Five areas to hike or birdwatch are available around the Savegre Lodge. Three are forested trails that walk you through mostly primary habitat, one is second growth, and the last one which is open country and disturbed areas along the road sides and trail to the waterfall. (The trail to the waterfall includes some primary forest towards the end.)

Los Robles Trail (Oaks Trail) (Primary Forest)

A great trail with moderate access for most of the way, some steep drops as it falls into La Quebrada Trail (The Creek Trail). As its name suggests the trail offers a fantastic Tropical Cloud Forest with old White and Black Oaks. The oak trees are covered with ferns, bromeliads, orchids, mosses, and lichens and virtually look like hanging gardens. If you are birding we would suggest you stay in the lowest left north section of the trail where the trail head is, beginning at the end of the road that takes you up from the lodge to the forest, walk into the trail for about 800 m to 1 Km. If you want to be taken there and save some time from walking the road up, then you can drive your car or ask at reception where for a fee the staff will coordinate transport for you to the trail head. The whole trail will be about 8 Kms and as it loops it takes you to La Quebrada Trail, at this intersection you can either take a left which will take you to the road that goes down to the lodge, or take a right which will take you back to the trail head of Los Robles Trail. You can check the map, it will make this easier, however having a guide is always our recommendation, it will be a more complete experience overall.

Possible bird species here are: Spotted Wood-Quail, Resplendent Quetzal, Collared Trogon, Ochraceous Pewee, Zeledonia, Silver-throated Jay, Ruddy Treerunner, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Wrenthrush, and even Ornate Hawk-Eagle which we have spotted hunting through the forest and also soaring around. (See trail map)

A very nice loop, starts half way to the forest following the same road that takes you up to the head of the Oaks Trail. The forest composition is fantastic, you will find White and Black Oaks. A good portion of the path runs parallel to a creek, the forest composition here becomes somewhat different, you will find more palm trees and ferns and in many occasions very active bird mixed flocks. This has been a good spot for the secretive Silver-fronted Tapaculo. As you leave the creek behind and continue on the trail look for Buff-fronted Quail-Doves which we have found in several occasions there, they seem to be regular there, but you need to approach them quietly. The whole loop is about 3.2 Km including a little portion of road between the Oaks Trail's head and La Quebrada Trail's head.(See trail map)

This trail is interesting too, especially if you want a short walk. Using the same road up to the forest and just a little bit after you passed all the orchards you will find the trail head. You will find here mostly second growth and open areas, a lot of species forage through this habitat and it could be quite productive too. You can either start from the bottom head of the trail or continue on the road and then take the upper head and drop into the trail. Approximately 1.5 Kms.(See trail map)

An adventure of 6 hours, in average of course!. The trail from Cerro Frío (Cold Peak) starts from 3,491 m ( 11,453 feet ) and descends to the lodge at 2,200 feet (7,200 feet) by connecting to the Oaks Trail 8 kilometers into the trek. It provides the opportunity to explore the unique Tropical Sub-Alpine Rain Páramo and as you descend gradually enter the Tropical Cloud Forest. We recommend you read the section on Natural History of our site, it is quite informative about these two habitats. The adventure is not really recommended for birders who want to focus on watching birds, this is mostly a trek where we need to cover a great distance, the guide goes over natural history in general. To reach the trail head it is necessary to drive for 45 minutes to Cerro Frío, total length of the trail 13 Kms.(See trail map)

Both habitats mentioned in this trek can be birdwatched independently without having to use this entire trail.

Roadsides provide plenty of opportunities for all walkers and birdwatchers.

We recommend to take some time to explore the road down from the lodge. As you walk you can enjoy the picturesque village of San Gerardo and perhaps continue on following the trail to Savegre Waterfall. We find this trail quite good for general nature lovers, and on its first sections for birders. The trail follows the Savegre River and it is great for photography. If you decide to explore the waterfall the distance from the lodge will be about 3 Km. Once you leave the main road the trail maintains moderate level for about 1 km and then as you go over the first metal bridge and a majestic caved waterfall you will enter the final section of about 1 km, it becomes more technical and there are some high steps, the surface of the trail is not as good however the forest is very lush. The Savegre Waterfall is at the end of a series of steps, most of the time is wet and slippery there, but the fall is fantastic.

The gardens around the lodge are not just beautiful looking, they also attract a lot of birds. Ideal for an early bird walk or to spend the last minutes of the day upon arrival to the lodge: Volcano Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird, White-throated Mountain-gem, Green Violet-ear, Violet Sabrewing are common to the feeders and flowers. Slaty Flowerpiercer, Flame-colored Tanager, Collared Redstart, Sulphur-winged Parakeets, and even the Quetzal are also common visitors. Just in the back of the cabins of the main garden area there is little trail that connects the lodge with Los Ranchos property, we recommend to check this little trail offering a little patch of woods and then open areas on the other side, it is quite productive. (See trail map)

This is a good road for walking and enjoying the views, it is the same road that connects to the Oaks, La Quebrada, and Bird's Song Trails. It is ideal for any visitor, birdlife is fantastic here too, this is a good spot to take photographs of the valley and for birders and anyone loving the shows that nature provides we should mention that Swallow-tailed Kites and White-collared Swifts often fly eye level, it is something to see.