Costa Rica:
Photography Workshop

Regional Description

The areas within Costa Rica have been chosen by our local guide to focus on the less traveled areas and behind the scenes places to focus on wildlife photography. Visits to private gardens and aviaries round out visits to cloud forests, jungle settings and the Northern Lowlands. The trip highlights Cerra del la Muerte and Quetzalas National Parks, a river curise and a visit with local villagers. These destinations will enable the group to maximize opportunities to photograph resplendent birds, frogs, snakes insects and mammals such as sloths and monkeys, and if luck, some of the small felines that populate the area.

Daily Summary
Nov 8-16, 2024

Nov 8:
Arrive San Jose

Meet the Group for Happy Hour and introductions; Discuss goals for the week.

Nov 9:
Cerro del la Muerte

Meet your private naturalist guide who is also a nature photographer, to discuss the weeks excursions.
Transfer to Cerra De la Muerte and Los Quetzales National Park to photograph the resplendent birds. Hike the paths leading to the Rio Savegre.
Enjoy a hummingbird shoot at a private garden.
Return to the hotel to review the day’s activities and fine tune camera settings.
Enjoy Happy Hour once you get the settings right!

Nov 10
Cerro Del La Muerte

Hike the trails on the property of Savegre Buena Vista.
Visit Batsu Gardens a wonderful refuge for a variety of birds
Again enjoy a photo classroom session and Happy Hour with your fellow photographers.

Nov 11:
Sarapiqui

Visit Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui in the northern Lowlands, reknowned for rich diversity of fauna and flora. Adventurers will enjoy this off-the-beaten-track tropical paradise of pineapple and sugar cane plantations and rich tropical jungle. It is best known as one of the last remaining nesting sites of the endangered Great Green Macaw. You can enjoy a moderate hiking tour that gives you the chance to see toucans, monkeys, sloths and crocodiles in their natural habitat.
In the afternoon visit the private Pierella Butterfly and Ecological Garden
Daily Photo classroom and Happy Hour.

Nov 12:
Sarapiqui River Tour

After breakfast, you will take Half-day Boat Tour on the Sarapiqui River.
During the tour you can expect to see tortoise, herons, kingfishers, king vultures, and many more species. The tour focuses the great diversity of flora and fauna that inhabit the humid tropical forest.

The afternoon will be spent with Jose Alberto Perez, locally known as Cope, is one of the most recognized self-taught natural history artists in the country. He welcomes the group to his home in Guapiles, complete with special bird feeders meant for photography and the close up contemplation of birds and nature—an intimate opportunity to appreciate nature so lovingly featured in his art.
Daily Photo classroom and Happy Hour

Nov 13-14
Arenal

You will have two days in Arenal. One one day you will stop at the Macaw Ranch to take up-close photos of these brilliantly colored birds, the largest of the parrot family. While the birds fly freely in a natural setting, they often preen their feathers for the cameras at close range

This afternoon your leaders will take you to some of the most hidden and tranquil oases in the area, where you can capture stunning photos of nature. With Alex' expert knowledge of the local wildlife, he and Dennus will help you find the best spots to photograph a variety of birds and animals, including hummingbirds, colorful tanagers, toucans, coatis, agoutis, monkeys, and sloths.

The second day will be devoted to exploring the 7 miles of trails around the hotel, including visiting a majestic waterfall and a museum showcasing the history of the region and the volcano.

Daily Photo classroom and Happy Hour

Nov 15:
San Jose

The Bogarin Trail in Costa Rica is a stunning 1.5-mile-long hiking trail that winds through the lush rainforests of the La Fortuna area. The trail is named after Joanne Bogarin, a well-known local conservationist who dedicated her life to protecting the flora and fauna of the region.
As you hike through the forest, keep your eyes peeled for sloths lazing in the trees, toucans perched on branches, and basilisks ("Jesus Christ" lizards) darting across the forest floor. The trail is an excellent place for nature lovers to observe and appreciate the beauty of the rainforest.

After the photoshoot you will make your way back to San Jose via private vehicle, making stops as necessary along the way.

Farewell Dinner for the Group

Nov 16:
Depart for Home

Private Transfer and Assistance with Check in for Departure to Home

Pricing and Accommodation

Accommodations

San Jose

Located in the heart of the city, this small international hotel has a swimming pool and gym.

Savegre

Located in the Talamanca Mountains, this family run hotel is one of the best places to observe the year round quetzals. The accommodations are basic but comfortable and the hotel is surrounded by hiking trails from which to observe nature.

Sarapiqui

Located in the town of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, the 40 room lodge is surrounded by tropical gardens with lagoons, butterfly grounds, a frog garden and two swimming pools.

Arenal

Situated only 1.7 miles from the majestic Arenal Volcano and with a spectacular view of Lake Arenal, this lodge is surrounded by rainforests and nature, sitting on a 870 acre property, which consists of 400 acres of reforestation, 270 acres of natural forest and 200 acres of cultivated land. The hotel offers 48 comfortable rooms within the gardens, the majority with a direct view of the volcano and/or the forest. The 7 miles of well-maintained trails for walking, horseback riding or biking running through the property provide good opportunities to observe a variety of flora and fauna.

San Jose

This small boutique hotel, built in the 1930s is a historical-architectural monument of Costa Rica. It features contemporary urban interiors. The central location on the Avenida Central pedestrian boulevard is steps from the National Theatre, Gold Museum, cafés, and shops.