Costa Rica Bird Photography Tour Report — 202 Species and 29 Hummingbirds

This 12-night bird photography tour brought together a small international group of eight guests from Canada, the United States, and Singapore for a carefully paced exploration of Costa Rica’s most productive bird photography regions. Led by professional birding guide Andrés Zúñiga, with the steady support of driver Víctor “Chicho” Gón, the itinerary combined some of the country’s best-known photography locations with time in the field across a wide range of habitats and elevations.

From lowland wetlands and Caribbean foothills to cloud forest hummingbird gardens and highland quetzal country, the trip balanced dedicated photography sessions with relaxed birding and plenty of time to work different angles, lighting conditions, and species behavior.

By the end of the tour, the group had recorded 202 species, including an impressive 29 species of hummingbirds.

Trip at a Glance

Tour Focus: Bird Photography

Dates: April 1–13, 2026

Guide: Andrés Zúñiga

Driver: Víctor “Chicho” Gón

Guests: 8

Countries Represented: Canada, United States, Singapore

Species Recorded: 202

Hummingbird Species: 29

Main Regions Visited: Central Valley, Central Pacific, Talamanca Highlands, Turrialba, Sarapiquí, Arenal

Central Valley and Central Pacific

The trip began in the Central Valley, where the group eased into the trip with an afternoon of bird photography in the gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea before heading to the Central Pacific.

From there, the group continued to the Central Pacific lowlands, where several productive sessions around the Tárcoles River estuary provided excellent opportunities for lowland bird photography. Revisiting the area across different light conditions allowed guests time to refine compositions and spend more time with key species rather than rushing through sightings.

A visit to Orotina added another highlight, particularly for owl photography, along with several dry forest and edge species that contrasted nicely with the wetter habitats visited later in the trip.

Talamanca Highlands and Quetzal Country

As the tour climbed into the Talamanca Highlands, the focus shifted toward high-elevation specialties, hummingbirds, and cloud forest species. The San Gerardo de Dota area proved especially productive, with multiple successful sessions focused on the Resplendent Quetzal as well as a variety of mountain hummingbirds and tanagers.

A private session at Batsu Gardens offered controlled photography opportunities in beautiful natural settings, giving guests time to work on both close-up compositions and behavioral shots. Additional time in the field around the valley added a more traditional birding element to the experience

Rancho Naturalista and Turrialba

Continuing east to Turrialba, the group settled into Rancho Naturalista, where bird photography centered around the lodge’s well-known feeders and surrounding trails. Nearby Tranki Gardens added further diversity, with a wide variety of hummingbirds and other species providing consistent activity throughout the day.

Sarapiquí Lowlands

The Caribbean lowlands around Sarapiquí offered a contrast in both habitat and species. Visits to Cope’s Gardens, Pierella Gardens, and Alvaro’s Macaws provided a mix of feeding stations, forest edge, and garden photography, allowing for a productive combination of controlled setups and natural encounters. Getting Macaws in flight at Alvaro’s was a highlight of the tour.

Arenal Region

In Arenal, the group continued to build on their species list with visits to Cinchona feeders, Bogarín Trail, and the grounds of Arenal Observatory Lodge. These locations provided excellent opportunities for both hummingbirds and a wide range of other species, including several memorable close-range encounters.

The final full day of the trip included stops at Bosque Nuboso El Cocora and the San Luis Tanager Watch, offering one last opportunity to photograph highland and mid-elevation species before returning to the Central Valley.

Over the course of the journey, the group recorded an impressive 202 species, including 29 species of hummingbirds, a major highlight of the trip. The itinerary’s combination of feeding stations, private gardens, and forest trails provided a well-balanced experience, allowing guests to focus on photography while still enjoying the broader birding opportunities that Costa Rica offers.

Beyond the species count, the trip was defined by a strong group dynamic, flexibility in the field, and a shared appreciation for both the birds and the experience itself, something reflected throughout the journey, from early mornings in the field to reviewing photos and highlights at the end of each day.

Ebird trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/487322