Costa Rica | Photography Adventure with Renate Grupp

Upon arrival in San José, travel to Hotel Bougainvillea, located on 10 acres of botanical gardens overlooking the city. The gardens feature more than 600 species of plants, including 22 types of bromeliads. They are also a great place to see hummingbirds, motmots, tanagers, and more. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation.

After breakfast, depart for Río Celeste and Celeste Mountain Lodge, located on the northern side of Tenorio Volcano National Park. Nestled between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes in northern Costa Rica, this area acts as an ecotone between dry and wet habitats and lowland and foothill forest. Adding the mature rainforest and second growth habitats into the mix makes this a highly diverse area for birding and observing other wildlife like pumas, tapirs, sloths, anteaters, coatis, and giant butterflies. En route, stop in the agricultural town of Orotina, known especially for its fruit production, to do some birding with your expert guide. With luck, you will get to spot some of the owls that reside in this area. Arrive at the lodge with time to get settled and freshen up. After dinner, set out on a guided night walk in search of nocturnal species like Common Pauraque, Spectacled Owl, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, and more.

This morning, visit Tapir Valley Reserve. This private reserve was created when concerned citizens purchased the land more than 10 years ago with the vision of preserving and protecting it. It consists of more than 540 acres of primary and secondary forest that are home to many tapirs and bird species like the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, King Vulture, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Lovely Cotinga, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, Three-wattled Bellbird, Black-crested Coquette, and Snowcap, and more. After lunch, visit Jungle Life for a sloth tour. This family-owned animal sanctuary aims to preserve the natural habitat of local flora and fauna by providing a safe place for all species to roam freely while minimizing human interference in their daily dynamics. In the evening, return to Tapir Valley for a rainforest night walk.

Head north to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important wetlands and biological areas of the country. This Ramsar wetland provides important habitat for thousands of migratory water birds including herons, storks, spoonbills, ibis, anhinga, ducks, and cormorants, as well as other wildlife like the emerald basilisk, giant anteaters, river turtles, and more. Stop en route at Agami Island Nature Reserve, a 74-acre ecological sanctuary and unique habitat for a variety of birds, reptiles, and mammals. Named after the beautiful and elusive Agami Heron, this reserve is an important educational resource and conservation project in the area. Upon arriving at Natural Lodge Caño Negro, check in and then continue birding on a walk around the grounds. This is one of the best places to see the Nicaraguan Grackle, whose only Costa Rican habitat is Caño Negro and other marshy areas just south of Lake Nicaragua.

Start today by boarding a boat for an early morning tour through the Caño Negro wetlands. An abundance of wildlife can be seen in these remote 22,000-acre tropical wetlands. Gliding along lagoons and canals, be on the lookout for some of the 350 species of birds found in the refuge, including a colony of Nicaraguan Grackle, egrets, anhingas, Roseate Spoonbills, and other waterfowl. It may also be possible to spot caimans, crocodiles, and monkeys. Caño Negro is also one of the nesting spots for the imposing Jabiru. Later in the day, travel to Boca Tapada. The town of Boca Tapada is located in the northernmost part of the lower basin of the San Carlos River and within the Maquenque Mixed Wildlife Refuge, a reserve aiming to protect endangered flora and fauna in one of the areas of Costa Rica most affected by deforestation and large-scale agriculture. Boca Tapada de San Carlos is home to a unique variety of tropical forests, rivers, lagoons, wetlands, and hundreds of species of plants and animals, like endangered Great Green Macaws, manatees, jaguars, and much more. It is also a popular spot for birders in Costa Rica and hundreds of ornithologists visit it every year to photograph birds like the Scarlet Macaw, King Vulture, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, and Red-headed Manakin. Upon arrival at Laguna del Lagarto Eco Lodge, enjoy the sightings of toucans and parrots right from the balcony.

Laguna del Lagarto is located in the area of Santa Rita de Boca Tapada. It is surrounded by its own reserve, which is comprised of tropical rainforest and wetland habitats that are home to fascinating wildlife, including hundreds of bird species, caimans, and more. The lodge features dedicated blinds and canopy towers that provide unique angles on species like the King Vulture, Brown-hooded Parrot, Baltimore Oriole, and more, while its feeders attract a colorful mix of tanagers, oropendolas, woodpeckers, and honeycreepers. Spend the morning photographing King Vultures and the afternoon exploring and honing your photography skills around the unique variety of tropical forests, rivers, lagoons, wetlands and hundreds of species of flora and fauna at Laguna del Lagarto.

Early this morning, enjoy birding around the lodge before departing for San Gerardo de Dota. Along the way, visit CopeArte, the home of a local artist and photographer. "Cope" is the pseudonym of José Pérez, a self-taught artist and amateur photographer with a great love for nature. His property is designed to maximize opportunities for birding and photography, and it features ponds that attract aquatic species and blinds from which visitors can photograph birds regardless of weather conditions. After lunch, depart for Cerro de la Muerte, an area at the top of Cordillera de Talamanca that is famous for its diversity of endemic wildlife. Consisting of temperate forest and páramo habitats, the natural vegetation attracts species such as the rare Red-fronted Parrotlet, Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Dusky Nightjar, Fiery-throated, Volcano, and Scintillant Hummingbirds, White-throated Mountain-gem, Ruddy Treerunner, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-throated Jay, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Wrenthrush, and Resplendent Quetzal.

This morning, visit Batsú Gardens, a beautiful location with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. It was designed with birding and photography in mind to showcase the many species of birds that inhabit the Costa Rican highlands. In the afternoon, spend time exploring the gardens and grounds at Hotel Suria.

Venture out on one last hike after breakfast before returning to San José. En route, enjoy a visit to the private home known as Casa Dowii. Serge Arias welcomes visitors for light meals, coffee, and excellent birding and photography opportunities. Later, arrive at Hotel Buena Vista for dinner and overnight.

Travel to the airport for your flight(s) home.