COSTA RICA<br> 26 January to 3 February 2025

After two intense days, we will start the day early, but with the good news that the afternoon will be free to rest, review the photographs and relax.

We will depart from the hotel at 5:30 AM for a drive of approximately 1.5 hours to our next hike.
This tour will be quieter, exploring a trail in the Tropical Rainforest, in a combination of primary and secondary forest.
The hike is flat and easy, which will allow us to focus on wildlife photography, looking for species such as peccary, agouti, coati, and sloths.

After the hike, we will enjoy an early lunch at a local restaurant hidden in the jungle, with a relaxing view.
There will be time to enjoy a refreshing drink before heading back to the hotel for a lazy afternoon.

The afternoon is free to relax, enjoy the hotel facilities or lounge by the pool.
For those interested, an optional vehicle tour of the surrounding area will be offered in search of more photo opportunities, especially scarlet macaws and pelagic birds on the nearby coast.

After a well-deserved rest, we will start the day very early with an optional departure to photograph the sunrise from a high point in the mountains.
Those who decide to participate will leave at 4:00 AM for a journey of about 45 minutes to our viewpoint, which offers a 360-degree panoramic view.
From here, there will be multiple opportunities for long exposure photography at sunrise, with two points close by to position tripods and secure a prime position.

After sunrise, we will return to the hotel to pick up those who preferred to rest and quickly head towards one of the largest waterfalls of our expedition.
This will be a day where we go from photographing wildlife to focusing on landscapes.

The drive to the waterfall is approximately 1.5 hours by road, followed by a 45-minute hike to reach the waterfall area.
During the hike, we will find several interesting spots to capture long exposure photography.
It is recommended to take advantage of this day for aerial photography with drones.

After the hike, we will enjoy lunch with panoramic views and time to relax before heading to the coast to capture the sunset.
We will have a photo session dedicated to the sunset on the beach, ideal for using tripods and drones for aerial captures.

At the end of the day, we will make a trip of approximately 2 hours to our next accommodation, making a quick stop for dinner at a restaurant overlooking a small village illuminated from above.

The day starts very early with a departure at 4:00 AM to capture the sunrise in a new mountainous location.
This time, departure will not be optional, as we head straight to our next destination for the rest of the day.
The place offers two unique scenarios: one where the lights of a small village will fade as the sun rises over the mountains, and another with views of the ocean from a distance.

After sunrise, we will continue our route down the other side of the mountain, stopping to capture several waterfalls that we will find along the way.
These will be great opportunities to use drones and get unique angles of waterfalls, as well as take long exposure photography.

The rest of the day will be dedicated to birdwatching in a completely different habitat than we have experienced so far.
The hike will be light, focusing on open areas and forest edges, where we will look to photograph species such as tanagers, honeyeaters, aracaris, parrots and woodpeckers.

After the hike, we will enjoy a breakfast with local seasonal ingredients, followed by a visit to a hidden waterfall, reserved exclusively for our group.
Lunch will be handmade, with local products, in a quiet and secluded place.

In the afternoon, we will head to a traditional café in a nearby village, where there will also be opportunities to continue bird photography and enjoy a local specialty coffee.

This day starts early with a drive into the highest mountains in Costa Rica.
We will leave at 5:30 AM for a journey of approximately 2 hours, ascending to an altitude of more than 3,000 meters.
Along the way, we will stop for coffee and a traditional artisanal breakfast.

Our main objective of the day will be to find and photograph the majestic Resplendent Quetzal, considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
Local guides will have explored the area the day before to increase our chances of spotting it.
We will spend a couple of hours looking for the “coludo”, as it is known locally, and we will take the opportunity to capture other species of mountain birds in this unique ecosystem.

Hikes will be short due to the altitude, but will concentrate on key areas to maximize photo opportunities.
In addition to the quetzal, we will look for hummingbirds, the green toucanet, the acorn woodpecker, the long-tailed capuchin and the golden-browed chlorophonia, true jewels of the high mountains.

At noon, we will enjoy lunch in a hummingbird garden, where there will be excellent opportunities for bird photography.
After lunch, we will transfer to our last accommodation, where we will have time to rest before leaving in the afternoon to a nearby point to photograph the sunset.

After sunset, conditions permitting, we will stay to practice night star photography , before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Our last full day in the mountains of Costa Rica begins with an optional sunrise departure for those who wish to capture the first light of day at a high point in the mountains.
The departure will be at 4:00 AM to reach one of the highest peaks in the area and take advantage of the photographic opportunities offered by the sunrise.

After sunrise, we will return to the hotel for breakfast and to meet the rest of the group.
Next, we’ll set off on one last search for the quetzal or, depending on our success the day before, focus on photographing other highland bird species .
This will be our last chance to capture the endemic fauna of this region.

Lunch will be served at the hotel at 1:00 PM, and the rest of the afternoon will be free for participants to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax, or review and organize their photographs.
For those interested, an optional hike in the vicinity of the hotel or a visit to a local café will be offered to enjoy Costa Rican culture.

In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner at 6:00 PM, where we will share our experiences of the week and toast to the moments lived.
For those who wish to make the most of it until the last moment, there will be an optional night photography session focused on the stars or nocturnal fauna.

This will be the day of farewell and return to the international airport.
The morning will begin with an optional sunrise photography session for those who wish to capture one last image of the Costa Rican landscape.
The departure will be at 4:00 AM to arrive at the photography site and take advantage of the first rays of the sun.

After the photo shoot, we will return to the hotel for breakfast at 7:00 AM.
Subsequently, we will coordinate the departure to the airport depending on the schedules of the participants’ international flights.
There will be only one departure of the group from the hotel to the airport, if you schedule your return flights for that day please do so after 16:00 hrs

If some participants have flights later in the day, recommendations will be offered to pass the time, such as visiting museums in the city or enjoying a meal somewhere nearby.
We can also help coordinate additional transportation if needed.

For those staying in the country, we can drop you off at a convenient location or help you arrange more activities or visits in Costa Rica.