Embark on a privately guided bird photography tour through Costa Rica’s most diverse habitats, offering incredible opportunities to capture stunning bird species up close. From the lush rainforests of Boca Tapada and Sarapiquí, where toucans, trogons, and king vultures frequent well-established feeding stations, to the scenic foothills of Arenal Volcano, home to vibrant tanagers and hummingbirds, each location is chosen for optimal photography conditions.In the Talamanca Highlands, the cloud forest provides the perfect backdrop for photographing the Resplendent Quetzal, along with an array of highland specialties. The tour also includes time in the Turrialba region, where gardens and forest edges attract colorful species like the Snowcap hummingbird. With access to private reserves, gardens, and feeding stations your private guide will provide expert guidance for lighting conditions, and shot set up. This journey ensures breathtaking bird photography in some of Costa Rica’s most secluded and picturesque locations.
What's Included in Your Costa Rica Bird Photography Tour?
Privately Guided Tour
Features and Inclusions
‘Meet & Greet’: Your private guide meets you at your arrival airport.
Airport pick up: Included
Guide Services: Full-time expert birding guide
Birding Flexibility: Unlimited, including impromptu stops
Transportation: Private vehicle
Meals: All meals included, more flexibility for top local dining
Species Observation: Up to 50% more species observed
Official Checklist: Included
Daily Species Recap: Included
In-country Assistance: Included
Ideal for
Serious birders aiming to maximize species sightings
Target list birders in need of specific species
Those seeking a comprehensive, all-inclusive experience
Photographers needing flexibility and local expertise for optimal shooting conditions
First-time visitors wanting constant expert guidance throughout their trip
Birders interested in visiting off-the-beaten-path locations
Travelers who prefer local experiences with expert guidance
Costa Rica Bird Photography Tour Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose
Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), your private photography guide will greet you and transfer you to the charming Hotel Bougainvillea in San Jose. After checking in, spend the afternoon exploring the hotel’s spectacular gardens with your guide, where you’ll have your first opportunity to photograph tropical birds in a controlled, garden setting with excellent natural perches and beautiful backgrounds.
After breakfast, travel with your guide to the impressive Arenal Volcano region. En route, stop at the San Luis Tanager Watch for an afternoon photography session, where strategically placed feeders attract numerous colorful tanagers and other species offering excellent photographic opportunities. In the afternoon, arrive at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, located on a vast private reserve with the majestic volcano as a backdrop, and enjoy your first photography session on the grounds.
Dedicate a full day to bird photography at Arenal Observatory Lodge with your private guide. The property’s diverse habitats and well-maintained trails offer outstanding photography opportunities. The lodge’s feeders attract numerous species, while the property’s varied landscapes provide stunning backgrounds for your images. Your guide will help you find the best lighting and positions to capture the region’s colorful avian residents.
Travel to the remote Boca Tapada region in the northern lowlands, stopping at the excellent Bogarin Trails & Feeders for a morning photography session. This carefully designed garden features multiple feeding stations that attract toucans, tanagers, and numerous other species. In the afternoon, arrive at Laguna del Lagarto Eco-Lodge, where you’ll have a scheduled session at their renowned photography platform specifically designed for bird photographers.
Begin your day with a visit to the special King Vulture photography blind, one of the few places in the world offering consistent close-up opportunities with these impressive birds. The afternoon is dedicated to photography on the lodge grounds, utilizing their various platforms and feeders. Your guide will help you maximize these unique setups to capture frame-filling images of rainforest birds in their natural habitat.
Journey to the Sarapiqui region, stopping at the famous Cinchona feeders en route. This roadside location offers excellent opportunities to photograph hummingbirds, tanagers, and toucans at close range. By afternoon, arrive at Tirimbina Lodge, nestled in lush tropical forest. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the lodge’s gardens and accessible trails with your guide, photographing the diverse birdlife.
In the morning, visit Pierella Gardens, a private property with beautiful butterfly gardens and bird feeding stations set in natural surroundings. Later, enjoy a day pass at nearby Selva Verde Lodge, where you’ll have access to their extensive trail system and feeding stations. The varied habitats here provide excellent opportunities to photograph rainforest birds with your guide’s expert assistance.
Travel to the Turrialba region in the Caribbean foothills, stopping at Cope’s Gardens for a photography session. This location features carefully designed feeding stations with perfect perches for natural-looking bird images. By afternoon, arrive at the renowned Rancho Naturalista, famous among bird photographers for its feeding stations and exceptional variety of hummingbirds. Spend the afternoon photographing from the lodge’s famous terrace.
Dedicate a full day to photography at Rancho Naturalista and surrounding areas. Begin with morning photography on the lodge grounds, then venture to nearby locations including Cerro El Silencio, the Tuis River Valley, and La Mina. Each location offers unique bird photography opportunities, from hummingbirds at close range to forest birds in their natural habitats. Your guide will help you find the best settings and techniques for each situation.
Travel to the highlands of San Gerardo de Dota, stopping for photography in the unique páramo ecosystem. This high-elevation habitat hosts several specialized birds found nowhere else in Costa Rica. By afternoon, arrive at Quetzal Paradise Lodge, nestled in a pristine cloud forest valley. Spend the remaining daylight hours photographing around the lodge grounds with your guide.
Begin your day with a visit to Batsu Gardens, a private sanctuary designed specifically for bird photography with carefully placed perches and feeding stations in a natural setting. In the afternoon, participate in a specialized Quetzal Photography Tour with your guide, focusing on finding and photographing the magnificent Resplendent Quetzal, one of the world’s most beautiful birds and a highlight for any wildlife photographer.
After a final morning of photography opportunities around the lodge, your guide will transfer you to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) for your departing flight, concluding your bird photography adventure in Costa Rica.
"Amazing, could not have been better!"
When we booked this we knew nothing about the company and we were a little nervous about what we would be getting. We put some preliminary questions, like “will meals be a fixed menu, or free choice a la carte”. We also worried about whether the guide would be personable, knowledgeable, and with good language ability, etc.
It turned out that not only were these worries unfounded, but we had lucked into a far more generous, efficient, knowledgeable, and exciting company than we could have possibly imagined.
Every last part of this tour was super, and we don’t say that lightly. To begin, of course, the locations were mind blowing, and the birding was great. But then there was the personality, knowledge, and language ability of our guide and of the driver – both great people, and we fell in love with them immediately. And they and the company behind them had really thought of everything. There was never the slightest glitch or problem. To boot, the accommodations were to us first rate, and the food wonderful, and basically unlimited. …
Now, as we are going through our photos, we are impressed over again with every single last bit of this experience. It’s a cliché to say we could not recommend Costa Rica Focus highly enough, but that is exactly the case.
A special parting word about our guide, Alex C. Costa Rica Focus has many guides, but of course we only know about Alex. If in life you can meet a kung fu master or a violin master, or someone who has mastered any field, then it is inspiring. Alex is one of these. He could look in a forest and identify birds we could not even see, often even when he indicated them with his laser pointer. In addition he had a great knowledge of Costa Rican history, geography, culture, and politics, that he shared with great clarity. If Alex is any indication, then the guide you get with Costa Rica Focus is going to be good.
"I would recommend this company to all"
This company designed a fabulous Costa Rica bird trip. There were a variety of habitats to maximize the types of birds we saw. The accommodations were first rate. The hired drivers and bird guides were dependable and first rate. We enjoyed the food everywhere we went. The company stayed in touch and were able to make minor adjustments if necessary. We were very pleased with the trip.
"An amazing birding experience in Costa Rica"
Costa Rica Focus went above & beyond in every way. From the very beginning when I had a few questions before I made my decision to book this trip to the end in traveling home. I felt very safe because we had the ability to be in constant contact with the team if we needed them.
The trip itself was just amazing! I added over 200 new life birds to my list! The scenery was spectacular! Our guide was so helpful, knowledgeable & personable. Each lodge was unique in it’s own way; from larger to quite small. The staff at each place were super. Food was plentiful & tasty. Different birds and experiences at each location. I don’t think a single thing could be improved upon. Thanks again for a most memorable experience!
"Amazing Experience"
My wife and I joined a small group, we were 5 in total. Everything was perfectly well organized. Our guide, Minor, was fantastic. He was always ready to help and accomodate us. He also has a fantastic knowledge of wildlife and where to find it. We went to the mountains, Tortuguero in the rain forest and to the slopes of the Arenal volcano. Exotic places, fantastic views and hundreds of species of birds. I would recommend Costa Rica focus without hesitation.
"Knowledgeable and great local connections"
Joan and company were excellent by being so responsive, attentive, cooperative with making adjustments and extremely helpful at navigating our way around the country of Costa Rica. They had great connections with the locals and we got to know the people as well as the wildlife and the countryside. Our nature guides were top notch as well as our drivers. Very knowledgeable and patient (traffic and roads can be crazy at times). We always felt remembered each day as they checked in with us and them with us. The app is fantastic for knowing what was up each day. Highly recommend!
"A Quest for the Agami Heron"
I went on the A Quest for the Agami Heron in June of 2023 and have meant to write a review since then. I am going with better late than never. My cousin talked me into going with her and insisted I take her camera. I could not get a picture for three days that I could even see but on the third day magic happened and my life changed. From the moment I walked out of the airport to the moment they dropped me back off everything was taken care of. Our guide, Minor, and our driver, Victor, took care of us and were an amazing team to get us to very unique hotels, wonderful restaurants and to birds I never knew existed. Resplendent Quetzels, Sunbitterns, and Agami Herons were some of my favorites. We saw baby turtles released into the sea and all cried together when they made it. We built friendships through our experiences that were real and lead to another one this summer and a reserved one for next year. I highly recommend Costa Rica Focus. 5+ out of 5 stars.
"A fantastic trip to Ecuador"
I’ve just returned from a fantastic 11 days’ birding in Ecuador organised by Costa Rica Focus and I couldn’t be happier. Having used them last year, I knew what to expect and they didn’t let me down. Their attention to detail is incredible and everything went exactly to plan from the moment I was greeted at Quito airport.
But what makes them special is their careful choice of guides. Both Daniel and Ivan were outstanding and helped me to see and photograph more than 300 birds, most of them lifers. Their incredible knowledge, professionalism and enthusiasm made all the difference. Toucans, hawks, cock of the rock, umbrella bird, oilbird and loads of hummingbirds – they got me up close and personal to them all.
I have no hesitation in recommending Costa Rica Focus and I look forward to my next adventure with this great company.
"“Off the beaten track” excellent trip that lived up to its name."
3rd trip with this company. Alex was an excellent guide/driver and the itinerary well organized and unique. Some locations family owned with breathtaking views, wonderful accommodation and home cooked meals. Saw 214 species of birds with 90 % “lifers”. Was a fusion of photography and forest birding. Have to admit that as a prairie person my body ached after hiking up and down slippery paths and staircases. CR is beautiful with waterfalls, lush vegetation and mountains!
We crossed the country from SanJose to the Pacific Ocean, over the highest peaks and to the southern tropical areas with stops at local restaurants and locations where we saw species rarely seen. The meals were healthy and typically CR. Given that this is nesting season without the migrant birds, Alex and the experienced birders in our small group found many unique species. It was a good learning experience for myself as I’m more of a photographer. Would highly recommend this tour and I will certainly continue to travel with Costa Rica focus.
