Physis Photo Tours

In November 2024, my husband and I had the pleasure of having Andy Bezara from Physis Photo Tours as our private guide throughout our time in Costa Rica, and the experience was absolutely phenomenal. As a travel and wildlife photographer, I was thrilled with the locations we visited, while my husband, who enjoys photography as a hobby, found the experience equally rewarding.

Andy guided us through diverse and stunning areas, including Boca Tapada, Sarapiquí, Heredia, San Gerardo de Dota and parts of San Jose. He was punctual, well-prepared, and always prioritized safety, especially when photographing wildlife. His friendly and approachable nature, combined with his deep knowledge of the region, made the experience both enjoyable and highly educational.

Having a private tour with just the two of us made it even more special. Andy ensured we had the best opportunities to capture Costa Rica’s breathtaking wildlife and landscapes. His passion for photography and nature shone through every moment, and the locations he selected were absolutely perfect.

My husband and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Andy again. Highly recommended for photographers of all levels looking for a safe, professional, and unforgettable private experience in Costa Rica.

My wife and I have gone on tours on all seven continents, many several times over. But the recent tour Andy from Physis Photo Tours organized and led stands out from them all. Andy has intimate knowledge of the communities into which he leads his tours and works closely with select wildlife guides to maximize the opportunities for sightings. He was able to identify and organize unique photographic opportunities such as nighttime bat photography, macro butterfly and toad photography, and multi-flash hummingbird photography.

What we were looking for, and what Andy at Physis specializes in, is small group tours, staying at small lodges, and engaging in small-group activities. You will not be finding yourselves crammed into a boat with two dozen strangers; Andy will arrange a private boat and guide. In Costa Rica the weather, and sometimes therefore the plans, can change with little notice. But Andy’s knowledge of the communities, from the lodge operators, to the local photographers, to the wildlife guides, to the lodge cat allows him to pivot quickly and plan alternative activities.

Such can also be the case with driving around Costa Rica, where the limited quality and quantity of roads, not to mention traffic and accidents, can make getting around and staying on schedule challenging. Here again Andy uses only the best drivers, in our case Juan, to insure a comfortable and timely journey. Don’t underestimate the importance of a good driver in Costa Rica. Yes, you could probably do it yourself, but you wouldn’t know where and when to go, and would miss lots of things along the way.

My wife and I give Andy from Physis Photo Tours our highest recommendation.

I had a wonderful experience with the services offered by Physis and would recommend them to anyone interested in photography and visiting Costa Rica.

This was my first trip with Physis Photo Tours, and it won’t be my last. Andy and his team were like a well-oiled machine, getting us up close to wildlife without disturbing it. The highlight for me? Photographing not one, but four species of toucans! I never thought I’d get shots like these, and I owe it all to the team’s expertise. Costa Rica is absolutely magical. Nacho – Nicetyphoto

I had been meaning to take my father on a photography tour in Costa Rica for some time. Organization was slightly last minute, and yet Andy (who heads Physis Photo Tours) and Physis were fantastic.

We had a zoom meeting to discuss our options for subjects and locations for the time of year we were planning to visit (as well as lenses and equipment), and he took into account our preferences for species and locations and also made recommendations to craft a personalized itinerary.

Juan who picked my father up from the airport and who was our driver for the week was so kind. Guides, from the folks at the The Nest Nature Center in Aguas Zarcas where they are reclaiming an area of farmland and transforming it into habitat that is more suitable for native fauna, to the fantastic guide in Boca Tapada to our guides near Sarapiqui and Limon were fantastic.

My father and I were floored by the species we were able to photograph in great settings, from multiple species of toucan, to mannequins, to owls and king vulture, to multiple species of hummingbirds, to bats and reptiles. Andy is a photographer and many of our guides were photographers, and I think they really cater to situations and set-ups that are optimal for photography, not just for seeing wildlife or birding per se.

As Andy lives in Costa Rica they partner with local guides and businesses who know the areas and the animal well and who were incredibly welcoming, sometimes into their own back-yards and properties.

It was a fantastic trip, and I can’t complement their professionalism and expertise enough. Physis is highly recommended and we are excited to come back soon as well.

Andy and his team did a tremendous job.

They were timely, organized, efficient and got us a wide variety of wildlife photography in great locations. Would not hesitate to use them again. On top of their effectiveness, Andy and Juan are really nice people and fun to travel with.

Our wish was to photograph various wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles, insects) in Costa Rica during three weeks. We quickly gave up organizing this ourselves. But we didn’t want a group trip. We found the perfect solution with Andy Bezara from Physis Photo Tours.

He has organized a wonderful photo trip for the two of us, off the beaten path. Andy was by our side the whole time and made sure we could fully enjoy every moment and we didn’t have to worry about anything. And thanks to his network of local guides, we had countless wonderful photo subjects.

Thank you Andy, it was awesome.

Everything incredible!!! Really great logistics. I am a true lover of photography and I recommend this unbeatable opportunity to get closer to nature.

I’m not a pro photographer, so I was worried I’d feel out of place, but Andy and the guides made sure everyone felt welcome. The session with frogs and snakes was unlike anything I’ve ever done—I was nervous but ended up with some of my favorite shots from the trip. I left feeling more confident in my photography and more connected to nature. Thank you for making this such a special experience.

I’m just back from a 12-day trip around Costa Rica with Andy Bezara and Physis.  It was an amazing experience, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the photos I’ve returned with.

Andy is an expert photographer but just as important as that, he is a brilliant organizer, with countless expert guides around the country ready and willing to give guests the best photo experience.

Everything on our tour ran like clockwork and Andy was always ready the flex the plans to suit my needs, which I think is really important as you don’t know until you get there what’s going to be your main focus.

All in all I can’t speak highly enough or Andy and have no hesitation in recommenting him to other like minded photographers.