King Vulture at Guápiles

Guápiles serves as the lowland gateway to Braulio Carrillo National Park, where the terrain plunges from misty cloud forest down into steamy Caribbean lowland rainforest, supporting a bird list running past 500 species. It's here that photographers on the Ultimate Costa Rican Wildlife holiday stand the best chance of framing a King Vulture, its bare, technicolour head unmistakable against the forest canopy alongside other prized subjects like the Three-wattled Bellbird & Bare-necked Umbrellabird. November visits place you right in this transitional habitat at a time when the species is on offer, giving a genuine shot at this striking scavenger. Patience around the forest edges here can reward you with views few other locations on the itinerary can match.