COSTA RICA: Bird & Wildlife Photography
DATES: Dec 2 - 14, 2026
TRIP LEADER: JENNIFER LEIGH WARNER
COST: $7,950PP
GROUP SIZE: 4-8
Highlights
Small group of only 4 – 8 photographers, with a Wildside photography leader/instructor and local bird/photo guide for lots of personal attention!
800+ species of birds with many feeder opportunities!
The stunning Resplendent Quetzal!
Over 50 species of hummingbirds!
Close-up King Vultures!
Incredible and diverse macro photo opportunities, both wild and in controlled situations!
Description of COSTA RICA: Bird & Wildlife Photography
Photography opportunities abound in Costa Rica. The Central American country of Costa Rica has become one of the most popular birding destinations in the Americas thanks to the abundance of birds and other wildlife. So of course, photography of the birds and wildlife must also be great!
Thanks to Costa Rica’s incredible habitat diversity, and its location as part of the land-bridge between North and South America, it is home to over 800 species of birds that have been recorded within Costa Rica’s borders.
We will visit two diverse habitats… in the mountains between 7000-10000 feet we hope to find Bay-headed Tanager, Rufous Motmot, Snowcap, Black-crested Coquet, Fiery-throated Hummingbird and, of course, the revered Resplendent Quetzal. In the lower elevations we find a plethora of toucans, aracaris, parrots, tanagers and yes, more hummingbirds!
Beyond the birds that appear in front and above us, we will have up to six different sessions for macro photography, taking full advantage of the Costa Rican jungle’s plethora of smaller fauna such as red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers, poison dart frogs, leaf-cutter ants, singles bees, and giant forest owl butterflies.
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Length of Tour
13-days/12-nights
Day 1 – Arrival and transfer to hotel
Arrival to San Jose and shuttle to Hotel. Depending on the arrival time, bird and macro photography on the grounds of the lodge where mot-mots, owls, tree frogs, and many other species can be found.
Day 2 – Volcanic Rainforest
Drive towards Arenal Volcano, en route field photography for three-wattled bellbird. Arrive to our hotel in the mid afternoon and do some photography on the grounds and gardens.
Day 3 – Volcanic Rainforest
Morning at hotel for feeders and trail for birds and monkeys. Afternoon will be a field visit to private property for birds and a night walk for macro photography.
Day 4 – Volcanic Rainforest
After breakfast we have a controlled macro photography session with reptiles and amphibians before heading into the field for the afternoon for avian species.
Day 5 – Rio Frio Boat
After breakfast we will drive to our next destination, en route stop for a cruise on the Rio Frio for species such as kingfishers, mot-mots, caiman, and many others.
Day 6 – Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
Photography through Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge via boat both in the morning and the afternoon. This will offer us the best opportunity to photography as many species as possible that call this area home.
Day 7 – Sarapiqui
We will make our way south again to the Sarapiqui area with en route stops for additional feeder photography opportunities.
Day 8 – King Vulture Blind
Up early, spend the morning visiting blinds for premier photography of the spectacular King Vulture. Arriving back to lodging in the afternoon we have additional sessions for macro and bird photography.
Day 9 – Cope Arte Gardens
After breakfast leave the lodge, en route visit Cope Arte Gardens, a local birder and artist’s home with very active feeders, White-collared Manakins, Montezuma and Chestnut-headed Oropendolas, Rufous-naped Wood-rail, Crowned Woodnymph and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer and many more. Also, we will go on the field to try some of the local owl roosting places, Spectacled and Crested Owls are possible here.
Day 10 – Cloud Forest
Starting with a morning session on the grounds of our hotel, we then check out and make the drive into the highlands and cloud forest for our first session with the Resplendent Quetzal.
Day 11 – Cloud Forest and High-speed Flash Hummingbirds
We will spend our morning with the Resplendent Quetzal again. Then the afternoon will be at Batsu Gardens where we will have flower setups for high-speed flash Hummingbird photography and fruit feeders as well. Golden- browned Chlorophonias, Slaty Flowerpiercers, Chestnut-capped Brushfinches, Flame-colored Tanagers and Scintillant Hummingbirds are some of our targets today.
Day 12 – High-speed Flash Hummingbirds and Drive to San Jose
After breakfast we will have a final morning session with high-speed flash photography for highland hummingbird species such as the fiery-throated hummingbird before we start our way back to San Jose. Last evening session for macro in the hotel gardens.
Day 13 – Return Home
Shuttles to international airport
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Cost
Cost is $7,950 per person, based upon double occupancy, from San Jose, Costa Rica (Airport code SJO).
This trip ends in San Jose, Costa Rica (Airport code SJO).Laundry, drinks, souvenirs, any visa,
Single Supplement
If a single room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $900 will be assessed.
Deposit Requirements
A $1,500 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.
Minimum Number
If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.
How to Book
In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.
Final Payment
For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.
For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.
NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.
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We will stay at the EcoLodges. Please note that there may or may not be air conditioning and private showers may be outdoors/roofless for a more unique experience.