Portfolio Details
COSTA RICA 🇨🇷 PHOTO TOUR 13 DAYS
DETAILED ITINERARY OF COSTA RICA PHOTO TOUR
BEST SEASON TO VISIT NOV 15TH - MAY 15TH
In the information below you will find all the details day by day about you visit to COSTA RICA for your BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR.
DAY 1
- Arrival to SAN JOSE Airport (JUAN SANTAMARIA-ALAJUELA AIRPORT)
I will be waiting for you at SAN JOSE Airport in the arrival gate. After that the driver will take us to the HOLLIDAY INN HOTEL. (40 MIN. DRIVE) for resting and to be ready for the next day of the adventure.
DAY 2
- Early departure to CASA DOWII Reserve. (2 h drive). This is one of the best reserves to photograph the SOME RARE AND UNIQUE SPECIES in this area of Costa Rica. Some of the target species in this reserve are: Spangle cheeked tanager, Prong-billed barbet and BUFFY CROWNED WOOD PARTRIDGE.
In this reserve we will stay as long as we want and after to enjoy of the lunch. We will continue to the next spot where we will be able to photograph for a first time in our trip the amazing RESPLENDENT QUETZAL. After to visit this SPOT. We will drive to the next lodge GEMA DEL BOSQUE LODGE. One of the best lodges in the area. IN THIS LODGE WE WILL STAY THE NEXT 3 DAYS.
DAY 3
- We will spend a whole day looking for the Resplendent Quetzal split in two half’s, sometimes working on a tree trunk for the upcoming nesting season or simply visiting wild avocado trees to feed, the Quetzal is always THE TARGET BIRD TO PHOTOGRAPH IN the tour! We have set up perches near the trees they frequently visit to have great photography opportunities!
DAY 4
- We will visit a lodge nearby for our first multi-flash session in the premises of this lodge, the best place to photograph the endemics Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Green Violetear, Talamanca Hummingbird and Volcano Hummingbird. As we take turns to use the multi-flash we will take advantage of the lodge gardens, Peg-billed Finch, Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher and Golden-browed Chlorophonia are common visitors.
We will spend the full morning in this reserve and in the after we will drive back to the lodge for a hummingbird photo session in GENA DEL BOSQUE lodge.
DAY 5
- We will start our day photographing ion the feeder station of the lodge and looking for SPOTTED WOOD-QUAIL that is a rare bird to see and photograph.
After lunch we will drive to our nest lodge in Turrialba area RANCHO NATURALISTA LODGE that will be our lodge for the nest 2 nights.
DAY 6
- This day we will spend all day long photographing in the feeder stations of this lodge and we will visit some verbena flowers to have the chance to photograph some unique species of hummingbirds for this area. SNOWCAP AND BLACK CRESTED COQUETTE. Those are the targets species on this place and also of our tour in Costa Rica. All day in the lodge.
DAY 7
- In the morning after Breakfast, we will Drive to the next lodge in SARAPIQUI area, this is one of the longest drives that we will have during the trip.
- On the way we will visit a nice feeder station to have the first chances to photograph a beautiful toucan and honeycreeper. KEEL BILLED TOUCAN AND RED LEGGED HONEYCREEPER after lunch we will continue driving to our nest accommodation. SELVA VERDE LODGE 2 nights.
DAY 8
- This day we will visit a reserve near by the lodge where we will have chances to photography at least 3 different species of toucan and some woodpeckers like PALE BILLED WOODPECKER, YELLOW THROATED TOUCAN, COLLARED ARACARI AND SOME MORE.
After lunch we drive shortly to the spot of our Snakes and frog macro session. We will shoot the Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, Green and Black Poison Dart Frog, Red-eyed Leaf Frog, White-sided Palm Pit Viper, among others. Macro lens recommended but not required.
DAY 9
- This day after breakfast in the morning we will Drive to the next lodge in BOCA TAPADA area. This is one of the lodges with the best setup for bird photography in the area.
Some of the birds to photograph in here we will have chances to photograph Golden Hooded Tanager, Brown Hooded Parrot, Montezuma Oropendola, Yellow-Throated and Keel-billed Toucans, Collared Aracari and some more, those are just some of the species that regularly show up. Overnight LAGUNA LAGARTO LODGE.
DAY 10
- We will spend our day photographing at Laguna Lagarto. Mid-Morning, we will set up at the best King Vulture Hide in Costa Rica where they sometimes show up in great numbers. HALF DAY PHOTOGRAPHYNG KING VULTURE OTHER OF THE TARGET BIRDS IN OUR TOUR.
After Lunch we will drive to CAÑO NEGRO to do some SAFFARI PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE LAKE where we will have the chance to photograph at least 5 different species of KINGFISHERS like. RING KINGFISHER, GREEN KINGFISHER, AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER AND if we are lucky, we can get AGAMI HERON. We will spend the afternoon in this area and later we will drive back to our lodge LAGUNA LAGARTO LODGE.
DAY 11
- We depart after breakfast looking for birds along the way, we will arrive at Bosque de Paz to spend the afternoon shooting in the premises of the lodge. Green-crowned Brilliant, Black-bellied Hummingbird, Spangle-cheeked Tanager.
We have the chance to visit a private reserve on the way to our next lodge. In this place we do have chances to photograph a very nice bird that is the WHITE COLLARED MANAKIN and some more. Overnight Bosque de Paz.
DAY 12
- We will spend mourning on the feeder stations at BOSQUE DE PAZ LODGE
Also, we will visit a reserve called Blue Falls where we will have our last Hummingbird Multi-flash session. Some of the species to photograph here are Green-Hermit, Violet Sabrewing, Coppery Headed Emerald are possible and some other birds seen in the gardens like Bananaquit and Black-chested Wood Quail.
DAY 13
- THIS DAY AFTHER BREAKFAST WE WILL DRIVE TO SAN JOSE CITY FOR YOUR DEPARTURE FLIGHT.
ON THIS DAY ALL WIILL DEPEND OF YOUR DEPARTURE SHEDULE.
That’s all the information about this 13 DAYS TRIP OF PHOTOGRAPHY in COSTA RICA 🇨🇷
Thanks for all your trust and for choosing COSTA RICA AND BARBET BIRDS EXPEDITIONS for this amazing EXPERIENCE.
See you NEXT TIME. ALL THE BEST FOR YOU.
IVAN PARRA CEO/ CO-FOUDER
BARBET BIRDS EXPEDITIONS