Framing Feathers
Resplendent Quetzal (female), photographed at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica

Tours / Costa Rica / May 2026

Completed 23 May – 1 June 2026

Costa Rica · May 2026

Caribbean lowlands to cloud forest, at the pace the birds set

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10 days

9 nights

23 May – 1 June 2026

Dates

5 regions

80–2,200 m

The tour as it ran

The inaugural Framing Feathers tour. Ten days from the Caribbean lowlands to the Talamanca highlands, built around hides, feeders and patience.

This tour has run. What follows is the route as it happened and the frames that came back.

How it went

Every participant was sent the same survey afterwards. These are the results.

100%

said the tour met their expectations

Top rating, every response.

100%

would recommend it to a fellow photographer

Top rating, every response.

100%

would join another Framing Feathers tour

"Yes, absolutely."

5 / 5

for safety and for pre-trip preparation

Top rating, every response.

I cannot narrow it down to just one moment. Getting good shots of the male Quetzal after a two-day search and a very early morning drive was rewarding.

2026 participant

The multi-flash hummingbirds and macro sessions. I've never experienced that setup before.

2026 participant

It was great — you put a lot of time and energy into selecting great areas to capture the best photos.

2026 participant

Very good value for the cost, especially considering it was an all-inclusive price — all lodging, meals and transportation.

2026 participant

You adjusted the walking and hiking requirements very quickly after assessing everyone's abilities.

2026 participant

The moment the first toucan landed at the feeder.

2026 participant

The route

The route is built out of kinds of country, not distances. Each holds birds the others do not. What separates them is not just elevation but the ecosystem that comes with it, and that governs the rest: which species, which light, what goes in the bag. Elevation is the part you can draw, so it is the spine of the page.

0 m1,250 m2,500 mAlajuela1,094 m1 nightLa Fortuna350 m2 nightsBoca Tapada80 m2 nightsGuápiles400 m1 nightSan Gerardo de Dota2,200 m2 nightsAlajuela1,094 m1 night
  1. 1,094 m Arrival & gear shakedown 1 night

    Central Valley, Alajuela Province

    Alajuela

    A gradual start after a long travel day. Landscaped grounds, a good variety of birds and flowers, and a chance to experiment with settings before setting out.

    Soft launchGear check

  2. 350 m Rainforest 2 nights

    Arenal foothills, Alajuela Province

    La Fortuna

    Rainforest trails and volcanic backdrops, with a walk on the Bogarín Trail for sloths, potoos and basilisks.

    RainforestBogarín TrailSloths & potoos

  3. 80 m Lowland rainforest 2 nights

    Northern lowlands, Alajuela Province

    Boca Tapada

    The centrepiece. Three vulture blinds, a hummingbird multi-flash setup, macro work, great green macaws along the road, and a night walk for caimans and red-eyed tree frogs.

    Vulture hideMulti-flashMacroNight walkMacaws

  4. 400 m Foothill rainforest 1 night

    Caribbean foothills, Limón Province

    Guápiles

    Foothill forest on the Caribbean slope, and a close encounter with a Baird's tapir and her calf the following morning.

    FoothillsTapir

  5. 2,200 m Cloud forest 2 nights

    Talamanca highlands, San José Province

    San Gerardo de Dota

    The last of the photography stops, and the one everyone asked to keep. Secluded cloud forest, bird blinds, and a manager whose knowledge of the quetzal turned a two-day search into a result.

    Cloud forestBird blindsQuetzal

  6. 1,094 m Rest & departure 1 night

    Central Valley, Alajuela Province

    Alajuela

    Back where it started, for one last night. Time to rest and repack before the flight home — and, for anyone not finished, the same grounds and the same birds that opened the trip.

    Wind-downLast frames

The tour in action

What the days actually look like — hides, feeders, and a lot of waiting in good company.

Day one above San Gerardo — the female in and out of the nest hole all morning, the male a no-show
Day one above San Gerardo — the female in and out of the nest hole all morning, the male a no-show
Day two, and there he is. The male quetzal finally shows, and the whole track knows it
Day two, and there he is. The male quetzal finally shows, and the whole track knows it
The vulture blind at Boca Tapada — a single slot, a row of lenses, and no shortage of vultures in front of them
The vulture blind at Boca Tapada — a single slot, a row of lenses, and no shortage of vultures in front of them
Multi-flash set up at Boca Tapada — lenses on the flowers, and the hummingbirds keeping their own schedule
Multi-flash set up at Boca Tapada — lenses on the flowers, and the hummingbirds keeping their own schedule
A leucistic Bananaquit turns up in the garden hedge, and every lens in the group swings with it
A leucistic Bananaquit turns up in the garden hedge, and every lens in the group swings with it
Cameras down, coffee up — a quick stop at Hacienda Alsacia on the road from San José to La Fortuna
Cameras down, coffee up — a quick stop at Hacienda Alsacia on the road from San José to La Fortuna

What's in and what isn't

Included

  • Double occupancy lodging for the full tour
  • All ground transportation
  • Airport transfers
  • Meals and non-alcoholic drinks
  • Expert local guides
  • Photography instruction and image reviews
  • Species checklist

Not included

  • Flights to and from San José
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance and medical costs
  • Laundry services
  • Gratuities
  • Additional activities not listed
  • Extra nights beyond the tour dates

Practicalities

Physical demand

Gentle — no long hikes. Most photography happens within lodge grounds or a short walk from the vehicle, and the pace is set by the group rather than the schedule. If you are comfortable walking on uneven ground for short distances, you are ready.

Weather

Warm, humid lowlands; cool highland mornings; afternoon showers most days. Changing conditions often bring the best light.

Led by

Eric Patdu, Local Costa Rican guides. Travel between regions is by private vehicle.

Start and end

San José. Airport transfers are included; flights are not.

What to bring

None of it is compulsory. This is what makes the difference between a good trip and a full memory card. Ask me if you're unsure — I'd rather advise beforehand than watch you wish you'd packed differently.

Bring

  • Super-zoom lens — 400mm minimum for birds
  • Tripod for low light and night photography
  • Spare batteries and memory cards, more than you think
  • Rain cover for body and lens
  • Waterproof footwear
  • Layers — light breathable clothing, a rain jacket, and something warm for highland mornings
  • A comfortable, weather-resistant day bag
  • Insect repellent, sunscreen, hat

Worth considering

  • Second camera body for flexibility and backup
  • Prime 500mm or longer
  • 24–105mm for landscapes and lodge scenes
  • Macro lens for frogs, insects and floral detail
  • Laptop for image reviews and backups
  • Binoculars

The next one

This tour has run. If it's the sort of thing you'd have wanted to be on, Costa Rica · May 2027 is the one that follows it.

Dates set

Costa Rica · May 2027

5–17 May 2027 13 days Max 8 price to be set

RouteSanto Domingo de Heredia · Tárcoles · San Gerardo de Dota · Cachí · Turrialba · Sarapiquí · Boca Tapada · Alajuela

A longer trip than the first one, with more regions on the route and a day of boat work on the water that the first one did not have.

See the full trip About Costa Rica

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