Costa Rica Wildlife Photo Tour
Alive with colour.
Balance due 30 days before departure.
A world of colour.
A closer connection.
Discover Costa Rica on a small-group wildlife photo tour: eight travellers and photographic guidance from José D. Riquelme. Ten days to explore remarkable birdlife, tropical forests and the art of wildlife photography.
Seek the extraordinary.
A world of colour.
Keep learning.
Discover more about the journey
Costa Rica is one of the most privileged destinations in the world for bird photography, and this photo expedition has been carefully designed to take us through the country’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Over ten days, we’ll explore cloud forests, tropical rainforests, mangroves, and misty mountain regions with a clear purpose: to capture the extraordinary biodiversity of this natural paradise through our lenses.
Throughout the tour, we’ll visit 11 carefully selected bird feeding stations, offering ideal conditions to photograph elusive and colorful species. These feeders provide perfect setups with great lighting, clean backgrounds, and close range — allowing us to create powerful compositions without disturbing the birds' natural behavior.
One of the highlights of the expedition will be the chance to photograph the magnificent resplendent quetzal, one of the most sought-after species for any wildlife photographer. We’ll also encounter a wide variety of hummingbirds, including the fiery-throated hummingbird, the violet-crowned woodnymph, and the tiny green hermit. As we travel through lush rainforests and drier tropical zones, we’ll also look for species like the blue-crowned motmot, the lineated woodpecker, several types of colorful tanagers, the rufous-tailed jacamar, and Costa Rica’s endemic species such as the black-headed trogon and the turquoise-browed motmot.
We’ll visit incredible locations like Boca Tapada, Carara National Park, the Tarcoles River, and the San Ramón region. In addition to birds, we’ll also photograph crocodiles, monkeys, frogs, iguanas, and tropical butterflies. Each spot has been chosen for its biodiversity and its ability to offer a unique and rewarding visual experience for nature photographers.
This journey is designed not only to help you return with thousands of beautiful images but also to deepen your connection with nature. You’ll be guided by experts who know every site in detail, and you’ll have the time and space to work each scene at your own pace, free of rush, fully immersed in the creative process.
Get ready for a life-changing adventure: Costa Rica awaits with its wings wide open.
Costa Rica, through our lens.
Your journey, day by day.
We arrive in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, where we will be welcomed and transferred to our hotel. We prepare for an unforgettable adventure filled with birds, jungle landscapes, and unique photographic experiences.
We travel from San José to San Gerardo de Dota. After arrival, we begin photographing the surrounding cloud forest and prepare for the following morning’s quetzal photography session.
In the morning, we take a special tour to photograph the iconic resplendent quetzal. Then we explore two bird feeders, where we’ll encounter species such as the scarlet tanager, euphonias, streaked treecreeper, thrushes, and more hummingbirds. A day bursting with color in settings designed for spectacular photo opportunities.
We head toward the Atlantic slope, where both climate and biodiversity change dramatically. Along the way, we visit a unique photographic sanctuary. Here, we’ll have the chance to photograph the spectacled owl, rufous-tailed jacamar, trogons, red-eyed tree frogs, bats, snakes, and even sloths. A day full of surprises and creative possibilities.
In the morning, we visit Tico Rain Forest, where it’s possible to photograph species such as the green toucanet, the black-headed trogon, various woodpeckers, and many other birds of the humid forest. After lunch, we travel to Boca Tapada, one of the most remote and wild regions in the country. We’ll stay in the heart of primary rainforest—an ideal place to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature.
We begin the day with the King Vulture Tour, with great chances to photograph this impressive scavenger bird. In the afternoon, we visit a feeder in the area where species such as the motmot, blue-gray tanagers, euphonias, oropendolas, violet hummingbirds, and other tropical understory birds gather.
We start the day with a photo session at the Laguna Lagarto feeders, an excellent spot to capture images of keel-billed toucans, jacamars, trogons, and many other tropical forest species. After lunch, we travel to the Central Pacific region, arriving in Orotina, a drier environment where the fauna changes completely, offering a new range of photographic opportunities.
We start the day by the Río Tárcoles, where we’ll take a boat tour to photograph aquatic birds such as the roseate spoonbill, green kingfisher, tiger heron, and even giant crocodiles. Later, we go on another tour where we may encounter the striped owl, motmots, trogons, and other birds of the dry Pacific region. By sunset, we arrive in San Ramón.
In the morning, we explore the mid-elevation forests of San Ramón with our local guide Rodrigo, in search of species such as the green hermit hummingbird, the black-headed trogon, the white-throated thrush, euphonias, and flycatchers. We also visit Canopy San Luis, an excellent spot for photographing birds on natural perches, with soft light and clean backgrounds. In the afternoon, we transfer to Alajuela, where we spend our final night near the airport.
After an unforgettable journey through cloud forests, tropical rainforests, rivers, and lowland jungles full of life, we head to the airport for our return flight. We leave with memory cards full of images… and hearts full of nature.
Nature sets the pace.
Every detail, considered.
Included in your trip
- Ground transportation from the airport and between all destinations included in the itinerary.
- Accommodation for the nights of January 16 to 24 in high-quality hotels.
- Daily breakfast during the workshop.
- Expert guides and instructors specialized in wildlife photography.
- Editing and post-processing sessions.
- Access to all photography locations throughout the entire route.
- Entrance fees to national parks and nature reserves.
- Personalized assistance and guidance during the photography sessions.
Not included
- International flights.
- Visa.
- Travel insurance.
- Lunches and dinners.
- Single room: $1,200
- Anything not listed as included.
A room of your own.
Experience in the field.
JOSE D. RIQUELME
José D. Riquelme is an award-winning photographer born in Murcia, Spain, recognized internationally with various awards and accolades such as:
- "Open Nature Winner and Overall Winner" at the Epson Pano Awards 2023.
- "Photographer of the Year 2021" in the night category at the 35awards.
- Four consecutive gold medals at the Trierenberg Super Circuit in Vienna.
- Remarkable Art Work at the Siena International Photo Awards.
- Gold medal at the Pano Epson Awards.
- Finalist at the Xposure International Photography Festival.
- Consistently ranked among the top three landscape and night landscape photographers at the 35awards for three consecutive years, competing with an average of 120,000 participants.
- Special Prize “Amazing Clouds” at The International Landscape Photographer of the Year 2021.
- Winner of the Viewbug "Shooting the Blue Hour" photo contest.
- Winner of Viewbug's Monthly Pro Photo Contest Vol 45.
Through the heart of wild Costa Rica.
Ready for the photograph.
The workshop will take place in Costa Rica.
José D. Riquelme.
The workshop is designed for photographers of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Sessions will be adapted to meet the needs of all participants.
yes, it is mandatory
A few things worth knowing.
To make the most of this workshop, it is important to bring the following photography equipment:
- DSLR or Mirrorless Camera: Make sure your camera allows manual adjustments to control exposure and focus.
- Lenses: – Telephoto (70-200mm and 200-600mm or similar). – Standard zoom (24-70mm) for versatility in different situations.
- Tripod: Stable and sturdy.
During the editing sessions, we will work with the following programs:
– Adobe Photoshop and Camera Raw (similar to Lightroom): The main software for post-processing and advanced image editing. – DXO PureRAW: To optimize photo quality, reduce noise, and improve sharpness before editing.
– Nik Collection (Plug-in): A set of essential tools for applying effects, enhancing details, and creating unique styles.
– Adobe Lightroom (Optional): Ideal for organizing your photos and making basic adjustments before editing in Photoshop. It is important that you have these programs installed on your computer to make the most of the photo editing sessions. If you have any questions about the recommended equipment or software, feel free to contact us.
Let’s talk about your trip.
Plan your expedition.
The reservation will be confirmed once a payment of 1,000 US dollars has been made.
No spots will be reserved without the deposit.
Final Payment: The remaining balance must be paid 30 days before the start of the trip.
We understand that attending our workshops requires prior commitment, and also that life events can occur that may force you to cancel a trip. Depending on the cancellation date, the following conditions will apply:
- More than 90 days before the start date of the workshop: Full refund of payments made.
- Between 90 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 50% of the booking will be refunded.
- 60-30 days before the start of the workshop: 35% of the booking will be refunded.
- Within 30 days prior to the start of the workshop: No refund will be made.
Accidents:
- IceMonkey is not responsible for accidents involving participants during the workshop and will not cover medical expenses if necessary. During the workshop, each participant is responsible for their own safety and physical integrity.
- IceMonkey is not responsible for accidents or losses of photographic equipment during the workshop. Each participant is responsible for their own photographic equipment.
- Travel insurance is mandatory.
Punctuality:
- Each day of the expedition, all participants must be punctual at the established time. All participants must be at the starting point of the expedition for its commencement. In case of delays due to inconveniences, the participant must communicate with someone from the IceMonkey staff as soon as possible.
Respect:
- Participants may have different levels of knowledge about the subject, which requires patience when explaining topics that are already familiar to them. Each participant’s photographic area must be respected. Disrespect towards a participant or a staff member will not be tolerated. This is a discrimination-free space. We will not tolerate racism, sexism, discrimination based on sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Weather:
- The tour and its itinerary depend on the weather and can change at any time. We will always be attentive to the best weather conditions to determine where to go and optimize photography.
- Price: $5,600
- Date: From January 16 to 25, 2027.
- Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
- Languages: english / spanish
- Places: 8
- Activity Level: All levels
- Airport Aeropuerto Juan Santamaría-Alajuela (SJO)
Your next extraordinary
photograph starts here.
Your next extraordinary photograph.
Let’s talk about Costa Rica.
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