Ha, I am 76 years old with shoulders that have had 4 operations. You don't know what you can do until you try. you only hold the camera and lens when you shoot, then put it down or let it hang from a strap. I did have a tripod that I sat the camera on when I got tired and it was a calm lake. I try to look at what other photographers do and do likewise. I am not crazy about getting tired arms from handholding, but the facts are, I can't get good bird photos most of the time on a tripod, so i hand hold.

I am blessed that in retirement I have the resources to travel to good places for photography; how much long that remains true is yet to be seen. But I very much believe that staying active and doing all you can, extends what you can do. Loving' it while I can!
Bill

MacBook Pro loaded with all programs as my desk computer. I keep all photos on a thunderbolt drive by WD - my Passport 2 TB, they load very fast. I have a second identical external HD for backups. Then when home, export a library to the Passport HD and plug it into the desk computer and merge the librarys. Then all my work is in the mail Lightroom file.
Bill

Amen brother!

I use 2X all the time for bird photography. Usually with the 1DX with a 600mm f4 prime, occasionally with a 300mm f2.8 when I am lending my 600 to my son-in-law. It focuses very quickly and very well. Here are three shots with the 600 and 2x handheld from a boat. I don't see any loss of quality, do you? What I did not realize when I bought my 600 was that better technique was needed to use that lens. Then when I added the 2X even better technique. When I mention technique, I am not referring to better tripods, as I hand hold most all my shots. How do you stabilize the lens, how do you squeeze off the shutter, etc. I think that most of the comments about loss of quality are related to poor technique, not related to the teleconverter. I do suspect that the higher end bodies, focus better and faster at lower light. Before you accept that using a teleconverter gives lower quality, check out Art Morris' website at birdsasart.com and see his fabulous photos with teleconverters. Which is easier, blame a poor photo on the teleconverter or realize that your technique is not the very best? BTW, I do micro focus each lens and each lens/teleconverter combo, like Art Morris recommends.
Bill

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I really like the third photo, nice work!
Bill

Well we have been to CR three times and got the best photos of birds ever. I did have a surprise, in that my Apple laptop quit due to high humidity. Fortunately I had a cheap PC that kept working so I could store our photos. Was told that computer failure due to humidity was common. So now I have a air tight bag for the laptop and a dehumidifier to keep in the bag. Eva-Dry E-500 Renewable Mini-Dehumidifier which is $30 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Probably on Amazon too.

I am a "take it all" person, I would take all your lenses. You'll see lots of birds, so you need longer lenses; I paid a kid $10 and he found a bunch of the "poison frogs" so you need a macro, lots of scenery, so take it all. Hotel suggestion: the Grano de Oro in San Jose is a small boutique hotel, that is fabulous at about $200ish per night with the best restaurant in the city.
Good luck, wish i were going back with you

The 24-105 is a great lens and the new version is improved also. That is our walk around lens; second choice is the 16-35 version II

Yeah, use the free shower caps that you find in motels

I am 76 years old and kind of fat, not in great shape. So I bought the best Fugi mirrorless to make life easier. It took excellent photos, but my wife and I did not like it. Focus was too slow, and too different from our DSLR (Canons) So sold it; It did not do as well for use as the DSLR.. It is good exercise to carry the bigger cameras
Bill

if the game parks are national parks the drivers have to stay on the road, so it is totally luck as to how far the animal are away. There will be some close. Private parks they can drive right up to the animals. I am a great believer in good prime lenses, but they are very expensive; the Canon 300 f2.8 is beyond good, but about 6K; the Sigma zoom 150-600 is about 1000 and is quite good. check out greg Bosco's evaluation of the Sigmas on his website at deep green photography. That is a fab trip.
Bill

Amen to Regis' response; see also Art Morris -birdsasart.com BTW the eagle shots are hand held as well, What sharp photos with out a tripod??? You thought impossible? the proof is in the pudding. Check out Regis' eagle photo - down load and change your mind about extenders.

Gee, maybe poor technique or poor equipment is responsible for "soft" photos with tele extenders.

use the teleconverter or extender as you need it. Yes, it raises the f stop, yes, your body may not focus at the higher f stop, BUT THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE QUALITY WILL BE DEGRADED IS TOTAL HORSESHIT! Don't believe me? check out the "proud eagle" shot listed today in the photo section.. Shot with a 400mm f4 and a version iii 2X extender. Absolutely razor sharp. BTW was also hand held, so much for the crap that you HAVE to use a tripod. It just may be that the photographer has better technique than you have. Still believe quality will be degraded. go to Art Morris's website and look at his wonderful photos shot with a teleconverter.

Yes you need a really good lens to start with, and yes the older versions of teleconverters were not so good, but you can get perfect photos with an excellent lens and a new version of the teleconverter if you have a body that will focus at that f stop. Come on, quit repeating stuff you heard 25 years ago. Look and see what others are doing with good teleconverters.

Love the shot. I wish that all the people who happily quote that using a teleconverter "always degrades the quality" could see this photo. Super crisp. I use teleconverters all the time with excellent results. Ditto for those who think a tripod is necessary for great shots. I do BIF and handholding is necessary for me.
Really well done!

Find the reviews by Doug Brown (dougbrownphotography.com) and greg basic (deepgreenphotography) for your choice for bird photography

I upgraded to Sierra, and LR quits on me frequently, upgraded to latest version, better, but still quits. I would not upgrade yet, I am sorry that I did.