Costa Rica Bird Photo Tour
DURATION :
LOCATION :
9 nights & 10 Day Tour
Costa Rica (The ‘Resplendent’ bird paradise)
Tour Information
Pura Vida! Meaning ‘Pure Life’ is a phrase used by the locals in Costa Rica but it’s more than just a phrase – it is a way of life. The country is the size of West Virginia and holds close to 900 species of birds.
Costa Rica’s tropical birding experince is second to none. With its diverse rainforest to the dreamy cloudforests, the country offers plenty of bird photography opportunities. The locals in association with the government have enabled eco-tourism to great extents and this facilitates easy access to the varied avifauna and smooth experience.
Our all-inclusive itinerary makes it easier for you to enjoy this tour and fill up your camera memory cards with unparallel specialities and colorful species. We work closely with the local expert guides and our team with technical ability ensure you enhance your photography techniques as you capture these diverse species.
From lowland rainforests to mid-elevation specialities and ending on a high note with high-elevation marvels, our well crafted tours are a photographer’s delight.
Join us on an adventure across 3 different rainforest habitats to uncover some of the avian secrets this country holds.
BASIC INFORMATION
Medical
Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations and check the CDC website for more information.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Internet Access
Most lodges have free WIFI in the reception/dining area.
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Costa Rica’s San Juan Santamaria Airport. Our representative will be waiting to provide your private transfer to a hotel near the capital city of San Jose.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.
Electricity
Electrical outlets are US-style. Those coming from Europe or Asia may need travel adapters. We will send more info after signup.
TOUR DATES
Main Tour – Maximum 6 – 8 people per group.
1. Jan 20th – 29th 2023/2024
2. Feb 3rd – 12th 2023/2024
3. March 2nd – 11th 2023/2024
4. April 2nd – 11th 2023/2024
5. Nov 18th – 27th 2023/2024
6. Dec 8th – 17th 2023/2024
Tour Motive
Photo Opportunities
- Opportunity to photograph the rainforest specialities like the Toucans, Aracaris and colorful tanagers.
- Specialized photography sessions of the mighty King Vulture and the stunning Resplendent Quetzal in action.
- Guided photography with expert guidance to make the best images of the target species and more.
- Technical photography experience like Multi-flash Hummingbird Photography and Macro photography.
- Our all-inclusive tours help you enjoy a stress-free, photography focussed days coupled with local lodging and culinary experience.
Cost (In USD)
Email us at info@tropicalphototours.com or call us at +1-512-508-6914/512-806-6469 if you’d like to talk first.
ITINERARY
- Overnight at hotel in San Jose, meals are not included this day.
- Elevation: 1161 m
- Overnight at eco-lodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 47m
After breakfast, we divide our time to photograph the mighty King Vulture from a specialized hide at just a 5 minute walk from the lodge and deck photography session.
Targets include King Vulture, Black Vulture, Crested cara cara in the hide and toucans, parrots, honeycreepers, tanagers at the lodge, and we’ll also get a chance to photograph the coatis and currasows, the regular visitors at the feeders.
- Overnight at an eco-lodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 47m
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 47m
We enjoy some local lunch today with the guides and then continue photographing at the feeder.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 291m
In the afternoon we will enjoy some local lunch and spend the afternoon at a nearby local farm where the owner has a great population of scarlet and great green macaws. We will photograph the macaws both in-flight and on attractive perches.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 291m
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2650m
After breakfast, depending on the activity, we indulge in some multi-flash hummingbird photography and also photograph local birds such as flame-colored tanager, rufous-collared sparrow, large-footed finch, and black and yellow silky flycatcher at our feeder setups.
In the afternoon, post lunch, we visit a private farm to photograph the Acorn woodpeckers, Chlorophonia, Tanagers and many more.
- Overnight at an ecolodge, B-L-D
- Elevation: 2650m
Post lunch, we head out to the capital city of San Jose to our hotel and take the evening to relax, unwind, process images and pack for next day departures.
- Overnight at hotel in San Jose, B-L-Dinner not included
- Elevation: 1161 m
End of tour.
Tour Specifics
1.Easy/Moderate walking/Most activity is at the feeders
2. Intermediate Photographers
3. Land and Water Photography
Tour Pace
Much of the main tour will be spent near feeders which are accessed by only a short walk. There will also be optional short walks on trails on several days too. There are some high elevations covered on this tour.
Suggested Equipments
- A digital SLR and your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more
- A macro lens
- A sturdy tripod or monopod
- You may also bring your flash with a flash bracket
- Pack a ton of memory cards
- Release cable
Tour Leader
Supreet Sahoo
An avid birdwatcher and photographer from Austin, U.S. Supreet’s work has been featured in reputed publications like the BBC Earth, National Geographic Spain and Sanctuary Asia.
Reviews and Score Breakdown
7.0
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Registration
- To register for the tour, fill out and submit the form below. A ‘NON-REFUNDABLE’ deposit of USD 1000 per person of the tour cost is required to confirm your spot.
- The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour
- All figures per person. Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in TOUR CANCELLATION
Payment can be completed by credit card/PayPal or bank transfer. If you would like to mail a check, that option is available as well
Please read all the Terms & Conditions for cancellation/refund policies and other important information.
A ‘non-refundable’ deposit of USD 1000 of the Tour fee as booking amount
The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour
All figures per person
Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in tour cancellation
- Lodging as specified.
- Meals as specified
- Stainless steel flask for water.
- Private transfers to and from hotels on first and last days.
- Land/Domestic air transportation during the tour
- Professional driver/photo/nature guide and private transportation in spacious tour bus.
- Guide and Photography Skipper services
- Entrance fees for all described activities.
- Taxes on all services listed above.
- Non-mealtime snacks or meals not included.
- Non-mealtime soft drinks and bottled water.
- Visa fees
- International/personal airfare
- Insurance
- Phone calls
- Laundry
- Tips
- Cost of hospitalization and evacuation, if necessary
Email us at info@tropicalphototours.com or call us at +1-512-508-6914/512-806-6469 if you’d like to talk first.
Book Your Tour With Us In 6 Easy Steps
1.Confirm your spot for the tour by paying the advance using the registration form.
2.Receive an acknowledgement email from us confirming your booking along with a welcome package and forms.
3. Book your international travel
4. Send us your travel details along with the signed package.
5. We will send you a final invoice along with some more important pre-travel details.
6. Make your full payment and pack your bags for the best Tropical experience.
Important Note
2.Tropical Photo Tours holds the rights to modify a reservation at any time during a workshop. As a company, we always try to comply with what we have promised but due to several unforeseeable circumstances such as weather, natural calamity, political, environmental, cultural we may have to make changes to our reservations.
3.All amounts are in USD unless specifically mentioned otherwise
Frequently asked questions
• The remaining balance is due in full 90 days before the start of the tour. If you would like to pay the remaining balance in installments, please let us know.
• All figures in USD per person
• Failure to make payments within this timeline could result in tour cancellation.
• A deposit is your commitment to joining the workshop. These deposits don’t typically sit in an account, they are used to cover initial expenses for the workshop like hotel reservations, park permits/fees and guided tour deposits. Due to these expenses, deposits are non-refundable and tour payment made is subject to a cancellation fee.
- More than 60 days before the start of the tour: Refund of workshop payment (not including deposit), less $100 convenience fee.
- 60 – 45 days before the start of the tour: Refund of 50% of workshop payment (not including deposit), less $199 convenience fee.
- Less than 45 days before the start of the tour: No refunds will be given, and all payments will be forfeited. Full payment is required no later than 45 days prior to departure. If full payment is not received by this date you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 3 business days, your spot will be forfeited and offered to participants on the waiting list.
Alternatively, we can also find a perfect roommate for you based on your gender, age, and interests. If a roommate is not available, the single supplement will be charged.
Please note that we calculate the cost of the single supplement by taking the actual cost of a single room and subtracting one-half the cost of a double room (plus any applicable taxes).
• Your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more
• A wide-angle lens if you are interested in capturing landscapes
• You can also bring your flash with a flash bracket
• Pack a ton of memory cards
• A macro lens is highly recommended
• A sturdy tripod or monopod is required
• Release cables
Other essentials: Good hiking boots, Laptop, memory card readers, bug spray, sunscreen, silica gel sachets to keep your camera dry. Since, it is likely that there might be rain and mosquitoes especially in dense rainforests, so you must pack your rain jacket and a bug jacket.
You can carry medicines that are for common illnesses like colds, cough, fever, diarrhea, altitude sickness, headaches, heartburn or severe acidity and sore throats to name a few. Those who take regular medication for hypertension, blood sugar, allergy, and asthma should carry an adequate supply of medicines.
We tend to travel to remote places, it is best you have your medicines handy. Though most of our trips require moderate stamina, it is best if you are high on energy and stay fit to get the most out of the experience.
Please note that this is a general information, it is recommended that you check with your physician and doctor to determine what medicines you need to carry.
Our team will get back to you with assistance.
