Costa Rica Photo Expedition
Sicherman family
January 6 - 19, 2024
Expedition overview
Hello, Sicherman family!
Welcome to your tailor-made photography adventure with us here at Physis, right in the vibrant heart of Costa Rica!
I am beyond excited to guide you through a journey filled with lush landscapes, captivating wildlife, and the exotic flora that this tropical paradise has to offer. As photographers, I know you have a discerning eye for beauty and a deep passion for capturing the very essence of nature. Costa Rica, with its unparalleled biodiversity and stunning vistas, is the perfect canvas for your photographic pursuits.
From the lush greenery of Sarapiqui to the tranquil waterways of Boca Tapada, every moment of this trip is a golden opportunity to capture the extraordinary. Be it the intricate patterns of tropical plants, the vivid hues of exotic flowers, or the dynamic wildlife in their natural habitats, I can assure you, your cameras will be busy framing the unique and breathtaking sights of Costa Rica.
I’ve meticulously planned a series of photography tours and activities to ensure you make the most out of your time here, including private sessions and exclusive night tours to enhance your experience. Your passion for photography and love for nature are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime. So, dive into the itinerary we’ve prepared just for you, and let’s get ready for an unforgettable photography adventure with Physis!
Expedition details
- Arrival airport: SJO
- Departure airport: SJO
- 14 days
- 13 nights lodging
- Local photographer
- + 10 photo activities
- Difficult: Easy
- All levels are welcome!
- Free time
- Daily activities
- Local guides
- Certified lodges
- Daily breakfasts
- Fareweel dinner
- Experienced driver
- SUV
- Expedition leader
- Local insurance
- All local taxes
Gallery
Day by day itinerary
January 6
Andy will be waiting for you at the airport, and we will take you to the hotel.
- Arrival
- Pick-up is at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
- Private transfer to Heredia city
- Lodging at Hotel Bougainvillea
January 7
Since we will be arriving at your hotel around 11:00 p.m. (if there are no delays), you can have breakfast between 8:00 – 9:00 this day.
Then, we check out and depart to the city of Cartago and the Orosi area.
It will take about 2 hours to get there! We will make some short stops.
We can have lunch in a typical restaurant or at the hotel.
Throughout the afternoon, we will do a photo session in the gardens and trails of the Quelitales hotel. This will be a good time to take pictures of hummingbirds.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Transfer to Cartago city
- Lunch at the hotel or at a local restaurant
- Hummingbird and bird photo session at the hotel
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Hotel Quelitales
January 8
This day, we will have breakfast at 7:00.
During the morning, we will take another 2-hour walk along the trails of the hotel to photograph different species of birds (more than 400 species have been recorded at the hotel).
After check-out, we will take a 2-hour tour to visit the areas of Orosi and Cachi and take some pictures of their beautiful landscapes.
Then, we will go to the Los Santos area. Approximately two hours of driving.
After checking in at the hotel, we will have the opportunity to take pictures of birds and landscapes at the hotel during the afternoon. This area is a cloud forest.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Nature and bird photo session in the morning.
- Visit to Cachi and Orosi town
- Check-out
- Transfer to Cerro Buena Vista, San Gerardo de Dota, Zona de Los Santos.
- Lunch at the hotel or at a local restaurant
- Photography session at the hotel and its surrounding areas.
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Paraiso Quetzal Lodge
January 9
We will get up early in the morning! Probably at 5:30 am
This day we will go in search of the Quetzal, one of the most beautiful birds in the world. The Resplendent Quetzal is one of the most iconic birds of Costa Rica and the world. It is a species of trogon and is famous for its impressively colored plumage and long tail feathers. A bird photo shoot with this magnificent creature is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Our local guides will accompany us to a place near the hotel, where the Quetzal usually arrives daily.
This tour lasts approximately 2.5 – 3 hours.
This day we will have breakfast after the tour.
In the afternoon, we can go for a walk on the trails of the hotel. We will have the opportunity to photograph more than 10 species of hummingbirds. These little birds are truly a sight to behold. With their brightly colored feathers, they can be seen flitting from flower to flower, drinking nectar and foraging for food. They are so small and delicate that it almost looks like they could disappear in an instant. That is why a photo session with these incredible birds is so special.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Quetzal Photo Session
- Lunch at the hotel or at a local restaurant
- Hummingbird photo session
- Free afternoon
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Paraiso Quetzal Lodge
January 10
Breakfast will be at 7:00 a.m.
After check-out, we will continue to Braulio Carrillo National Park.
This drive will take about 2.5 hours! It will be a great opportunity to see a change between two totally different microclimates.
We will make a few stops along the way for photo opportunities.
If you wish, we can make a stop for about 2 hours to walk in Braulio Carrillo National Park. It would be a light hike! (Optional)
In the afternoon, we will hike the trails of the Tapirus Lode Hotel. We will have the opportunity to take pictures of sloths, frogs, and birds. This tour will last about 3 hours.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Transfer to the Braulio Carrillo area.
- Lunch at the hotel or at a local restaurant
- Photo session in the hotel
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Tapirus Lodge
January 11
Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m.
Bird photo session at Nectar & Pollen Reserve.
During this session, we’ll have the opportunity to capture images of the vibrant emerald toucan, the stunning motmot, and various other species. The lush, verdant scenery of the region is sure to leave a lasting impression on you.
This tour takes 3 hours.
Lunch at the hotel.
Optional (Not included): Rainforest Aerial Tram and Canopy tour are available at the hotel. (In the afternoon)
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Transfer to Nectar & Pollen
- Bird photo session.
- Transfer to the hotel
- Lunch at the hotel
- A walking tour along the hotel’s natural trails
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Tapirus Lodge
January 12
Breakfast will be at 7:00 am.
We will hike through the trails of the hotel. If we are lucky we will be able to photograph the Tapir that visits the hotel regularly and other animals. This hike can last about 2 hours.
After check-out, we will continue to the lowlands of Sarapiqui. This tour will take about 1.5 hours driving.
We will have lunch in a typical restaurant.
In the afternoon, we will take a tour through the trails of the Selva Verde Hotel and we will be able to do our first bird photography session at the hotel.
At 7:00 pm, we will take a night walk in the rainforest, an ideal time to see frogs, toads and other animals.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Transfer to the Sarapiqui area.
- Nature photo session at the hotel.
- Night tour at the hotel
- Lodging at Selva Verde Lodge
January 13
Breakfast is at the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
A full-day tour to Pierella Pierella Ecological Garden.
Butterflies, hummingbirds, toucans, ants, frogs, wildlife, culture, and chocolate—all in one location. We will be visiting the Pierella Ecological Garden.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Pierella Ecological Garden.
- Lunch at Pierella Ecological Garden (Included)
- Transfer to the hotel
- Free time
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Selva Verde Lodge
January 14
Let’s have breakfast at the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
Throughout the morning, we will visit Tico Rainforest! For about 3 hours, we will be able to photograph at least 15 species of local birds, some of them migratory, such as the toucan, tanagers, and opendolas, among many others.
We will have lunch in a typical restaurant!
Then we will drive for about 2 hours to the beautiful and wild region of Boca Tapada, near the border with Nicaragua.
In the afternoon, we will do some photography at the hotel and in the surrounding area.
At 6:30 p.m. and for about 2 hours, we will have one of the most exciting and unique sessions. We will photograph flying bats.
Dinner at the hotel
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Check-out
- Photo session in Tico Rainforest
- Transfer to Boca Tapada area
- Lunch at the hotel or at a local restaurant
- Lodging at Boca Tapada Lodge
- Bat photo session at night
- Dinner at the hotel
January 15
Morning (9:00 am)
After breakfast (8:00 am), we dedicate this photo session to the King Vulture. The King Vulture, notable for its vibrant coloration, is one of the largest New World vultures, growing up to 2.5 feet tall and weighing around 8 pounds. This bird possesses one of the strongest beaks among American vultures, enabling it to open carcasses that others can’t, often eating first at a feeding site.
Lunch at a local restaurant or at the hotel
Afternoon (14:00)
During our Snakes and Frogs macro session, you’ll have the opportunity for close-up encounters and photography with over five exotic and venomous species. This experience, conducted in a safe and controlled environment, allows you to capture the allure and danger of these enigmatic creatures. It’s an adventure designed for the daring and curious, keen to explore and document the wild’s mystique in vivid detail.
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- King Vulture Photo Session
- Lunch at a local restaurant or at the hotel
- Macro Photography Session: Snakes and Frogs
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging is at Boca Tapada Lodge
January 16
Breakfast at the hotel at 8:00 am.
We will take a couple of hours to take advantage of the morning light to take more pictures in the vicinity of the hotel. The number of birds you will see is impressive. We can also take pictures of the San Carlos River.
After check-out, we will drive for more than 3 hours to the impressive and remote area of Caño Negro.
We will have lunch on the road.
In the afternoon, we will have a session at the Cano Negro Lodge and its surrounding areas.
In the evening, we will have a night walk, which will last about 2 hours.
Dinner at the hotel
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Check-out
- Transfer to Caño Negro area
- Check-in
- Dinner at the hotel
- Night walk at Caño Negro
- Lodging at Caño Negro Lodge
February 17
Breakfast at the hotel at 7:00 am.
Tour by boat through the main attractions of the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. Search for wildlife, interpretation of the ecology and biodiversity of the wetland.
The Caño Negro Wetland is one of the most dynamic and biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica.
This tour will last approximately 5 hours.
Lunch at the hotel.
Free time
Dinner at the hotel
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Nature and bird photography session.
- Lunch at the hotel
- Free afternoon
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lodging at Caño Negro Lodge
January 18
Breakfast at the hotel at 8:00 am.
We will have another photo opportunity in the morning at the hotel.
At 10:30 am, we will check out! We will drive over 3 hours to the Cinchona area, near the Poas Volcano.
We will stop at a famous restaurant to have lunch and take lots of pictures… birds, 2 beautiful waterfalls: La Paz and San Fernando as well as beautiful landscapes of that zone.
Then, we will drive one more hour to the city of San Jose.
Check in at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel
- Breakfast at the hotel (Included)
- Photo session at the surrounding areas
- Transfer Cinchona area
- Bird photo session at the restaurant
- Dinner at the hotel (Farewell dinner included)
- Lodging at Hotel Bougainvillea
January 19
After having shared this trip together and having lived through so many unique moments and experiences, we will take you to the airport. It’s time to go home!
- Check-out
- Transfer to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
- Departure flight
- End of services
Stunning destinations
Cachi, Cartago
San Gerardo de Dota
Braulio Carrillo
Sarapiqui
Boca Tapada
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Expedition leader
I, Andy, will be right there with you as your expedition leader and tour guide. With years of experience and a profound love for the nature of Costa Rica, I am eager to share my knowledge, photography tips, and fascinating stories to enrich your adventure.
Together, we will make sure that your time here is not just a trip, but a journey filled with learning, discovery, and moments that will stay with you forever.
Andy is a proud member of NANPA, PPA, PSA and SINWP photography associations
Services, photo activities and accommodations
What’s included (Confirmed)
- Exclusive and private travel itinerary
- 13 nights of lodging
- Physis’s certified hotels and lodges
- 1 standard, superior or deluxe room (double)
- Private bathroom
- Daily breakfasts at the hotels (Buffet)
- Farewell dinner (Last night)
- A local professional photographer and expedition leader with years of experience
- Experienced, certified, and area-specific guides for birds, wildlife and nature photography
- +10 photography tours and activities.
- In a comfortable car, you will enjoy private ground transportation
- All entrance fees (National parks, reserves, refuges, etc)
- 1 standard room for the guide (single)
- Daily meals for the guide
- All local insurances
- All local taxes
What’s not included
- Airfare to/from Costa Rica
- Lunches
- Dinners
- Visa (If it’s required)
- Medical insurance
- Travel Insurance
- Tips and gratuities (local guides, driver, and expedition leader)
- Alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, cocktails, etc) and beverages not included on the menu.
- Hotel services (laundry, room service, etc)
- Personal services (spa, massage, etc)
All these photo activities and tours are included.
- Bird photography sessions in Cartago
- Visit to Orosi and Cachi area
- Quetzal tour in La Zona de Los Santos
- Bird Photo session in Braulio Carrillo
- A night tour in Sarapiqui area
- Nature trails in the Sarapiqui area
- Photo session in Pierella Ecological Garden
- Bird Photo session in Sarapiqui
- Bat photo session at night
- King vulture photo session
- Macro session: Snakes and Frogs
- Nature and wildlife photo session in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
- Caño Negro Boat Tour
- Visit to Cinchona area
- Other stops and activities at the hotels and surrounding areas
While all these activities are confirmed, they may be subject to change depending on the weather and other conditions. We consult with our local guides daily to pinpoint the most favorable situations and prime photography opportunities.
Hotels and lodges
Mark, you can call all the hotels to confirm the reservation. All reservations are under my name.
- Hotel Bougainvillea (first night and last night). (Garden view)
- Hotel Quelitales (Suite)
- Hotel Paradiso Quetzal (Standard room)
- Tapirus Lodge (Deluxe)
- Selva Verde Lodge (Sarapiqui room)
- Boca Tapada Lodge (Melina room)
- Caño Negro Lodge (Superior)
Price per person based on 2 persons
- US$3796 per person based on double rooms.
Dates
- January 6 to 19, 2024
Full payment
- December 13, 2023 (Full payment)
Physis – 2023