/ COSTA RICA – TROPICAL WILDLIFE

An exclusive 9-day photo tour to discover the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rica. A trip to Costa Rica becomes a unique experience, where the gaze of a crested owl between the leaves, a hummingbird at its nest and the elegant flight of a Toucan become only preludes of an extraordinary adventure.

This 9-day tour will reveal over 200 species of birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, offering a unique experience. Crossing the various habitats of Costa Rica, from lush forests to mountains that rise to more than 3000 meters, we focus on unique species such as the Resplendent Quetzal and hummingbirds, with experienced and specialized guides.

In addition to the highlands we will also visit the lowlands, where the forests are located a few meters above sea level. In these areas, we will focus on all the other animal species in Costa Rica, visiting different locations dedicated to toucans, woodpeckers, parrots and many other species. We will use photographic hide to capture unique images of species such as the King vulture and the Black vulture.

During the tour, we will also have the opportunity to explore the forest on excursions in search of particular species such as the White bats of Honduras, owls, leaf cutter ants, Red capped manakin and we will be able to spot mammals such as sloths and primates.

Each photo session will be planned very carefully for the location, light and background. In addition, we will have special photo sessions, such as the use of multiflash to capture unique moments in flight of hummingbirds and macro sessions guided by experts to photograph amphibians and reptiles such as the eyelash viper, the red-eyed tree frog, the pygmy dendrobate (known as the blue-jeans frog) and the glass frogs.

So, concentrating in a few lines all the wonders and potential of this tour is an impossible task. Every excursion and activity reserves surprises and special sightings. This will be an experience immersed in an indescribably fascinating nature.

During these days, you will have the unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in nature and capture spectacular images among the magical scenery of Costa Rica. Guided by expert nature photographers, we will explore together the different environments of these areas, from the highlands to the lowlands, in search of the fauna that populates it without disturbing their natural routine.

1.Photographic Excursions: We will explore Costa Rica from North to South, crossing different habitats: from the Highlands to the Lowlands. We will discover tropical forests, high altitude areas and much more.

2. Photographic Assistance: We will offer you technical assistance during all photo sessions, exploring perspectives, lights and secrets to capture extraordinary images that tell the unique beauty of nature.

3. Hide session and Multiflash: You will have the opportunity to photograph unique species during hide sessions, including the King Vulture and the Black Vulture. In addition, with the multiflash, you can capture the flight of hummingbirds in unique moments.

Join us in an extraordinary adventure that will take you to explore the greatness of nature, capturing unique moments through your camera lens. This journey will not only sharpen your skills, but will also create a deep bond with one of the richest biodiversity countries in the world. 

Do not miss the opportunity to book your place in this unforgettable experience and be enchanted by the untouched and unspoiled beauty of nature.

NB: Slight changes may be made to the program, with the aim of optimizing the experience and photographic activities.

DAY 1:

• Arrival at San José Juan Santamaria airport and private transfer to hotel (about 30 min away), where we will spend the first night. The hotel is centrally located, so you can explore the city streets while waiting for the next morning transfer.
• Free dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 2:

• Breakfast at the hotel and moving to the first stop of our trip, about 3 hours by car.
• Free lunch: During this tour, all lunches will be free, giving you the advantage of deciding in total freedom and autonomy what and when to eat, to suit your personal preferences.
• Start of the first photo session of our tour: here you can observe many species such as the Keel-billed toucan, Yellow-Troathed Toucan, Montezuma Oropendola, Parrots, Shining/ Green/ Red-legged Honeycreepers, Black cheeked Woodpecker and other species.
• Possibility to add an extra session dedicated to the photography of bats with Multiflash by reservation by December 30.
  Return to the lodge where we will spend 2 nights, dinner and overnight.

DAY 3:

• Wake up early, breakfast and departure for the second session in the location of the previous afternoon.
• In mid-morning we will move to a new location for a cabin photo session dedicated to the rare King Vulture, Black Vulture, Crested Caracara and other species.
• Free lunch and short trip to a new location where we will dedicate ourselves to Hummingbirds. Here you can observe and photograph different species such as the Firey throat Hummingbird, the hummingbird cyanotus, the Talamanca Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and the White throat Orogemma.
• Through the use of a set of multi-flash for the exclusive use of our group, it will be possible to freeze unique moments during the very fast flight of these small birds.
• Return to the lodge, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4:

• Breakfast, check-out and last session dedicated to toucans and other species of birds.
• Free lunch, transfer of about 2 hours to the third destination of our trip and check in at the new lodge where we will spend 2 nights.
• After the check-in we can choose two different activities: here we will have the opportunity to dedicate ourselves to macro photography of some iconic and interesting amphibians that live in these areas such as the golden Dendrobate and the famous “Frog from blue jeans” (pygmy dendrobate) in their natural habitat.
• The second option is to photograph different bird species from a feeder near our lodge.
• Dinner with typical products and, after dinner, possibility to look for amphibians during the night, such as the red-eyed tree frog
• Overnight stay.

DAY 5:

• Breakfast and moving to a new location within a private reserve where we will have exclusive access to photograph new species in a new feeder. Here you can photograph different species of birdlife such as Montezuma Oropendola, Parakeets, Golden hooded tanager, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper and many other species. In this location we will have the opportunity to make a macrophotography session, dedicated to amphibians and reptiles.
• Short drive to the forest where we will immerse ourselves completely in nature. We will walk inside the tropical forest looking for nocturnal birds of prey (such as the Spectacled owl and the Crested owl), Honduran white bats and any other species we will encounter. It will be a magical experience, completely wild, where we will have the opportunity to photograph and observe unique species.
• Return to the lodge in the evening, dinner with local products and overnight.

DAY 6:

• Early breakfast, check-out and departure to the next location in the Talamanca Highlands (about 5 hours drive).
• Free lunch.
• After lunch, we will dedicate the entire afternoon to one of the most beautiful birds in Costa Rica: the Resplendent Quetzal.
• After the photo session, move about 1 hour to reach the new lodge, where we will spend 2 nights.
• Dinner with local products and overnight.

DAY 7:

• Wake up early, breakfast and departure for the second session dedicated to the Resplendent Quetzal, we will dedicate here the best hours of light to look for and photograph this beautiful bird.
• We will then spend the rest of the morning dedicating ourselves to photography of the Hummingbirds; among the species here observable we will find: the firey-throat Hummingbird, the Colibri cyanotus, Talamanca Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and so on.
• In the afternoon we will dedicate again to the incredible variety of colors of Hummingbirds or, you can dedicate an extra session to the shining Quetzal to try to improve their shots of the previous days (by reservation by December 30).
• Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 8:

• Breakfast and more relaxing morning, where we will dedicate ourselves to the species present in the areas surrounding our lodge.
• Check-out and departure to San José where we will spend the last night of this trip.
• Before arriving in San Jose we can make another stop at the location dedicated to hummingbirds.
• Arrival in San José and hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.

DAY 9:

• Possible breakfast at the hotel (depending on the flight time) and departure to the airport, where, after this incredible experience together we will greet you before the departure of your flights

For this tour, a 300mm telephoto lens or higher will undoubtedly be indispensable to photograph the variety of birds. In some cases, for smaller species, even a telephoto lens around the actual 600mm may be convenient if particularly close portraits are sought.

Each element within the photo locations will be taken care of to get the maximum yield from the photographic point of view with any lens or equipment you have available.

We highly recommend a tripod for all photo sessions and a macro lens (like a 100mm) for amphibious and reptile photo sessions (if you don’t have this lens, the organizers will make their kit available to the various photographers without it).

More detailed information will be provided when you sign up.

If you want to participate but don’t have the right equipment, don’t worry. We offer the possibility to rent high-quality cameras and lenses, specially chosen for the event.
There are no deposits or restrictions to consider. 

Advantages of Rental: 

• Semplicity: Avoid investing in expensive equipment and rent what you need only for the tour, thus having the opportunity to try on professional equipment before a possible purchase.
• Optimal Performance: Our rented equipment is designed for wildlife photography and suitable for the occasion.
• On-site delivery:  The lens will be delivered directly to you on site on the first day of the event.

Don’t let the lack of equipment stop you. 

Click the Link below to know about the equipment available, get detailed information and book what you need for this experience:

https://justexplorers.com/prodotti-a-noleggio/

All nights in double room (8 nights)

All private ground transfers

Assistance of two professional photographers during the entire tour

All breakfasts (excluding day 9)

Specialized nature guides

Dinners from day 2 to day 7

Flight to/from Juan Santa Maria International Airport

Extra third session for Quetzal (optional, read the program)

Dinners of day 1 and day 8

Lunches (usually based on travel/activity)

Tips and other personal expenses

Everything not included in “Included in price”