CaptainBobBrown

I'm contemplating spending a week or two in Costa Rica to do bird/wildlife photography during the dry season. Could any of you who have been there recommend areas to visit and/or places to stay for bird/wildlife photography?

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

I've been around the Liberia area and found plenty of Bird/wildlife opportunities.
River tours offer a wide variety or bird and crocodile photography.

mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA

You don't name the area you'll be visiting or staying nor any particular route you'll be taking for the time, but CR is FILLED with opportunities across the entire country! I'd suggest a google search just to give you an idea, there you'll see where all the tours go, etc. But don't forget the land! In addition to the wildlife, there are the butterflies, beautiful landscapes, city-scapes, volcanoes (one still active the last I heard), coastal, rain forest...it's all there! Do be careful with photographing people, ask permission. You will have a great time and may not wanna come back! Oh, and I'd suggest you go the full two weeks!

tgreenhaw

Pretty much any resort is going to have plenty of hummingbirds. If you're on the ocean, you'll get some great sand piper shots. I recommend taking a guided tour for Toucans and other exotic birds & wildlife. We stayed at the Hyatt Andaz and it was one of the nicest places I've ever stayed. Don't go barefoot in the water and bring waterproof bandages in case you cut your feet - there are a lot of sharp rocks and urchins in Costa Rica. Pura Vida :-)

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I have been 4 times all with Foto Verde Tours done both coasts, cloud forest, and the highland. great opportunities everywhere

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

The resort areas south of Jaco offer a wet tropical rainforest climate. They will have guide who will take you through the preserves and national parks nearby (Manuel Antonio is special). Monkeys, parrots, toucans, can be seen there. The northern Pacific coast area has dry tropical forest - many different species of birds. Getting to Monteverde is a chore whether in your own car or on a tour (bad road, roads are not well marked, and remote areas) but the cloudforest is different yet and spectacular.

You can book tours that start from San Jose for about $100 per day - this company offers 11-day tours including Manuel Antonio or 9-day Northeast CR tours that include Monteverde and the Arenal Volcano (no longer active I hear but the hot springs are great). You can take a fun half-day tour from San Jose to Poas Volcano. If you do not speak any Spanish something like this might be the way to go. Also check the OAT travel tours.

See: http://www.viator.com/San-Jose/d793-ttd

The other option would be to book a stay at a resort on the northeastern coast but see if they offer airport transportation and tours to Monteverde.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have been to Costa Rica before, it was not a photography tour. I am planning on going again with Judy & Gary Malloch. I went to Namibia with them, their Costa Rica guide, Yehudi Hernandez, is an amazing photographer, a naturalist and an amazing spotter.
Here is a link to his flickr account
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53973963@N06/

Check out their tours. Mention my name if you contact them, Roni

https://naturestapestryjlm.com/category/tour-calendar/

Tracht3

Been going to cr for over 25 years. Hummingbirds LA Paz. The best hands down. Your question is broad. How many days, location, budget, will you be driving your own vehicle, do you have a tour guide, do you won't to be moving around a lot as this will eat into time?

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

One of our Costa Rica highlights was a zip line trip! You might look into it. And use your camera while you are on the line.

RichJ207 Loc: Sammamish, WA

Waiting for a bus to Monteverde at the moment from Hanging Bridges area. Will let you know what we find there later today.

Rich

CaptainBobBrown

Thanks for all your responses. I gave no specific plans in original query because I was looking for lodge recommendations, not tours, etc. Much prefer setting my own itinerary so all I need are area and lodge recomendations. Thanks again.

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

When we stayed in the Arenal area, there were many day trips to Cano Negro. Its a river that runs through an agricultural area. As the farms were developed over a period of time, all of the wildlife was pushed back to the river. There is plentiful wildlife, but it is a fantastic spot for birding! Saw my first roseate spoonbill there...

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Stayed there 10 years ago. Many excellent guides available who know their stuff. To be a guide in CR is an exalted occupation and highly desirable. Have a great time. Also avoided the tours and rented a car.... some rough roads and adventurous bridges especially in the torrential downpours we experienced.

Clover

My husband and I went to Costa Rica in 2013. We stayed at a resort near Jauco Beach, Heradera. I don't remember the name but the rooms looked like little huts and were named after different countries. There were many birds, iguanas, monkeys, butterflies. We went on a bird watch early one morning and saw 12 pair of scarlet macaws, toucans, and gold crested caracara among many other smaller birds. It was amazing. We drive to Manuel Antonio ( 2 hour drive) and hired a guide which I highly recommend. We saw sloths, monkeys and many other interesting things. We then drove north and inland to New Arenal and stayed at a wonderful bed and breakfast owned by an ex-pat and a local. They were absolutely wonderful. We researched online and found these places ourselves but the ex-pat was very helpful and helped guide us. Can't wait to go back.