Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica Photography Tour
Full
Reserve with a deposit of £1050
No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.
Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica - 23rd Apr - 4th May 2027 - Full - Single occupancy
No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.
Photography enthusiasts of all skill levels are invited to join David on this immersive 11 night Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica Photography Holiday, a carefully paced journey through Costa Rica’s most productive photographic eco-zones. From cool highland cloud forest to the lush Caribbean foothills & the wildlife-rich northern lowlands, this itinerary has been continually refined to maximise time with subjects, light quality & photographic variety. Throughout the tour, you will receive experienced guidance from David alongside a trusted network of local specialists, helping you build confidence & return home with a diverse, well-crafted portfolio.
The tour begins with your arrival in Costa Rica & an overnight stay in the Alajuela area of San José, allowing time to rest before heading into the highlands. From here, the focus quickly turns to one of Central America’s most iconic birds, with dedicated sessions photographing the Resplendent Quetzal in the forests of San Gerardo de Dota. Early mornings are spent working with natural behaviour & clean perches, while afternoons provide opportunities to photograph hummingbirds at feeders, refining technique & composition in controlled yet natural settings.
Descending from the highlands, the journey continues into the Caribbean foothills around Guápiles, where private gardens offer close encounters with colourful species such as toucans, tanagers & hummingbirds. These carefully managed locations allow for frame-filling images & consistent light, making them ideal for both learning & creative experimentation. From here, the tour moves north into the remote lowlands of Boca Tapada, one of Costa Rica’s most rewarding regions for bird, reptile & nocturnal photography.
Several days in Boca Tapada are dedicated to a wide range of specialist sessions, including King Vulture photography, Royal Flycatchers, deck photography for parrots, toucans & oropendolas, river-based wildlife excursions & carefully planned night sessions. These include snake & frog photography & at least one evening focused on multi-flash bat photography, offering a rare opportunity to explore advanced lighting techniques in a supportive environment.
The final stage of the tour takes place in the Central Valley, where time is spent photographing a variety of wildlife in specialist locations, consolidating skills developed throughout the journey. The tour concludes after a final morning photography session & transfer to the airport, bringing to an end a richly varied Costa Rican wildlife photography holiday designed to inspire, challenge & reward photographers at every level.
See also: Wetlands of Costa Rica · Our awesome new Quetzals & Other Iconic Wildlife of Costa Rica Photography Holiday
This trip is one of our wildlife photography holidays in Costa Rica & part of our programme of Central American wildlife photography holidays.
The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.
- Day 1 - Arrival in Costa Rica, meet & transfer to hotel in the Alajuela area of San José - overnight Alajuela
- Day 2 - Transfer to the highlands, afternoon Resplendent Quetzal photography session - overnight San Gerardo de Dota
- Day 3 - Early morning Quetzal photography, afternoon hummingbird photography at feeders - overnight San Gerardo de Dota
- Day 4 - Transfer to the Caribbean foothills, garden photography including toucans, tanagers & hummingbirds - overnight Guapiles
- Day 5 - Morning garden bird photography, transfer to the northern lowlands - overnight Boca Tapada
- Day 6 - King Vulture photography, snakes & frogs photography, evening bat photography session - overnight Boca Tapada
- Day 7 - King Vulture photography, river boat photography session - overnight Boca Tapada
- Day 8 - Royal Flycatcher photography, private garden bird photography - overnight Boca Tapada
- Day 9 - Royal Flycatcher photography, multi-flash hummingbird photography session - overnight Boca Tapada
- Day 10 - Bird photography at feeders, transfer to the Central Valley - overnight San Carlos
- Day 11 - Bird photography at feeders within the Central Valley - overnight San Carlos
- Day 12 - Final morning photography session, transfer to airport for onward journey
We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.
- Limited to just five guests with single occupancy accommodation, ensuring personalised attention & prime photography opportunities.
- Witness & photograph dramatic nesting behaviours of iconic species like the Resplendent Quetzal, Macaws, & Royal Flycatchers.
- From dazzling birds (toucans, trogons, hummingbirds) to reptiles (basilisks & iguanas) & amphibians (tree frogs & glass frogs).
- Dedicated macro & behavioural shooting opportunities.
- Explore biodiverse hotspots like San Gerardo de Dota (Quetzals), Boca Tapada (King Vultures), & Monteverde (Three-wattled Bellbirds).
- Led by experienced photographers & local guides for optimal positioning & timing to capture rare behaviours.
- Target must-photograph creatures like the Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Emerald Toucanet, Jesus Christ Lizard, & various iconic Frogs.
- April offers clear skies, active wildlife, & breeding plumage, maximizing chances for stunning shots.
This wildlife photography holiday is carefully structured around reliable encounters with a diverse range of wildlife. Intended photography subjects include Atlantic Royal Flycatcher, Basilisk Lizard, Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frog, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Collared Aracari, Emerald Toucanet, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Glass Frog, Great Kiskadee, Green Iguana, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Keel-Billed Toucan, King Vulture, Lineated Woodpecker, Mantled Howler Monkey, Montezuma Oropendola, Red-eyed Tree Frog, Resplendent Quetzal, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Strawberry Poison Dart Frog, Three-toed Sloth, Two-toed Sloth, Violet Sabrewing, White-faced Capuchin & White-necked Jacobin. As with all ethical wildlife photography, sightings cannot be guaranteed.
What's Included & What's Not Included On The Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica Photography Holiday
Before booking the Wildlife Icons of Costa Rica Photography Holiday, we recommend reviewing what is included in the trip price, along with any items that are not. This helps ensure you have a clear understanding of what is covered, allowing you to focus fully on the photographic experience.
Most services & experiences are included in the trip price.
- Guidance from our experienced team members
- Accommodation on a Single occupancy basis
- Internal transfers
- Hide access
- Meals on a half board basis
Some items & services are not included in the trip price.
- International flights
- Internal flights
- Camera equipment
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- All drinks
Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.
What Do You Need To Bring With You?
The items listed below are intended as guidance rather than requirements. They outline optional & recommended clothing & camera equipment to help you prepare for the conditions & photographic opportunities you may encounter.
Clothing suggestions for the conditions expected.
- Clothing suitable for cold conditions
- Clothing suitable for moderate temperatures
- Clothing suitable for warm temperatures
- Lightweight, breathable clothing
- Windproof & waterproof outer layers
- Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
- Sun hat or cap
- Sunglasses
Suggested camera equipment for the opportunities expected.
- DSLR or mirrorless camera body
- Spare camera body
- Spare batteries, charger & memory cards
- Standard zoom lens for general wildlife photography (e.g. 24-70mm, 24-105mm)
- Telephoto zoom lens for wildlife photography (e.g. 70-200mm, 100-400mm)
- Super-telephoto lens (e.g. 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm)
- Macro or close-focus lens (optional)
- Tripod
- Remote Shutter Release
- Camera rain cover or waterproof protection
- Lens cleaning kit
- Camera backpack or suitable carry-on bag
- Laptop or storage device for image backup
NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.
The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.
NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.
In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.
Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.
Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.
All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.
NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.
NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.
NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.
Payment of a deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.
All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.
Explore the itinerary for an amazing wildlife photography holiday in Costa Rica, April 2027, focused on some Costa Rica’s signature species across key habitats.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled answers to the questions we are most commonly asked about this photography tour, covering everything from accommodation, transport & group size through to photography opportunities, fitness requirements & what to expect in the field. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always happy to discuss any aspect of the trip before you book.