Costa Rica: JAN 19 – 28, 2023

Trip Leader: David Hartfield

Itinerary:

Day 1. Transfer In. San Jose Airport – Hotel. Our private transportation will take you to your Hotel in San Jose. Overnight at San Jose.

Day 2. San Jose – Boca Tapada. Time to drive to our new destination, located at the Costa Rica’s Rainforest, on the way we will stop at one of the best places in for shooting hummingbirds in flight “(Multiflash) 6-8 different species are usually around, giving us the chance to get amazing images. After a great photo session, we will continue our way to the Lodge. Overnight at Laguna Lagarto Lodge. All meals and entrances are included

Day 3. Boca Tapada full day. (Honey creepers, parrots toucans, tanagers, etc.) Our day will start with an early breakfast at our Lodge, Today, we will have a full day shooting tropical birds, early morning toucans, aracaris, tanagers, etc. Midi-morning half of the group will enjoy the blind for King Vultures. In the afternoon we will continue with the toucans, aracaris, tanagers, etc. At night we will enjoy a delicious dinner, and right after dinner half of the group will go to shoot Bats in flight. Overnight at Laguna Lagarto Lodge. All meals and entrances are included

Day 4. Boca Tapada full day. Today we will have a full day shooting tropical birds, early morning toucans, aracaris, tanagers, etc. Midi-morning the other half of group will enjoy the blind for King Vultures. In the afternoon we will continue with the toucans, aracaries, tanagers, etc. At night we will enjoy a delicious dinner, and right after dinner the other half of the group will go to shoot Bats in flight. Overnight at Laguna Lagarto Lodge. All meals and entrances are included. 

Day 5. Boca Tapada – Sarapiquí. It is time to change destination again, today we will move to an area called Sarapiqui. A day to photograph the most amazing frogs and snakes of Costa Rica, from the coolest vipers to the cutest frogs, all in one awesome day with the best of the best of the amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica. Overnight at Tapirus Lodge. All meals and entrances are included.

Day 6. Sarapiquí full day. Today we meet an amazing local Naturalist; Cope. The famous new “Cope” hummingbirds species, white bats, snakes and frogs will be some of our targets for the day. Overnight at Tapirus Lodge. All meals and entrances are included.

Day 7. Sarapiquí – Talamanca Area (Highlands of Costa Rica, highland birds, hummingbirds and Quetzals) Time to move to the Cloud Forest of Costa Rica. This area will offer a completely new variety of species and photo opportunities. Here we will photograph beautiful hummingbirds to the amazing Quetzal. At our arrival we will enjoy a great lunch and we will spend the rest of the afternoon with an amazing hummingbird in flight session or a highlander bird species at a setup place. Overnight at Paraiso de Quetzal Lodge. All meals and entrances are included.

Day 8. Talamanca area full day. Today will be dedicated to one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the amazing Resplendent Quetzal, in order to get the best of that experience we will have 2 outings, a morning and an afternoon session, in between, we will enjoy photographing highland hummingbirds with natural light. Overnight at Paraiso de Quetzal Lodge. All meals and entrances are included.

Day 9. Talamanca – Tarcoles area. Everyone will be ready for another photography adventure! Right after breakfast we will depart to a new destination, the Costa Rica’s Mid Pacific area. At our arrival we will go for different species from the Tropical dry forest, the Lesser-ground Cuckoo, puff birds, Scarlet Macaws, Motmots and many more. In the afternoon we will enjoy a Safari Boat ride, Boat- billed Herons, Caracaras, Hawks, and  Lapwings, will be some of our main targets. There is also a good population of American Crocodiles giving us a great opportunity to photograph them as well. Overnight at the Cerro Lodge. All meals and entrances are included.

Day 10. Tarcoles area – San Jose International Airport. A private transfer will take you to the international airport. Driving time 1 hour. Included meals breakfast only.

Participants (6 min. / max. 9): Double occupancy US$4,400 per person (Deposit $1,200 due when you reserve your seat.  Pay the remaining balance no later that 3 months prior to trip), Single supplement US$600.  A local expert (photographer/naturalist/guide) will be with the group as well.

Cancellation: Deposit and workshop fees are non-refundable.  If a person on the waiting list can take your spot we will refund your amount minus a 15% processing fee.  We recommend purchasing travel insurance.

Difficulty level: Easy

What is included:

  • Lodging
  • All meals, except as noted
  • Transportation during the workshop to include the airport shuttles on the first and last day
  • Photography instructions and guidance by both co-leaders
  • Multi-flashes equipment will be setup and supplied during the multi-flashes sessions (you may want to bring a personal flash and softbox for non-multi-flash sessions)
  • Access fees and taxes

What is not included:

  • Flights to and from San Jose, Costa Rica
  • Meals on the arrival and departure days (except breakfast on the final day).
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal items (snacks, souvenirs, laundry service, etc.)
  • Tips/Gratuities for guides, bus driver, wait staff, etc.

Register/Questions:  Please contact me at:

David Hartfield
849 Mount Valley Rd
Blythewood, SC 29016
(803) 240-5098 cell
David@DavidHartfield.com