Essential Costa Rican Wildlife Photography Tour

Species regularly photographed include resplendent quetzals, king vultures, keel-billed toucans, collared aracari, emerald toucanets, fiery-throated hummingbirds, red-eyed tree frogs, glass frogs, blue jeans poison dart frogs & basilisk lizards. Additional tropical species may also be encountered throughout the varied habitats. As with all wildlife photography, sightings can never be guaranteed.

San Gerardo de Dota is located in Costa Rica's cool cloud forests where resplendent quetzals are regularly found perched on mossy branches during dawn sessions. The highland location provides excellent opportunities to photograph these iconic birds in their natural cloud forest habitat with atmospheric misty conditions.

King vulture photography takes place at a remote hide offering superb low-angle imagery. The hide positioning allows photographers to capture these impressive raptors at close range while maintaining comfortable working conditions & excellent photographic opportunities.

This is a dedicated wildlife photography holiday with photography sessions scheduled throughout each day from day 2 to day 7. Multiple locations are visited including cloud forests, Caribbean foothills & northern lowlands, maximising opportunities to photograph Costa Rica's diverse tropical species.

Multiflash setups are used to create wing-frozen shots of hummingbirds including fiery-throated hummingbirds. The specialized equipment allows photographers to capture the intricate details of hummingbird wings in flight while maintaining sharp focus throughout the frame.

The 7-photographer limit ensures everyone has sufficient space at feeding stations & hides, receives personalised guidance from David Miles & enjoys a more relaxed photographic experience. The small group size enhances access to the best photography positions at each location.

Dedicated sessions focus on creating macro portraits of tree frogs, glass frogs & rainforest reptiles including basilisk lizards & green iguanas. The sessions take place in suitable habitats where these species can be photographed revealing their intricate details & vibrant colours.

You'll stay at different locations across Costa Rica's varied regions including Alajuela, San Gerardo de Dota, Guapiles & Boca Tapada. Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard with half board meal basis throughout the 6-night tour.

No advanced skills are required. David Miles & the local guides provide experienced guidance suitable for photographers of all levels during the wildlife photography sessions. Clear advice is given on approaching each scene & managing light in forest environments.

Bring a camera suitable for wildlife photography, telephoto lenses for distant subjects, macro capabilities for amphibians & reptiles, spare batteries & memory cards. Detailed equipment recommendations will be provided before departure to ensure you're prepared for the varied photographic opportunities.

In the highland regions where quetzal photography takes place, temperatures can drop significantly during early mornings & at higher elevations. Pack clothing suitable for cooler conditions despite Costa Rica's generally tropical climate, particularly for dawn photography sessions.

Trip cost includes 6 nights accommodation across multiple locations, all meals on half board basis, guiding by David Miles, all wildlife photography sessions, feeder access, hide sessions & airport transfers. Single occupancy accommodation is included as standard throughout the tour.