Costa Rica Bird Photography Tour

Enjoy an early morning breakfast, then depart for Arenal and its spectacular birding opportunities. We’ll stop at the renowned La Tigre Hummingbird Gardens, where your guide will help you spot and photograph a dazzling array of hummingbirds against a backdrop of vibrant tropical flowers. Look for White Bellied Mountain Gems, Violet Sabrewings, Green Hermits, and more as they dart and hover. Tanagers, bananaquits and other songbirds also frequent this paradise.

After checking into our hotel, meet your guide for an afternoon of birdwatching and photography in the lush gardens and grounds of the Arenal Observatory Lodge. The feeders and flowering plants attract flocks of Tanagers, Honeycreepers, Parrots, Flycatchers, and up to 16 hummingbird species. With your guide’s expert help in spotting and identifying species, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to capture incredible images.

As sunset approaches, return to your room to relax and review your images from an exceptional day of bird photography before enjoying dinner as a group.

Where you will be staying: Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

This morning, enjoy another excellent day photographing the incredible diversity of birds right on the grounds and trails of the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Over 500 bird species have been recorded in this area of primary and secondary rainforest, pastureland, and hardened lava flows. Your guide will help you spot and identify elusive forest birds like Antbirds, Tinamous, Doves, and Quails as you trek the jungle trails.

This afternoon features an excursion to the renowned Bogarin Gardens, an absolute must-visit for any birder or photographer. Thanks to dedicated local naturalist Geovanni Bogarin, you can walk good trails through second growth and wet areas hosting reliable sightings of rare species. Target birds include Uniform Crakes, Rufous-tailed Jacamars, Rufous-winged Woodpeckers, Barred Antshrikes, Long-billed Gnatwrens, Black-crested Coquettes, Golden-winged Warblers, and Mourning Warblers. With time at both the trails and feeders, you’ll have ample opportunity to get spectacular photographs.

Return to the lodge in the evening to relax and review your images, reminiscing about sightings with your guide over dinner. We’ll discuss plans for continuing the exceptional bird photography opportunities tomorrow!

Where you will be staying: Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

After breakfast, we’ll travel with your guide to the small town of Boca Tapada and the rustic Laguna del Lagarto Lodge. Nestled in 500 protected hectares of rainforest, this lodge offers genuine immersion in nature, with trails providing direct access to the symphony of 350 bird species that call this area home.

Exuberant trails wind through 150 species of trees, past monkeys, caimans, coatis, and red frogs. As one of the top destinations for birdwatchers and photographers, the lodge features strategically located photography platforms within just 4 meters of birds.

This afternoon, enjoy a special photography session on a custom platform for closeup shots of the majestic and elusive King Vulture. Your guide will provide tips on capturing these remarkable birds as they go about their day.

After a full day of hiking trails, boating, or horseback riding to encounter the area’s enchanting biodiversity, retire to your private bungalow to relax and review your incredible images. We’ll meet in the evening to reminisce about sightings over dinner before planning another day in this bird and nature lover’s paradise.

Where you will be staying: Laguna del Lagarto Lodge

Today we’ll visit Adolfo’s Gardens, a backyard bird photography hide in the village of Santa Rita that has quickly become one of our most popular locations. While dense forests can be difficult for photographing birds, agricultural areas and fruiting gardens situated at forest edges often attract a huge diversity of species – something Adolfo’s leverages perfectly.

You’ll spend the morning comfortably shooting from the hide as birds flock to feeders and fruiting plants. With the expertise of your guide in spotting and identifying species, you’ll get excellent photographs of tanagers, honeycreepers, toucans, parrots and more against lush backdrops.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to the Laguna del Lagarto Lodge to photograph their exceptional hummingbird garden. With a diversity of nectar plants and feeders draws in dozens of hummingbird species, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to capture these winged jewels up close. Enjoy shooting as hummingbirds like the White-necked Jacobin, Violet-headed Hummingbird, and Stripe-throated Hermit dart and hover.

After another incredible day of Caribbean bird photography, relax on the lodge’s veranda and review your shots over dinner with your guide. Tomorrow brings more opportunity to get incredible photos!

Where you will be staying: Laguna del Lagarto Lodge

On our way to Sarapiqui today, we’ll make a special stop at Alvaro’s farm for a truly unique bird photography opportunity. Several years ago, Alvaro nursed injured Scarlet and Great Green Macaws back to health. They recovered fully and bred, with around 20 macaws now calling Alvaro’s farm home.

These magnificent birds fly freely yet stay near the farmhouse where Alvaro provides peanuts. This means there’s a predictable flight path allowing photographers to prep for the perfect in-flight macaw shots. Your expert guide will position you in prime spots to capture the colours and motions of these large parrots mid-air.

We’ll also have the chance for incredible close-up perched shots, both at eye level and up in the trees as the macaws bond with Alvaro. Photograph the stunning blues, reds and greens of these tropical icons. With your guide’s help to get close safely, you’ll walk away with phenomenal photos.

After an exceptional morning photographing these charismatic birds, we’ll continue to our eco-lodge in Sarapiqui. Settle into your room before joining your guide to review your shots and exchange stories while enjoying dinner together. The bird photography continues tomorrow!

Where you will be staying: Tirimbina Lodge

After an early morning photographing birds in the gardens and trails of Tirimbina, we’ll visit the renowned Cope’s Garden after breakfast. Owned by local birder and artist Jose Albert Perez, this retreat is an amazing location for birders and photographers.

A productive pond and well-stocked feeders draw in tanagers, toucans, pigeons, hummingbirds like Hermits and Bronze-tailed Plumeleteers, and many more. Listen for the sounds of Slate-colored Grosbeaks and Striped Cuckoos as you photograph these beauties up close. We may also spot Pygmy Kingfishers, Russet-naped Wood-Rails, and roosting owls like Crested Owls if we’re lucky.

With your guide’s expert help spotting notoriously elusive species, you could also photograph White-ringed Flycatchers, Purple-throated Fruit Crows, Semi Plumbeous Hawks, Brown-hooded Parrots, and Thicket Antpittas in the gardens or surrounding forest. The diversity is astonishing! After a full morning of photography, we’ll return to the lodge to review shots and share stories with your guide and group over dinner.

The next day brings more incredible bird photography opportunities. Costa Rica’s birdlife never cease to amaze!

Where you will be staying: Tirimbina Lodge

Today we’ll travel to the mountain paradise of Rancho Naturalista Lodge, surrounded by magnificent cloud and rainforest. This small, rustic eco-lodge provides a comfortable and cosy retreat, with spacious rooms decorated with Costa Rican handicrafts. From your private balcony, take in spectacular mountain vistas while breathing the purest air.

After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring the lush gardens, busy feeders, and expansive grounds of the lodge. With an expert guide at your side, keep eyes peeled for coveted resident species like Immaculate Antbirds, Thicket Tinamous, Purple-crowned Fairy Hummingbirds, White Hawks and many more. The diversity of birds drawn in by the flowers and fruit is astonishing.

As the sun sets, return to your room to relax and review your shots before meeting your guide and group for dinner. Share highlights and stories from the day while planning tomorrow’s photography adventure. With continued access to prime bird real estate right on the lodge grounds, you’ll capture incredible images!

Guided by your private guide, you’ll explore this natural marvel, seeking out the best birds and animals that inhabit the region.

Where you will be staying: Rancho Naturalista

After breakfast, we’ll spend today immersed in the biodiversity of Rancho Naturalista’s reserves and surrounding cloud forest. From the observation balcony, photograph hummingbirds buzzing through gardens filled with nectar-rich flowers. Then venture out on the reserve’s beautiful forest trails in search of elusive species like quetzals, trogons, and manakins, aided by your expert guide.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the hummingbird pools during the time when hummingbirds come to bathe and preen. Set up near these pools to get incredible shots of these tiny birds fluttering their wings and shaking water droplets from their feathers. With over 22 hummingbird species in the area, the photo opportunities are unmatched!

Return to the lodge in the evening to connect with your guide and fellow photographers over dinner. Review your best shots of the day and make plans for continuing your exceptional bird photography adventure tomorrow in this mountain paradise. The diversity at Rancho Naturalista seems endless!

Where you will be staying: Rancho Naturalista

Today we depart the Caribbean for the cool, lush Talamanca Mountains. We’ll stop at Cinchona, where feeders attract highland specialties like barbets, tanagers, hummingbirds, and toucanets. From the observation deck, enjoy coffee while photographing these species at eye level.

Next, we’ll continue to Quetzal Paradise Lodge, nestled amidst cloud forest just 3km from Los Quetzales National Park. The property features rustic wooden bungalows with basic but comfortable amenities, surrounded by gardens and 12km of trails.

This afternoon, we’ll ensure the lodge feeders are stocked to draw in more mountain birds for photography. Set up your gear and secure shots of species like the Resplendent Quetzal, Mountain Robin, Black Guan, and even the Volcano Hummingbird. With mossy backdrops and afternoon light filtering through the canopy, the images will be stunning.

Later, reconvene with your guide and group on the lodge’s scenic terrace. Share your favourite shots while recounting the day’s many highlights. After dinner, rest up for another day discovering the treasures of these mystical cloud forests!

Where you will be staying: Hotel Quetzal Paradise Lodge

After breakfast, we’ll visit prime highland areas at elevations from 1500-2500 meters to target sought-after mountain species. Based on conditions, we may go to Tolomuco Lodge, Batsu Gardens or Savegre Lodge. With an expert guide leading the way, our goal is photographing brilliant birds like the Resplendent Quetzal, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, and Flame-throated Warbler.

Your guide will position you in ideal spots to capture these birds against the magical, mossy cloud forest backdrop. We’ll take advantage of the best light and work to get spectacular shots of them perched, in flight, or even at nests if we’re fortunate.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll return to the busy feeders at Quetzal Paradise Lodge for more incredible photo ops in beautiful afternoon light. Spend time with species not seen earlier before reconvening for dinner with your guide to reminisce about your exceptional sightings. You’ll head home with stunning photos and unforgettable memories!

Where you will be staying: Hotel Quetzal Paradise Lodge

After 12 incredible days photographing Costa Rica’s spectacular birds, today our bird photography tour comes to an end. We’ll have one last early morning session capturing final shots and favorites before departing Quetzal Paradise Lodge.

Your guide will then transport you back to the San Jose International Airport, reminiscing along the way about all the amazing species encountered over the past two weeks. You’ll arrive with plenty of time to check in for homebound flights.

With memory cards and camera bags full of incredible Costa Rican bird images, you’ll head home with awe-inspiring photos, new knowledge thanks to your expert guide, and memories that will last a lifetime. We hope this tour provided you with the quintessential bird photography experience. Safe travels and we hope to see you on a future birding adventure!