FROM RAINFOREST TO CLOUD FOREST
Costa Rica, a verdant tapestry of rainforests, cloud forests, and coastal ecosystems, has unique places to photograph wildlife. Where else can you find nearly 6% of the planet’s biodiversity so densely concentrated in a country as beautiful as Costa Rica?
It’s where sloths smile enigmatically, macaws flash their vibrant feathers, and five species of monkeys playfully swing through thick jungle canopies. This breathtaking destination offers photographers looking to join a Costa Rica wildlife photography tour plenty of opportunities to capture stunning images of hard-to-find wildlife if they know where to look.
This blog post is your exclusive gateway to insider knowledge.
I’ll reveal five unique places to photograph wildlife in Costa Rica, elevating your wildlife photography to the next level. You’ll learn the secrets of capturing fantastic images of Macaw, Quetzal, Hummingbird, Monkey, Snake, Iguana, and the famous Red-eyed tree frog.
In these unique locations, tropical wildlife engages in various behaviors, including courtship, breeding, in-flight behavior, and other animal gestures. These will reward you with wildlife photography worthy of sharing. You have two main options. You can travel to the location independently. Alternatively, you can join a wildlife photography workshop to learn from expert instructors and collaborate with other photographers, greatly improving your skills.
What is the best time of year to visit Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s dry season (December to April) offers the best weather for photography. The rainy season (May to November) can also be rewarding, with lush greenery and vibrant landscapes. Tourism drops off, and prices tend to be lower during this time.
However, climate change can disrupt weather patterns. On a recent visit during the dry season, I experienced several sustained periods of heavy rain.
Where should I go first?
When I first came to Costa Rica, I thought I could easily find specific species of birds, reptiles, and monkeys with minimal effort. You can spot monkeys, macaws, and toucans from your hotel window, by the pool, or in the outdoor breakfast dining area.
Successful wildlife photography in Costa Rica takes more than enthusiasm and the lure of photos you may have seen in wildlife publications. Using resort hotels as a base for most photography enthusiasts can yield creative shots. However, you may want to expand your reach to capture images of tree frogs, crocodiles, quetzals, toucanets, and other elusive species.
In that case, you’ll need to have a more profound knowledge of the ins and outs of Costa Rica’s diverse habitats and photographic techniques to open more rewarding possibilities. Sloths, for example, are very hard to photograph. Their habitat is high in the tree-tops in typically old-growth forests.
The same goes for amphibians such as the red-eyed tree frog, glass frog, and poison dart frog. These tiny frogs are nocturnal, hard to find, and equally hard to handle and position to get a classic shot.
Practice ethical wildlife photography
Before we reveal the best places in Costa Rica to photograph wildlife, a discussion about ethical wildlife photography is warranted. Always prioritize the well-being of animals. Avoid disturbing them or using flash photography, particularly with sloths. Your guide will help you make sound ethical decisions when photographing sensitive species like frogs and other reptiles.
Flash photography is acceptable for Hummingbird and bat photography.
The Osa Peninsula
As you research the best areas for wildlife, start with a general overview and then make a more refined plan based on the species you want to photograph. Here are four of my favorite areas:
The Osa is a biodiversity hotspot in the southernmost part of Costa Rica. It’s known for its pristine rainforests and 2.5% of the earth’s biodiversity packed into an area equivalent to 0.001% of its land mass. This location is rich in photographic opportunities. Expect encounters with scarlet macaws, five species of monkeys, rainforest amphibians like the red-eyed tree frog, sloths, and other tropical reptiles. Puerto Jiminez is a good base camp with various accommodations. There is a small airport with service from San Jose on Sansa Air.
Pro tip: A private photography tour is the best opportunity to learn wildlife photography from professionals and capture memorable images.
Corcovado National Park
In the Osa, Corcovado National Park is home to many mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, including Jaguars and Baird’s Tapirs. Guides registered to operate in the park are required to visit Corcovado. Hotels and Resorts can assist with booking. Mention your interest in photography. Corcovado is accessible by boat via Drake Bay to the San Pedrillo Ranger Station or by car, a rocky, 4WD two-hour drive from Puerto Jiminez to ecolodges near the La Leona Ranger Station. Pro tip: A telephoto lens is essential for capturing wildlife from afar. The jungle canopy reduces light levels, so increase your ISO to compensate for low light.
The Sierpe River
From the town of Sierpe, numerous boat tours take you up the Sierpe River to explore the largest mangrove reserve in Latin America. From the comfort of a boat, you will see abundant wildlife along the river’s thick mangrove trees, including sightings of monkeys, crocodiles, caymans, herons, boa constrictors, sloths, and more. Pro tip: For sharp images, increase your ISO and shutter speed to compensate for the rocking motion of the boat 1. San Gerardo De Dota: Bordering Los Quet
San Gerardo De Dota:
Bordering Los Quetzales National Park, San Gerardo De Dota has three types of forests perfect for photographing the resplendent quetzal, trogons, emerald toucanets, and hummingbirds.
Located in a deep valley along the Saverge River, access the area on Route 2 between San Jose and Isidro De General. The valley’s top is over 7,000 feet, and cooler temperatures prevail at these higher elevations. A local guide is a must when spotting quetzals. March and April are nesting seasons, making it prime season to spot these magnificent birds and other bird species. A wide variety of lodges in the valley suit any taste.
Pro tip: Batsu Garden has a covered platform for photographers with feeding stations attracting multiple species. A short walk up nearby forest trails offers encounters with toucanets and quetzals.
Sarapiqui & Boca Tapada:
The Sarapiqui and Boca Tapada region of Costa Rica’s Caribbean rainforest, near the Nicaraguan border, is a wildlife hotspot, home to a wide range of animals from anteaters to the endangered Green Macaw. It’s particularly famous as a bird-watching destination, with lodges offering bird feeders that draw in countless species. However, to truly experience the region’s wildlife, especially birds, a local guide is the way to get great images. They can direct you to the best hides and feeders and, more importantly, understand the dynamic nature of wildlife behavior.
Pro tip: Remember, animals move based on time, season, and weather. Success lies in predicting their location, not relying on past sightings.
