17/04/2016
Perfect vacation in the jungle!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We spent 2 wonderful weeks at Villa Toucan, March/April 2016. It was everything we had hoped it would be! Right in the jungle, yet close to the beaches. The view from the deck is breathtaking, with so many birds visiting daily. We had hoped to see a toucan when visiting Costa Rica - well, we saw dozens at Villa Toucan! Keel-billed, chestnut manibled and aracaris. Great Green Macaws we also a thrill to see in the wild! This is THE place to see birds in Costa Rica, no guide required - they come right to the house!
The house itself was perfect for us, and had everything we needed. We loved the outdoor kitchen looking out onto the deck/jungle/Caribbean. The bathrooms are fantastic.. having no wall at the back and facing the jungle, you can watch hummingbirds and red frogs while in the bathroom! We were visited by many very cool bugs, including an awesome hooded mantis that "adopted" us and stayed with us (it's choice) for most of our stay.
Manuel (the property owner) lives nearby and was very helpful. Johanna at Casas del Caribe was wonderful, and arranged our private transport from San Jose, our car rental (recommend renting a 4X4), and ziplining tour as well!
We have compiled a list of birds that we saw right at Villa Toucan:
Gray-headed Chachalaca
Crested Guan
Semiplumbeous hawk
Common Blackhawk
Laughing falcon
Short-billed pigeon
Great Green Macaw
Brown-hooded parrot
Blue-headed parrot
Red-lored parrot
Mealy parrot
Black and white Owl
Short-tailed Nighthawk
Great Potoo
Long-billed hermit
Violet-crowned Woodnymph
Slaty-tailed Trogan
Collared Aracari
Keel-billed Toucan
Chestnut-manibled Toucan
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Pale-billed Woodpecker
Plain-brown Woodcreeper
Great Kiskadee
Masked Tityra
Red-capped Manakin
Clay-coloured Thrush
Passerini's Tanager
Golden-hooded Tanager
Black-headed Saltator
Bananaquit
Variable Seedeater
Summer Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Montezuma Oropendola
Great Tinamou (not seen but heard daily)
There were more that we saw but were not able to identify. We saw many other bird species nearby as well - this list is JUST at the house. We enjoyed seeing many types of lizards, geckos, frogs, monkeys and very cool bugs and butterflies.
Thanks Manuel for a great stay at Villa Toucan! We will be back for sure!
Joanne, Ken, Dorothy and Robert.
