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Witness and capture the incredible diversity of wildlife that Costa Rica has to offer with leading wildlife photographers Nick Garbutt and Alex Hyde as we explore both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of this exceptional country.

We should have excellent sightings of primates, other mammals, a variety of birds, reptiles, frogs, invertebrates and much more. Travelling with Nick and Alex as part of a small group, the extensive itinerary allows plenty of opportunity to use a number of different photographic techniques and practical demonstrations to capture the huge diversity of flora and fauna. These techniques will include night photography, macro photography and the use of photographic hides.

We have selected the finest locations and accommodations to showcase the very best that Costa Rica has to offer: high quality, not just in terms of their standard, but also the wildlife sightings and photographic opportunities they can provide.

Typical Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Fly to San José

    We take a daytime international flight to San José. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel just outside the city.

    Accommodation: Hotel Bougainvillea, 1-night

  2. Days 2-5 : Boca Tapada de San Carlos

    Our transfer to the Boca Tapada region takes around five hours. We spend four nights at a rustic lodge beside a small lake that offers hide photography for king vultures, and other excellent photographic situations for toucans, aracaris, oropendolas, parakeets and woodpeckers. We have a full programme of photography options with Nick and Alex over the next three days, encompassing hide and tailored sessions, as well as forest and lakeside walks. At night we continue to look for frogs, reptiles and invertebrates, and there will be plenty of opportunity to get to grips with flash techniques.

    Accommodation: Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, 4-nights

  3. Days 6-8 : Bosque de Paz Private Reserve

    After breakfast we transfer to Bosque de Paz, a private biological reserve located on the upper Caribbean slope. Our lodge is an excellent place to see and photograph a variety of hummingbirds including violet sabrewing and magnificent hummingbird, and there is constant activity at the feeders around the lodge during the day. 

    There are also several options to walk in the adjacent forest to look for birds and frogs, and after dark, we can take advantage of the lodge's moth trap and spend time photographing a wondrous variety of spectacular moths, providing extensive macro opportunities.

    Accommodation: Bosque de Paz Lodge, 3-nights

  4. Days 9-11 : San Gerardo de Dota

    After breakfast we drive to San Gerardo de Dota and the Savegre Valley. This rural village is idyllically situated and unquestionably one of the best places in Costa Rica to see the resplendent quetzal. We will be out at dawn each morning when quetzal activity is always at its peak as they forage for wild avocados. After early morning sessions concentrating on quetzals, we can explore the adjacent montane forests and facilitate some tailored photography set-ups, where hummingbirds, passerines and perhaps toucanets may be photographed.

    Accommodation: Trogon Lodge, 3-nights

  5. Days 12-14 : Piedras Blancas National Park

    After a final session looking for quetzals in the Savegre Valley, we spend most of the day driving to the far southwest of Costa Rica, to reach Piedras Blancas National Park on the Pacific Coast. 

    We have two full days to explore this area, where we will focus on finding our own subjects in the wild. In addition to the abundant birdlife and diversity of frogs, there will be plenty of macro photography opportunities of insects and other invertebrates.

    Accommodation: Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, 3-nights

  6. Days 15-18 : Osa Peninsula

    Our final destination is the Osa Peninsula, and the delightful Bosque del Cabo Lodge, which is located in its own 350-hectare reserve. With three full days here, we have plenty of opportunity to explore the many trails that run through the private reserve. As well as primates, we may be lucky and encounter a three-toed sloth or perhaps a northern tamandua on our forest walks. Some of the best photography may be with the large numbers of scarlet macaws that inhabit the area. Night walks are a feature at Bosque del Cabo, and the ponds around the lodge attract a great diversity of frogs, particularly after rain, which provide a wealth of photographic opportunities.

    Accommodation: Bosque del Cabo Lodge, 4-nights

  7. Day 19: Transfer to Puerto Jiménez, fly to San José & depart

    We transfer to Puerto Jiménez for a flight by light aircraft back to San José, and connect with our overnight flight back to the UK.

  8. Day 20: Arrive UK

Key info

  • Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 20 days from £7,995 pp
  • Duration and price excluding international flights: 19 days from £7,495 pp
  • Single supplement: From £975
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
  • Group size: 12
  • When to go: Apr-May
  • Group Departures: We are currently finalising future dates for this tour. Please contact us for further details.
  • Included in the price/package:
    • Domestic flight Puerto Jimenez to San Jose
    • 19 nights accommodation in lodges
    • All meals
    • Transfers
    • Guided excursions and photographic sessions
    • Photography tuition
  • Activities available:
    • Photography

Expert leaders

Nick Garbutt

Photo of Nick Garbutt

An award-winning photographer and author, with a background in zoology, Nick has forged a career by combining these skills with leading tours and lecturing.

Nick has written and photographed several critically acclaimed books, including: ‘100 Animals to See Before They Die’, ‘Mammals of Madagascar: A Complete Guide’, ‘Wild Borneo’, and ‘Chameleons’. He is a regular contributor to international magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic and Geographical.

Nick has twice been a winner in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. In 2000, he won the prestigious Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife. His photographs appear widely in books, calendars and other publications worldwide. He is a Special Lecturer on the MSc course in the Wildlife Photography and Imaging at Nottingham University, where he studied.

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Alex Hyde

Photo of Alex Hyde

Often working with moving creatures smaller than a grain of rice, Alex has established himself as an expert in macro photography.

By understanding the behaviour of his subjects, he is able to capture intimate portraits of spiders, insects and other invertebrates in their natural habitats. Although his photography takes him all around the world, the Austrian Alps are a particularly special place for Alex and he returns annually to these favoured haunts to photograph the incredible insect and plant life.

An experienced tutor, Alex regularly delivers workshops and seminars on macro photography and has taught at venues such as the University of Nottingham and the Wild Photo photography festival in London. Alex supplies major international agencies and his photographs appear worldwide in newspapers, books and magazines including The Times, The Daily Telegraph, BBC Wildlife and New Scientist.

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Featured locations:

Piedras Blancas National Park

Located on the southern Pacific coast outside Golfito town, this national park protects some 14,000 hectares of primary rainforest containing many indigenous plants and lots of wildlife. Its creation in 1993 marked a huge victory for conservationists, as the area had been damaged by deforestation and hunting. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Puntarenas Province
  • Ideal for viewing: jaguar, ocelot, scarlet macaw, two-toed sloth, agouti

Osa Peninsula

On the Pacific coast, just north of Panama, the wild and remote Osa Peninsula juts into the ocean, combining with Corcovado and Peñas Blancas National Parks to create the country’s foremost natural highlight. It is home to an astonishing range of wildlife, including giant anteater, tapir, squirrel monkey and jaguar. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Southern Pacific coast
  • Ideal for viewing: harpy eagle, scarlet macaw, giant anteater, Baird’s tapir, white-faced capuchin monkey

San José

Costa Rica’s vibrant capital stands in the centre of the country at an elevation of around 1,200 metres. Home to the main international airport, it has the country’s pristine natural attractions on its doorstep. The downtown area is fairly small and has several interesting museums and parks. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: San Jose Province
  • Excellent for: City stopover
Featured accommodation:

Bosque de Paz Lodge

Set in a private reserve just over an hour’s drive northwest of San José, between Juan Castro Blanco and Poás Volcano national parks, this small lodge is in a jungle paradise, surrounded by magnificent cloud forest and rainforest. Consisting of just 12 rooms, it is the perfect stop en route to Sarapiqui. Find Out More about Bosque de Paz Lodge

Bosque del Cabo Lodge

Exquisitely located at the tip of the Osa Peninsula, this delightful lodge is surrounded by well laid-out gardens on its own 350-hectare reserve. Lying between the Pacific Ocean, Golfo Dulce and pristine rainforest on the edge of Corcovado National Park, there is plenty of wildlife to discover here. Find Out More about Bosque del Cabo Lodge

Hotel Bougainvillea

Situated in a quiet suburb just north of San José, 25 minutes from the international airport and a mere 15 minutes from the city centre, this pleasant hotel makes a good base for exploring the Central Valley. Its extensive gardens are particularly beautiful and attract a variety of birds and frogs. Find Out More about Hotel Bougainvillea

Trogon Lodge

This pleasant birding lodge stands on a private reserve of some 40 hectares of farmland, close to Los Quetzales National Park. It sits at an altitude of around 2,300 metres, beside a rushing stream and surrounded by lush gardens with dazzling flowers and hundred-year-old oak trees. Find Out More about Trogon Lodge