photography-expedition
What you'll see
The journey, one day at a time
Arrive Sarapiquí
Arrive in Sarapiquí, met and transferred to your accommodation. Sarapiquí's feeders bring toucans and hummingbirds to within camera range — a flying start to any trip.
Sarapiquí
A full day of lowland Caribbean birds along the Sarapiquí. Feeders, frogs and rainforest trails for macaws and sloths.
Sarapiquí
Feeders, frogs and rainforest trails for macaws and sloths. Photograph toucans and hummingbirds at the feeders, with rainforest birding.
To Boca Tapada
Transfer to Boca Tapada. Long sessions in the photography hides for macaws and ground birds. Hide and feeder photography in the lowland rainforest.
Boca Tapada
Hide and feeder photography in the lowland rainforest. A full day of bird photography at the hides. Boca Tapada's hides and macaws make it one of Costa Rica's premier bird-photography sites.
Boca Tapada
A full day of bird photography at the hides.
To Savegre Valley
Transfer to Savegre Valley. A dawn quetzal search, then the highland feeders. Cloud-forest birding for endemics and hummingbirds.
Savegre Valley
Cloud-forest birding for endemics and hummingbirds. Quetzals at first light and oak-forest trails. No bird in the Americas is more sought-after than the quetzal — and Savegre is the surest place to find it.
To Arenal
Transfer to Arenal. Walk the hanging bridges, then a night walk for frogs. Rainforest birding and a soak in the hot springs.
Arenal
Rainforest birding and a soak in the hot springs. Arenal's iconic volcano, wrapped in rainforest, is one of Costa Rica's signature sights.
To Tarcoles
Transfer to Tarcoles. A river boat safari for crocodiles and waterbirds. Mangrove birding and the giant Tárcoles crocodiles.
Tarcoles
Mangrove birding and the giant Tárcoles crocodiles. The Tárcoles' big American crocodiles, seen from the boat, are a thrilling counterpoint to the birds.
To Monteverde
Transfer to Monteverde. Cloud-forest birding for quetzals and bellbirds. Hummingbird gallery and canopy bridges in the mist.
Monteverde
Hummingbird gallery and canopy bridges in the mist. Monteverde's misty reserves are the archetypal cloud forest — a place of quetzals, bellbirds and dripping green.
Departure
A final morning in Monteverde — a last outing or a slow start as time allows — before the transfer onward and the journey home.
The season changes what you see.
Peak season
The dry season — easiest access and reliable feeder activity.
Good season
The green season — lush, with excellent birding and fewer visitors.
Hand-picked camps & lodges
Arenal Observatory Lodge
The only lodge inside Arenal Volcano National Park — unmatched cone views and trails.
Hotel Belmar
A stylish, sustainable cloud-forest hotel with valley views above Monteverde.
Selva Verde Lodge
A riverside rainforest lodge on a private reserve, strong on lowland birding.
Laguna del Lagarto Lodge
A remote rainforest lodge built for bird photography, with hides and great green macaws.
Senda Monteverde
A comfortable cloud-forest hotel with gardens, well placed for the reserves.
El Bambú
A comfortable garden hotel in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, handy for the feeders.
Make it yours.
Add nights, swap a park, extend to the coast — this route is a starting point, not a fixed menu. Tell us how you travel and we'll route the rest.