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Photography Hot Spots Costa Rica

10-Night, 11-Day Trip

About This Bird Photography Group Tour

Focus: Bird Photography

Tour Highlights

Dawn and dusk shooting sessions in prime lighting conditions
Professional bird photography guide
Small group size ensuring individual attention
Mix of feeder and natural habitat photography
Access to private reserves and gardens

Trip Overview

Day 1:

Arrive San Jose

Days 2-3:

Arenal - Caribbean Foothills

Days 4-5:

Caribbean Lowlands

Days 6-7:

Turrialba - Mid-elevation

Days 8-9:

Talamanca Highlands

Days 10:

Central Valley

Days 11:

Return to the SJO Airport

Overview
What's Included
Itinerary
Additional Info
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Embark on an unforgettable bird photography adventure through Costa Rica's bird photography hot spots. This carefully crafted tour takes you from the biodiversity-rich Caribbean Lowlands through the dramatic Arenal Volcano region, into the lush Turrialba Valley, and finally to the pristine Talamanca Highlands. Each location offers unique photographic opportunities - from intimate garden settings with feeders to untouched rainforests and misty mountain vistas. Moving at a photographer's pace, you'll have optimal time to capture Costa Rica's vibrant birdlife in perfect morning and afternoon light.
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What's Included in Your 10-Night, 11-Day Photography Hot Spots Costa Rica Tour?

  • Small Group Tour – Birdwatching

    On a group tour with a private guide, the guide is with you from your arrival to your departure. You not only bird at the hotels, parks, and reserves on your itinerary, you also have the flexibility to stop with the guide at local spots, and places that only the guides know. You have an expert with you every step of the way. Guests with a Private Guide can expect to see at least 50% more species than guests using local guides.

    Pros and Cons of a Scheduled Group Trip

    Continuous expert guidance throughout the entire trip

    50% more species typically observed

    Access to off-the-beaten-track locations

    Flexibility for impromptu stops

    Daily species recap with guide

    Species identification from your guide during and after your trip.

    Fixed travel dates

    Less individual flexibility

      Ideal for

    • Serious birders aiming to maximize species sightings

    • First-time visitors wanting constant expert guidance

    • Birders interested in off-the-beaten-path locations

    • Travelers who value having all meals and services included

    • Birders who enjoy shared experiences with like-minded travelers

    • Travelers looking for easy, seamless experience

      • Photography Hot Spots Costa Rica Itinerary Details

      Day 1: Welcome to Costa Rica

      Upon arrival at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, you will be greeted by your private driver and transferred to your hotel.  Enjoy the hotel gardens and later this evening meet your fellow travelers and your private guide for a welcome dinner and introduction to your tour. This evening, your guide will provide an overview of the exciting journey ahead. Overnight in San José.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Hotel Bougainvillea Gardens

    • Day 2: Arenal & San Luis Tanager watch

      Journey with your photography guide through the scenic Costa Rican countryside to the Arenal Volcano. En route, stop at the San Luis Tanager Watch, a specialized photography location where colorful tanagers frequent the feeders. After, continue to Arenal where the iconic volcano provides a dramatic backdrop for your next photography destination.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      San Luis Tanagers

    • Explore

      Arenal Volcano National Park

    • Day 3: Arenal Observatory Lodge

      The lodge is located in the unique Caribbean foothills at the base of the Arenal Volcano. This area has become one of the most diverse life zones for avifauna because both mid-elevation and lowlands birds inhabit the area. Even some highland species will occasionally pass through the reserve. The Observatory Lodge has recorded more than 400 different bird species on its property. 

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Arenal Observatory Lodge Reserve

    • Day 4: Sarapiqui and Cinchona

      Depart Arenal for Sarapiqui with a fantastic stop at the Cinchona Feeders, a photographer’s paradise. Hummingbirds, tanagers, barbets and toucans frequent multiple feeding stations. The covered viewing area provides shelter for equipment while offering clear shots of birds against the lush valley backdrop. After that, continue on to your lodge. 

    • Lodging

      Selva Verde Lodge

    • Explore

      Cinchona Feeders & Trails

    • Explore

      Selva Verde Lodge Trails

    • Day 5: Cope’s Gardens & Pierella Garden

      Begin your day at Cope’s Gardens, where you’ll explore the private gardens and trails searching for the Sickle-bill Hummingbird, and possibly the Crested Owl. The afternoon shifts to Pierella Gardens, a site renowned for its hummingbird and tanager photography opportunities. . These complementary locations offer diverse species and habitats. 

    • Lodging

      Selva Verde Lodge

    • Explore

      Pierella Gardens

    • Explore

      Cope’s Gardens

    • Day 6: Turrialba

      Today you leave the sultry Caribbean for the mid-elevation foothills of Turrialba. Arrive at your lodge and head to the veranda with your guide to visit the very productive fruit stations.  Expect Hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and much more for this afternoon of photography.  

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Rancho Naturalista Gardens, Feeders & Trails

      costa rica Birding Lodges Rancho Naturalista

    • Day 7: Rancho Naturalista and surrounding areas

      Rancho Naturalista offers photographers multiple specialized shooting locations, from the main terrace’s feeders to forest trails and lush gardens.  The property’s diverse habitats attract both common and rare species, while dedicated photography stations are positioned to take advantage of natural light. You’ll visit the hummingbird pools, where birds gather for their dawn bathing rituals.

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Rancho Naturalista Gardens, Feeders & Trails

      costa rica Birding Lodges Rancho Naturalista

    • Day 8: Journey to the Highlands

      Today you head to the highest elevation of your trip, the Talamanca Mountains and San Gerardo de Dota.  This is Quetzal country!  You’ll spend the afternoon enjoying photographing the highland species including hummingbirds and hopefully the Resplendent Quetzal. 

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      San Gerardo de Dota

    • Day 9: Quetzal area & Batsu Gardens

      Enjoy two prime photography locations today. The first is a highly populated Quetzal area that highlights the Quetzal in its natural habitat in the lush cloud forest.  The second is a fantastic photography spot, Batsu Gardens. Batsu provides a mix of feeding stations, platforms, and forest trails. Your private guide will help you spot the top species of the highlands. 

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Quetzal Paradise Lodge Trails

    • Explore

      Batsu Gardens

    • Day 10: Return to the Central Valley

      Spend the morning looking for the highland endemics, and perhaps a few more shots of the Quetzal before heading back to San Jose.   Your guide will be with you this afternoon to explore the gardens of your hotel as well. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner and reflect on your memories and all the great photographs from your adventure. 

    • Lodging

    • Explore

      Villa San Ignacio Trails

    • Day 11: Departure

       Today your private transfer takes you back to the SJO Airport, concluding your Costa Rican bird photography adventure.

        "Simply the best!"

        We can’t say enough about how pleased we were that we went with Costa Rica Focus, and thoroughly recommend them in every respect.

        From the very onset, it was a pleasure working with our contact Jess. She always promptly addressed any questions or concerns we had and tailored the vacation to suit our needs and requests. The entire vacation from pick up to drop off was flawless and the various locations gave us a wonderful opportunity to experience the diversity of birds, plants and other wildlife in Costa Rica. …

        As for our guide and driver Andres, what can we say? If a review sheet had a plus and minus column, we would request a third plus-plus column. He was absolutely amazing in every respect.  We arrived to meet Andres as a stranger only to leave two weeks later feeling like we just left our best friend behind. He was the most knowledgeable guide, an extremely careful and diligent driver, plus a delightfully thoughtful fellow in every respect. Nothing was too much trouble and any questions or requests were answered or taken care of immediately.  Many before we even asked the question. His main concern always was that we had the best experience in every respect.

        Without hesitation we highly recommend Costa Rica Focus.

        Richard and Donna,
        San Diego, California.

        Richard B

        San Diego, CA

        "Costa Rica Focus made our first Costa Rica experience perfect."

        What a vacation this turned out to be. I’ve had the best vacation of my life, and a big part of this is down to Costa Rica Focus. Thanks a lot, and I want to recommend this company to everyone with a wish to visit Costa Rica. A thoroughly professional company, which gave my first-time birding experience with the American continent another dimension.

        The drivers brought us safely between the sites. The local birding guides did an excellent job, and I were satisfied to discover the guides were equally nerdy as me. The guides knew bird-ID, song/calls and sites very well. I ended up with a species list of nearly 300, but would certainly have struggled reaching 220-230 without the help by the local birders from Costa Rica Focus. They also included my not-so-nerdy wife in a brilliant way, which made her happy as well.

        I owe a more detailed explanation to those who want to keep up reading, to explain. I’ve been a Norwegian birder for well over 40 years, but my wife doesn’t share this hobby with me. She likes nature but is more interested in the culture part new places. With the possible conflicting interests in mind, I contacted Costa Rica Focus just to get some advice for a Costa Rica-tour we had talked about since even before we got married 27 years ago. We had an idea of which sites we were going to visit and just had a few questions of which order we should do the sites, and how to best move from between the places.

        Costa Roca Focus quickly responded, and gave us a few options, one of which was to set up a 12-days schedule. I silently asked for the 12-days-tour, and to my complete surprise, my wife accepted on the condition of getting a week on the beach after the Costa Rica Focus journey. I probably won the jackpot.
        This turned out to be the best decision we’ve made in a long time. I can’t praise the company enough, and the money was well spent. The standards of our hotels were around 3 (4) stars, and all breakfast included. About two weeks before our tour started, Costa Rica gave us a must-do-list, which included connecting to a Whatsapp-group, to download an app (Axis) which kept an overview of our schedule and name of the guides for the trip, and a list to remind us of what to pack. These were all useful to us. The contact with Costa Rica Focus during our trip was quick and easy, and through the WhatsApp-group the company always responded quickly to our questions. …

        Jørn Helge M

        Norway

        "Another home run by Costa Rica Focus"

        A 10-day birding trip with a photography focus. Great birding and photography with our fabulous guide Sr. Minor H. despite occasionally iffy weather. Locations were great, accomodations ranged from luxurious to very basic, food from merely very good to excellent, including some pleasant surprises like Pizzeria Los Colibries, on the road to Savegre where we ended up when our destination restaurant turned out to be closed due to a medical emergency in the owner’s family – really good pizza with near-perfect crust and hyper-local ingredients like local mushrooms, herbs from their own gardens, lettuce from their hydroponic gardens, etc. It’s the first pizza place on the right on the road down to San Gerardo de Dota from National Route 2. You can’t miss it:). Logistics were perfect, including arrival and departure.

        Not a lot ot add to the overwhelmingly positive reviews of Costa Rica Focus. This is the fifth trip I’ve taken with them in four years, including one to Ecuador in collaboration with Ecuador Birds Tours, and if I go again to a destination they offer, I can’t think why I would look elsewhere.

        rfichera

        Boston, MA

      Additional Tour Info

      This itinerary requires a moderate to intermediate level of physical activity. Guests will traverse a variety of environments, including well-established trails, narrow forest paths, gardens, feeders, and observation platforms. Participants should be comfortable walking at least 2 miles at a steady, relaxed pace without the need for frequent stops or rest.

      Weather

      Weather in Costa Rica varies significantly by region and elevation. Expect different temperatures and rainfall patterns as you travel through the country. While some areas experience brief morning mist or afternoon showers, others may have longer periods of rain. These patterns shift throughout the year and create the perfect conditions for Costa Rica’s rich wildlife. While we plan activities around typical weather patterns, we recommend packing for both sun and rain to ensure your comfort throughout your journey. The temperatures listed below represent typical averages for each region, though daily conditions may vary.

      • Central Valley: Warm daytime temperatures from the high 70s °F to low 80s °F. Evenings pleasant in the high 60s °F to low 70s °F.
      • Mid-Elevation Locations (Foothills): Enjoy temperate weather with daytime highs in the low to mid-80s °F and evenings and early mornings in the low to mid 60s Mid-Elevation Locations: Enjoy temperate weather with daytime highs in the low to mid-80s °F.
      • Caribbean Lowlands: Daytime temperatures will range from the high 80s to low 90s °F. Evening temperatures will be in the high 70s – low 80s °F. Expect high humidity.
      • Highlands (Talamanca Mountains): Cooler conditions prevail here, with daytime temperatures in the mid to high 70s or low 80s °F. Evenings can drop to the high 40s or low 50s °F, so pack appropriately to stay comfortable throughout your journey. We recommend layers and a fleece or jacket. 

      On the Trail

      Please note that some parks and reserves lack seating or designated rest areas once inside the forest. While most trails are relatively flat, certain locations may involve inclines, steps, or uneven terrain with minor elevation changes.

      Trail conditions will vary, and guests should be prepared to navigate narrow forest paths with natural debris such as sticks, leaves, rocks, and roots. In the event of rain, trails may become muddy and slippery, adding to the challenge.This itinerary is designed for participants with an intermediate level of fitness and mobility, ensuring a rewarding experience for those prepared for the natural demands of these environments.

      All guests should be comfortable carrying their own equipment and personal items in the field. We understand that everyone’s pace and energy levels are different. If you ever feel the need for a shorter day, a morning to rest, or time to recharge, please let your guide know. This is your trip, and we’re here to ensure you enjoy it to the fullest.

      This trip would not be recommended for a person with mobility issues.

      Accommodations

      For our group trips, we select hotels based on their prime locations for birding opportunities. Accommodations will range from basic, rustic lodges to mid-range hotels with additional amenities, always with the goal of prioritizing excellent access to birding hotspots.

      It’s important to note that not all hotels will have air conditioning, but all will feature private bathrooms, hot or warm running showers, fans, and Wi-Fi (available at least in reception or dining areas, though signal strength may vary). The level of comfort will align with the descriptions provided in the itinerary.

      In some locations, rooms may be a 5–15 minute walk from the reception or dining areas. If you have physical needs and would prefer a room closer to these facilities, please inform us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.