Hunt for the Hummingbirds

13-Night, 14-Day Trip

About This Bird Photography Group Tour

Focus: Bird Photography

Tour Highlights

Private professional photography and birding guide
Strategic multi-habitat exploration
Specialized photography venues with optimal lighting conditions
Comfortable lodging in prime birding locations
Mix of wild nature photography and controlled feeder settings
Access to Costa Rica's most coveted bird photography sites

Trip Overview

Day 1:

Arrive San Jose

Days 2-3:

Pacific Lowlands

Days 4-5:

San Gerardo de Dota - Highlands

Days 6-7:

Turrialba - Mid-elevation

Days 8-9:

Caribbean Lowlands

Days 10-11:

Caribbean Foothills

Day 12:

San Jose

Day 13:

Return to SJO Airport

Immerse yourself in the world of bird photography on this exclusive 13-day expedition through Costa Rica's most spectacular birding locations. This carefully crafted journey, led by a professional photography and birding guide, focuses on capturing Costa Rica's dazzling hummingbirds and other iconic species in their natural habitats. Your photographic adventure spans seven distinct regions, from the misty heights of the Talamanca Mountains to the lush Caribbean lowlands. Experience an unparalleled variety of specialized photography locations, including botanical gardens, feeding stations, pristine nature reserves, and hidden photography hotspots.
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What's Included in Your 13-Night, 14-Day Hunt for the Hummingbirds Tour?

  • Small Group Tour – Photography

    On a group tour with a private guide, the guide is with you from your arrival to your departure. You not only enjoy bird photography 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 and photograph 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 and photographed

    Access to off-the-beaten-track locations

    Flexibility for impromptu stops

    Daily species recap with guide

    Photo identification from your guide during and after your trip.

    Fixed travel dates

    Less individual flexibility

      Ideal for

    • Serious bird photographers aiming to maximize species sightings

    • First-time visitors wanting constant expert guidance

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

    • Travelers who value having all meals and services included

    • Photographers who enjoy shared experiences with like-minded travelers

    • Travelers looking for an easy, seamless travel experience

    • Hunt for the Hummingbirds 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. 

      Day 2: Central Valley to Central Pacific

      Journey to the Central Pacific region. Visit Alvaro’s Orotina for specialized bird photography opportunities. Arrive at Cerro Lodge and spend the afternoon photographing birds on the property’s well-maintained grounds. 

      Day 3: Carara National Park & Tarcoles River

      Begin your day photographing birds in Carara National Park. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat tour along the Tarcoles River Estuary, capturing shore birds and water species in their natural habitat. 

      Day 4: Central Pacific to San Gerardo de Dota

      Travel to the Talamanca Highlands with stops at Miriam’s Quetzals & Hummingbirds and the unique Paramo habitat for high-elevation species photography. Settle in at Savegre Lodge for afternoon photography sessions. 

      Day 5: Savegre & Batsu Gardens

      Spend the morning photographing birds in the Savegre Lodge Reserve. Visit the spectacular Batsu Gardens, designed specifically for bird photography, with multiple specialized setups and feeding stations. 

      Day 6: San Gerardo de Dota to Turrialba

      Transfer to the Turrialba Valley. Spend the afternoon photographing the diverse species at Rancho Naturalista. This lodge is well known for its exceptional photography terrace and active gardens. This is your top spot for the Snowcap. 

      Day 7: Rancho Naturalista

      Full day dedicated to bird photography at Rancho Naturalista, exploring the trails, gardens, and specialized feeding stations. You’ll also visit local areas near Rancho to look for the top species of the area. 

      Day 8: Turrialba to Sarapiqui

      Travel to the Caribbean lowlands, stopping at Cope’s Gardens for photography. Arrive at your lodge and spend the afternoon exploring the property’s rich grounds. Along with the gardens and forest trails, the property features several ponds. This is a great location for colorful Tree Frogs and birds. 

      Day 9: La Selva & Dave and Dave's

      Early morning photography at La Selva Biological Station, followed by an afternoon session at Pierella Gardens specialized photography.. La Selva is an excellent spot for birds and mammals, and Pierellas provides wonderful opportunities for Hummingbirds.  

      Day 10: Sarapiqui to Arenal

      Begin with photography at the famous Cinchona Feeders before continuing to the Arenal region. Cinchona is the top spot for Barbets, Hummingbirds, and the Emerald Toucanet. Spend the afternoon photographing birds at Arenal Observatory Lodge. 

      Day 10: Arenal Observatory Lodge

      Full day of bird photography at Arenal Observatory Lodge, exploring the reserve’s trails, gardens, and feeding stations with the volcano as your backdrop.

      Day 12: Arenal to San Jose

      Return to the Central Valley with stops at Bogarin Trails & Feeders and San Luis Tanager Watch. Conclude your day with garden photography at Villa San Ignacio. Lodging: 

      Day 13: Departure

      Private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your return flight home. Farewell, and thank you for joining this unforgettable bird photography adventure in Costa Rica.

        "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 … 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.  …

        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 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 an 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.
      • Pacific Lowlands: Daytime temperatures will range from the high 80s to low 90s °F. Evening temperatures will be in the high 70s – low 80s °F.
      • 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. 
      • 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.

      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.