Costa Rica | Birding and More by Camera

Upon arrival San José meet with your driver and guide and transfer to the hotel. This afternoon enjoy time on your own to photograph the famous gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea. Before dinner is an orientation to the program by Krisztina Scheef. There is no specific arrival time required, however, if you wish to participate in dinner we suggest an early afternoon arrival. If you would like a pre-hotel night, arrangements can be made for an additional cost. Check in starts at 3 pm.

Take up your camera for early morning photography around the gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea. Then, after breakfast, head to Tortuguero, on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. Upon arrival at the dock, set out on the boat trip along Tortuguero's canal system - the only way to access this seaside town. Check in at Evergreen Lodge, enjoy lunch and settle into your room. This afternoon embark on a boat for a photo safari through Tortuguero National Park. Although Tortuguero National Park is most notable for its sea turtle nesting sites and conservation efforts, its tree-lined waterways still offer ample opportunities for wildlife photography of birds, monkeys, sloths, river turtles, iguanas, and caiman.

Today, continue exploring Tortuguero's canals by boat in the morning and afternoon, to photograph in different lighting conditions. Free time will be available to photograph the lodge grounds on your own.

Today, continue exploring Tortuguero's canals by boat in the morning and afternoon, for more photography opportunities and wildlife observation. Explore the lodge grounds for photography on your own.

Enjoy one last photography session around Evergreen Lodge. Then, after breakfast, take the boat ride back to the dock, and travel to Sarapiquí by bus, stopping for lunch along the way. Arrive at Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve in the Caribbean lowlands, at elevations ranging from 180 to 220 feet. Founded by the Holbrook family in 1985 on a tract of old growth forest once destined for logging, Selva Verde is renowned for its commitment to ecological preservation and sustainability. Enjoy afternoon photography around the lodge looking for iguanas, frogs, birds, and local flora. After dinner enjoy a guided hike on the lodge trails looking for nocturnal species.

After an early breakfast, depart for the world-famous Organization for Tropical Studies La Selva Biological Station for a birding hike and photography amid its tropical wet forests. La Selva consists of approximately 2,500 acres of land, over 90 percent of which is virgin forest. The area averages over 13 feet of rainfall each year, making it a prime spot to observe water birds. Over half of Costa Rica's recorded bird species have been spotted at La Selva, including the Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Red-capped Manakin, Great Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Striped Cuckoo, Slaty Spinetail, Yellow-tailed Oriole, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar. Return to Selva Verde Lodge for lunch, then return to La Selva Biological Station for more birding and photography opportunities. After dinner, take another optional guided nocturnal hike around the lodge.

Spend the day at Selva Verde Lodge, exploring the trails and botanical garden for local flora and fauna. Selva Verde's private reserve is home to a large assortment of avian life, including several types of herons, egrets, hawks, falcons, macaws, hummingbirds, flycatchers, warblers, sparrows and tanagers. Specific species often spotted at Selva Verde include the Keel-billed Toucan, Sunbittern, Crimson Tanager, Wood Thrush, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, and Grey-necked Wood-Rail. Selva Verde is also home to the endangered Great Green Macaw, which can occasionally be found feeding on the giant fruiting almond trees in the rainforest.

Take the chance to have one more early morning birding photography session on the Selva Verde grounds. Then, after breakfast, head for the Talamanca mountains and Savegre, stopping for lunch en route. After check-in at Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve and Spa, enjoy afternoon birding at the lodge before dinner. Take some time to visit the hummingbird feeders in front of reception and off the balcony at the lounge. The feeders are often active with resident Magnificent Hummingbird, Green Violetear, Gray-tailed Mountain gem, Volcano Hummingbird, and tiny Scintillant Hummingbird. Explore the trails looking for the Resplendent Quetzal with your guide.

Savegre is located in a small community in the Talamanca Mountains and houses its own private biological reserve. This high-elevation habitat of mostly oak and highland cloud forest is rich with insects, mammals, amphibians, and a huge variety of avifauna - 170-plus bird species. The large centennial oaks that cover the forest are laden with lichens and mosses that contrast with the colorful bromeliads. Spend the morning exploring the property's trails, which wind through mostly virgin forest consisting of hundred-year-old trees, multicolored plants, mushrooms, insects, amphibians, and mammals. Altitudes vary from 7,220 to 11,384 feet. Savegre is a paradise for birders and is known as one of the best places in the country to observe the Resplendent Quetzal. Other species that can be seen here include Spotted Wood-Quail, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Collared Trogon, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner, Ochraceous Pewee, Barred Becard, Zeledonia, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. During your stay you will also enjoy ample opportunities to practice hummingbird photography. In the afternoon visit Miriam's for bird photography.

This morning you will be transferred to the international airport for your flight home. Flights should depart no earlier than 2:00 p.m.