Photography

We have designed this program to maximize the opportunities for the best bird photography in Costa Rica. With a selection of destinations that combines field work multi-flash sessions, macro photography, landscape photography and feeding stations.

  • Duration: 13 Days
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Meet your guide at the airport and drive to your hotel near the airport. Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the grounds of the hotel. Birding at the hotel gardens is a good way to start getting familiar with some of the common birds of Costa Rica and take some photos.
Lodging at: Bougainvillea or similar. Meals included: Dinner.

After breakfast drive to Central Pacific.. On the way visit a local spot for wonderful photo ops of Lesser-ground-Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Long-tailed Manakin, and good chances for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Spectacled, Barn and Pacific Screech-Owls. After lunch spend the day scanning backroads for Dry Forest species such as White-throated Magpie-Jay, Turquoise-browed Motmot and Black-headed Trogon.
Lodging at Cerro Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Early morning boat ride on the Tarcoles River, in quest for wetland and mangrove species including herons, egrets, up to 5 species of kingfishers, Roseate Spoonbill, Yellow (Mangrove) Warbler, Brown Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebird, Mangrove Vireo and the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird.
In the afternoon continue looking for more of the area specialties, Fairy-billed Aracari, White-wiskered Puffbird, the spectacular Scarlet Macaw and more.
Lodging at Cerro Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Drive over the mountains to Arenal area for Caribbean Foothills specialties. Stop in the mountains at a private reserve with bird feeders where Crowned Woodnynph, Violet Saberwing and Coppery-headed Emerald are regular visitors.
Before arriving to the Hotel, visit Bogarin Reserve and bird feeders for Red-legged Honeycreeper, Golden-hooded Tanager, Yellow-throated Euphonia and White-throated Crake amongst others.
Lodging at Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Spend the morning at the deck and bird feeders of the hotel for great pics of Montezuma Oropendula, Great Curassaw, Scarlet-rumped Tanager and exploring the gardens where Violet-headed Hummingbird, Black-crested Coquette, Brown Violetear and several other hummingbirds are attracted to the Verbena flowers.
In the afternoon visit La Peninsula Road for Rufous, Broad-billed and the rare Keel-billed Motmots. After dinner explore the hotel grounds for Black-and-White Owl and other possible nocturnal species.
Lodging at Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Before breakfast spend some more time on the deck and hotel gardens. In the midmorning start the drive to our next hotel, located on the Northern Lowlands.
After lunch enjoy the deck and bird feeders for some of the best nature photography in the Neotropics. The list of possibilities includes Shining, Red-legged and Green Honeycreepers, Brown-hooded, White-crowned and Orange-chinned Parakeets, Yellow-throated and Keel-billed Toucans, Collared Aracari just to mention a few.
Lodging at Maquenque Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Before breakfast enjoy the deck for more wonderful photography. In the midmorning head to the photography hide and get ready for the unique experience of photographing the stunning King Vulture.
In the afternoon we will have a macro session with frogs and snakes. Also we will spend more time at the bird feeders.
Lodging at Maquenque Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After an early breakfast drive to Cinchona area. Birds like Red-headed and Prong-billed Barbet, Silver-throated Tanager and Emerald Toucanet regularly visit this feeders there.
Hummingbirds are also a highlight, including Green Thorntail, White-bellied Mountain-gem, Coppery-headed Emerald and more.
We will have a multi-flash session prepared for the group. Then we will drive to our hotel in Sarapiqui.
Lodging at Selva Verde Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast we will drive to Cope Arte, a private deck for bird photography with many species of hummingbirds, Oropendolas, Tanagers, Wood-Rails and more. If the group is interested in walking on the field we can go out and photograph the White-collared Manakin and Spectacled Owl.
We will spend most of the day here and in the afternoon we will go to an open field to photograph Macaws and Parrots in flight.
Lodging at Selva Verde Lodge or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast start the drive to our last location up in the highlands in quest for a number of endemics.
On the way stop at El Tapir Garden to target some species of hummingbirds specially the Snowcap and Black-crested Coquette.
Then continue driving to the mountains and spend the rest of day working on a multi-flash session with Highland hummingbirds such as Lesser Violetear, White-throated Mountain-gem, Fairy-throated, Volcano, Scintillant and Talamanca Hummingbirds.
Lodging at Paraiso de Quetzales or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Early morning for a good photograph opportunity of the world famous Resplendent Quetzal.
We will spend the afternoon at bird feeders and gardens that provide fantastic opportunities for Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Finch, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Sooty Thrush and Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher.
Lodging at Paraiso de Quetzales or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Birding the grounds of the lodge, after breakfast visit the Paramo for landscape photography and species such as Volcano Junco, Slaty Flowerpiercer and Timberline Wren.
We will then drive back to San Jose for our last night of the trip.
Lodging at Bougainvillea or similar / Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Early birding along the grounds of the hotel, after breakfast drive to the International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast.

Includes:
  • 12 nights lodging
  • Transportation on comfortable van with a/c.
  • Specialized tour guide fully equipped.
  • All meals listed on itinerary.
  • Water during the trip.
  • Fees to all photography decks and feeders mentioned on itinerary
  • 2 Multi-flash sessions
  • Costa Rica Bird Checklist
Not included:
  • Airfare and airport taxes
  • Tips for hotel staff, waiters, guides and drivers during the trip.
  • Items of personal use, toiletries
  • Travel insurance (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. In the event that you need to cancel your trip due to medical or other reasons, this insurance will protect you)
  • Medical expenses, prescription drugs and other items of personal use
  • Additional services offered in hotels (Spa, massage, etc.)
  • Alcoholic beverages and such
  • Laundry
  • Souvenirs
  • Any other expense or extra tours not listed as included above