Costa Rica Bird Photography Tour
Immerse Yourself in Nature's Symphony
Embark on an unforgettable journey where the vibrant tapestry of Costa Rica's avian world comes to life through your lens.
✨ A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
Wake to the calls of tropical birds echoing through the canopy. Step into landscapes where color, light, and movement converge in breathtaking harmony. With your camera in hand and nature as your muse, you’ll explore Costa Rica’s most photogenic regions:
📍 Regional Highlights
La Fortuna – Misty trails and rainforest compositions
Capture birds among cascading foliage, volcanic backdrops, and soft morning light. Ideal for wide-angle storytelling and intimate environmental portraits.
Boca Tapada – Hidden hides, nocturnal encounters, macro marvels & multi-flash setups
A photographer’s playground: from camouflaged hides and vividly patterned frogs to hummingbirds suspended mid-flight, this region offers layered opportunities day and night.
Sarapiquí / Guápiles – A day of close encounters in a private garden sanctuary
Spend a focused day in a lush, photographer-friendly garden where feeders and flowering plants attract a dazzling array of hummingbirds and tanagers. With curated setups and expert guidance, you’ll have the chance to capture vibrant species in controlled yet natural conditions—ideal for refining technique and composing striking portraits.
San Gerardo de Dota – Cloud-Kissed Highlands & Quiet Wonder
Venture into mist-veiled forests where silence and light weave together in ethereal harmony. This highland region offers a serene atmosphere and a chance to photograph montane species like highland hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and flycatchers among moss-draped trails and filtered light. While sightings of the resplendent quetzal are possible, the true gift here is the quiet presence of nature—cool air, spiritual stillness, and the kind of beauty that invites reflection and creative depth
From lush lowlands to misty highlands, each stop offers a distinct palette of species, light, and mood—curated for both photographic richness and soulful connection.
From lush tropical forests to cloud-kissed highlands, this tour invites you to witness exotic birds in their natural habitat—guided by experts, inspired by nature, and surrounded by the rhythm of the wild.
Whether you're chasing the shimmer of a hummingbird’s gorget or waiting for the perfect silhouette of a toucan at sunrise, every moment is an invitation to connect, create, and capture.
📸 Why This Tour is Perfect for You
Photography Guidance
Guidance is always available if needed—but we’ll be by your side to help you capture the best moments as they unfold, ensuring you're in the right place at the right time with the right light.
This tour is co-led by Eric Patdu and a local Costa Rican guide and photographer with deep knowledge of the region’s birdlife and ecosystems. Together, we offer a blend of artistic vision and ecological insight—ensuring you’re supported both creatively and logistically throughout the journey.
Exclusive Locations
Private gardens, custom-built hides, and off-the-map sanctuaries designed specifically for photographers—where rare and colorful species await your lens.
Tailored Experience
Whether you're a seasoned professional or an inspired hobbyist, our itinerary is crafted to align with peak bird activity, giving you ample time and flexibility to compose your perfect shot.
🐦 Unforgettable Highlights
Tanagers – Vivid Bursts of Color in Motion
Encounter a kaleidoscope of plumage as tanagers flit through the canopy like living brushstrokes. Their electric blues, fiery reds, and golden yellows ignite the forest with movement and light. Whether perched in morning mist or darting between bromeliads, these birds offer dynamic compositions that challenge and reward the patient photographer.
📅 Tour Timing & Planning Details
🌿 Projected Tour Window: Late May or June 2026
🕊️ Decision Date: November 30, 2025
We’re currently planning for a departure in late May or June 2026—timed to coincide with vibrant bird activity and lush seasonal beauty in Costa Rica. Exact dates will be confirmed soon.
To ensure a smooth and meaningful experience, we’ve set November 30, 2025 as our go/no-go decision date. This allows time for guests to plan ahead and for us to finalize accommodations, guides, and logistics with care.
If you’re interested in joining, we encourage you to express interest early—this helps shape the group and gives you priority when dates are announced.
💰 Pricing & Options (Why This Pricing is Special)
As this is my inaugural tour, I’m offering a special launch rate to celebrate the beginning of this journey. It’s a heartfelt invitation to be part of something new, intimate, and creatively inspired. This first season is about connection, discovery, and laying the foundation for a meaningful experience—crafted with care and offered with gratitude.
Photographer Package: $3,950 (double occupancy)
Single Supplement: + $750
Non-Photographer Guest: $2,750
All packages include lodging, meals, transportation, airport transfers, and shared access to the full journey—from forest walks and regional highlights to the rhythm of the road. Photographer packages also include expert guidance and access to photography-specific activities, such as image reviews, guided sessions, and specialized setups designed to support your creative process.
Non-photographer guests are warmly welcomed to enjoy the broader experience—lodges, landscapes, and the spirit of the journey—while some photography-focused moments may be reserved for registered participants due to space, instruction, or site-specific limitations.
Travel between regions is aboard a spacious, air-conditioned coaster—designed for comfort, quiet, and shared reflection as we move through Costa Rica’s changing landscapes.
We’ve designed this experience to be all-inclusive, so you can focus on the birds, the light, and the joy of creation.
✅ What’s Included
🛏️ Double occupancy lodging (10 days / 9 nights)
🚐 All transportation during the tour
✈️ Airport transfers
🍽️ Meals & non-alcoholic drinks
🦉 Expert guides
📸 Instruction & image reviews
✅ Species checklist
🚫 What’s Not Included (So You Can Plan Ahead)
✈️ Flights to/from San José
🍷 Alcoholic beverages
🛡️ Travel insurance, medical costs, personal expenses
🧺 Laundry services
💵 Gratuities
🎟️ Additional activities not listed
🛏️ Extra nights beyond tour dates
📌 Other unlisted expenses
We’ve designed this experience to be as seamless and immersive as possible—so you can focus on the birds, the photography, and the wonder of the journey.
👥 Group Size, Companions & Participation
We keep our group intentionally small—a maximum of 8 photographers—to ensure personalized guidance, quiet field moments, and ample space at each location.
Non-photographer spouses or partners are warmly welcome to join the journey, though they are not included in the group size count. Whether they’re bird lovers, nature enthusiasts, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, they’ll find plenty to enjoy—from the lodges and meals to the rhythm of the road.
Some photography-specific activities—such as guided sessions, image reviews, or specialized setups—are reserved for registered photographers. These experiences may involve limited space, focused instruction, or location-based access restrictions. While non-photographer guests are warmly included in the broader journey, participation in certain moments may be limited depending on availability and site policies.
Our goal is to create a supportive environment for photographers while ensuring everyone feels relaxed, welcomed, and inspired by the experience.
🥾 Physical Requirements
This tour is designed to be gentle and accessible.
There are no long hikes or strenuous treks. Most photography takes place within the lodge grounds or a short walk from the vehicle, allowing you to focus on your craft without physical strain. If you're comfortable walking on uneven paths for short distances, you're ready.
🌦️ Weather Expectations
Costa Rica’s climate is as diverse as its wildlife.
You can expect warm, humid days, occasional afternoon showers, and chilly mornings in the mountains—especially in San Gerardo de Dota.
We recommend lightweight breathable clothing, a rain jacket, and layers for cooler elevations. The changing conditions often bring dramatic light—perfect for photography.
🎒 Gear Up for Success
To make the most of your photographic journey, we recommend bringing equipment that supports both flexibility and precision. None of the gear below is strictly required, but thoughtful preparation will help you capture Costa Rica’s vibrant wildlife in all its glory.
📷 Photography Essentials
📸 Camera Bodies – Two recommended (but not required) for flexibility and backup
🔭 Super-Zoom Lens – Minimum 400mm for birds; essential for distant subjects
🎯 Prime Lens (Optional) – 500mm+ for crisp, high-quality shots and that creamy bokeh
🌄 Mid-Range Zoom (Optional) – 24–105mm for landscapes and lodge scenes
🐜 Macro Lens (Optional) – Ideal for frogs, insects, and floral details
🦶 Tripod – For low-light stability and night photography
🔋 Batteries & Memory Cards – Bring plenty—you’ll fill them with unforgettable moments
💻 Laptop with Editing Software (Optional) – For image reviews, editing, and backups
🧢 Non-Photography Essentials
🔍 Binoculars (Optional) – Spot birds before setting up your shot
🎒 Day Bag – Comfortable and weather-resistant for carrying gear
🦟 Bug Spray – Essential for rainforest comfort
🌧️ Rain Jacket or Poncho – Sudden showers are common and often photogenic
🥾 Waterproof Footwear – Stay dry and sure-footed on muddy trails
☀️ Sunscreen & Hat/Cap – Protect yourself during sunny midday shoots
📦 Protective Covers – For cameras and lenses in wet or misty conditions
Need help choosing gear? We’re happy to advise based on your experience level and goals.
Hummingbirds – Macro Magic in Iridescent Flight
Hovering like jeweled spirits, hummingbirds bring a sense of enchantment to every frame. With multi-flash setups and macro precision, you’ll capture the split-second shimmer of a gorget catching the sun, the delicate curve of a feeding tongue, or the ballet of wings frozen mid-beat. Each shot becomes a study in grace, speed, and color.
Toucans – Tropical Icons with Personality
With oversized bills and bold silhouettes, toucans are the charismatic tricksters of the rainforest. Their vibrant beaks—painted in citrus tones—contrast beautifully against emerald foliage. Whether calling from treetop perches or hopping through branches with comic flair, toucans offer striking portraits and playful moments that bring joy to every frame.
Each encounter is a story waiting to be told through your lens.
Macro Moments – The Hidden Worlds Beneath the Leaves
Beyond birds, Costa Rica’s forests teem with miniature marvels and silent dramas. Through macro photography, you’ll uncover nature’s most intimate expressions—from the ruby gaze of a red-eyed tree frog perched on a dewy leaf, to the jewel-toned warning of a poison dart frog nestled in moss. Even snakes, often misunderstood, reveal quiet elegance up close—their iridescent scales and hypnotic patterns offering compositions of primal grace. Each encounter invites you to slow down, look closer, and witness the forest’s hidden poetry through texture, color, and quiet revelation.
Night Photography – Owls, Frogs, and Caimans Under the Stars
As daylight fades, a new world awakens. Guided by soft light and expert eyes, you’ll explore the nocturnal rhythms of Costa Rica—where owls peer from shadowed branches, red-eyed tree frogs perch like sentinels, and caimans glide silently through moonlit waters. Night photography here is not just technical—it’s mystical, revealing the unseen stories of the forest.
🌿 Join Us and Make Memories
Whether you're building your portfolio or simply seeking a deeper connection with nature, this tour offers more than photographs—it offers transformation.
Reserve your spot today using the form below—or reach out with questions, thoughts, or expressions of interest by emailing framingfeathers@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.
Prepare to create images that speak of wonder, presence, and the wild beauty of Costa Rica.
