Bosque del Rio Tigre "Southwest Specialties
of Costa Rica"
Introduction: Bosque del Rio Tigre offers the
best place to see the specialty birds of Southwest Costa Rica.
Combine that with the knowledgeable owners/guides, Liz Jones (American)
and her husband Abraham Gallo (Costa Rican),and you are in for
a real birding treat. Liz and Abraham are both heavily involved
in the conservation education on the Osa Peninsula and put much
of their profits back into securing more forest for protection.
They have built a very comfortable lodge nestled in the Osa Pacific
lowland rainforest near the banks of the tropical Rio Tigre. This
rainforest along with secondary forest, marshes, and pastures
near the lodge provide habitat for a host of birds including some
limited range species such as White-crested Coquette, Turquoise
Cotinga, and most importantly, the endemic Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager.
General wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the variety that Bosque
del Rio Tigre offers including frogs such as the endemic Golfo
Dulce Poison-Dart Frog, monkeys like the precious Costa Rican
Squirrel Monkey, colorful butterflies, and enough tropical plants
to challenge any botanist.
Location: Bosque del Rio Tigre is located in
southwest Costa Rica on the eastern side of the Osa Peninsula,
(western side of the Golfo Dulce), about 40 minutes by vehicle
north of the town of Puerto Jimenez. A long drive from San Jose
(7+ hours), but just 45 minutes by air using one of several daily
domestic flights operated by Sansa or Nature Air. These flights
run about $70-$80 one way per person and CRG will be glad to arrange
this flight for you. CRG can also arrange a Taxi from Puerto Jiminez
to take you to the lodge which is typically $30 - $40 total and
the taxis there hold three people comfortably. If you are renting
a vehicle and wish to drive to the south, CRG will provide a map
to assist you in finding the lodge. It should be noted that not
only is it easier to get to Bosque del Rio Tigre then to the lodges
on the western side of the Osa Peninsula but also that the birding
is more varied as well.
Accommodations: Bosque del Rio Tigre is completely
surrounded by primary and secondary forest. It has a two story
main building with dining room and kitchen below and 4 corner
rooms above with two shared bathrooms (1 above and 1 below). These
rooms have open windows on two sides for birding and air circulation;
mosquito nets are provided in each room. They also have a private
cabin located nearby (my favorite), with private shower. Meals
are served in the dining hall and Liz, Abraham, and the staff
take great pride in preparing delicious meals for their guests.
They can more than accommodate vegetarians as well.
Climate: Located in the Pacific rainforest just
above sea level you can expect comfortable temperatures in the
very early morning and very late afternoon, often humid and quite
warm temperatures in the middle of the day with comfortable sleeping
conditions at night. There is less rainfall from December through
April and the owners often close during Sept and Oct which are
the heaviest rainfall months, (See Weather Chart under “Corcovado
for average high and low temperatures and average monthly rainfall).
Nightly Rates:
Low Season Rates: Nov 1 - Dec 15
$110.00 per person per night double occupancy
Single Supplement: $20.00 per night
High Season Rates: Dec 15 - April 30
$120.00 per person per night double occupancy
Single Supplement: $20.00 per night
Special Packages for Birders:
3 night Tigre Birding Package: 3 nights lodging, 13 hours of guiding in local vicinity.
Low Season: Nov 15 - Dec 15
$407.00 per person double occupancy.
High Season: Dec 15, 2005 - April 30 $440.00 per person double occupancy.
4 night Tigre Birding Package: 4 nights lodging, 16 hours of guiding in local vicinity.
Low Season: Nov 15 - Dec 15
$516.00 per person double occupancy.
High Season: Dec 15 - April 30 $560.00 per person double occupancy.
4 night Osa Birding Package including Rincon day trip: 4 nights lodging, 13 hours of guiding in local vicinity, and visit to Rincon area north of lodge by vehicle.
Low Season: Nov 15 - Dec 15
$572.00 per person double occupancy.
High Season: Dec 15 - April 30 $616.00 per person double occupancy.
There are several other packages available including:
3, 4, and 5 night Natural History: Rainforest Educational
Packages
3 night Lazy Birders Package
5 night Tigre Birding Package including Rincon day trip.
Please call for a price quote for these packages.
Note that a single supplement will be charged to all packages,
the amount determined by season and whether the single is
a member of a group or not.
*Group discounts are available for groups of 6 participants
or more.
Price Includes:
- Lodging
- Guiding as specified
- 3 delicious meals per nights stay.
- Coffee, tea, fruit juice, plus 2 drinks per day which
can be soda, beer, or wine.
- Maid service.
Other activities or services at an additional cost:
- Day trip to Rincon and/or Matapalo if not included
already in the package.
- Day tour to Corcovado National Park.
- Taxi service unless noted in packages of day trips.
- Laundry Service.
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Reservations: Reservations for Bosque del Rio
Tigre can be made directly through Costa Rica Gateway along with
domestic flights and ground transportation. A visit to Bosque
del Rio Tigre can be combined with the highlands of Savegre Mountain
Lodge, Talari Lodge in San Isidro del General, Wilson Botanical
Gardens (Las Cruces Biological Station) in San Vito, Manuel Antonio
NP near Quepos, and/or Carara NP north of Jaco for an excellent
tour of the southern region Costa Rica. Note that Bosque del Rio
Tigre is not open in May, September, and October.
