

This premier birding lodge in Costa Rica, Rancho Naturalista is one of the finest birdwatching lodges in Central America. From our spacious balcony, we could observe numerous species of hummingbirds and other birds. 

They mainly feed on fruits and seeds, and are important seed dispersers.

On the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica and Panama the foreparts are brownish.

Celebrating Patsy's special birthday!

They served a delicious meal and afterwards - surprise,

 a birthday cake with candles!