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Photography Expedition Whales, Dolphins and Birds September 2027 10 Nights 11 days Starting at $4399
Explore Costa Rica’s South Pacific on a carefully designed photography journey focused on whales, dolphins, tropical birds, rainforest wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and the powerful beauty of the ocean meeting the jungle.
This September 2027 expedition will take us through some of the most spectacular regions of southern Costa Rica, beginning near Manuel Antonio National Park and continuing toward the rich waters of Golfo Dulce. This area offers exceptional opportunities to photograph humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, coastal wildlife, and the wild Pacific scenery that makes this region so unique.
From the coast, our journey continues into the mountains, forests, and highland habitats of southern Costa Rica, including San Vito de Coto Brus, San Gerardo de Rivas, and the beautiful Valle de Cachí. Along the way, we will focus on tropical birds, rainforest species, cloud forest landscapes, lush valleys, waterfalls, and the incredible biodiversity that makes Costa Rica one of the world’s most rewarding destinations for nature and wildlife photographers.
Designed for a small group, this journey combines outstanding photographic opportunities, personalized guidance in the field, and unforgettable encounters with Costa Rica’s wild South Pacific.
September 2027
11 Days / 10 Nights
Starting at $4,399 per person
Photography Expedition — Whales, Dolphins and Birds
ITINERARY
Day 1 — Arrival in San José
Arrival from the USA to San José International Airport and private transfer to the hotel. Welcome to Costa Rica and preparation for the photography expedition ahead.
Day 2 — Tárcoles River & Overland to Manuel Antonio Area
Travel toward the Central Pacific with a boat safari on the Tárcoles River, focused on American crocodiles, mangroves, shorebirds, water birds, reptiles, and coastal wildlife. Continue to the Manuel Antonio area for overnight.
Approximate driving time: 3 to 4 hours total, plus boat safari.
Day 3 — Manuel Antonio National Park & Night Photography
Morning visit to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most iconic protected areas. Photography opportunities may include monkeys, sloths, iguanas, birds, tropical forest, and beautiful coastal scenery. In the evening, we focus on nocturnal photography of amphibians, reptiles, insects, and other rainforest subjects.
Approximate driving time: Local transfers only.
Day 4 — Marino Ballena National Park & Overland to Esquinas Lodge
Morning visit to Marino Ballena National Park for our first whale and dolphin photography session along Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast. This marine park is known for humpback whales, dolphins, marine life, beaches, and the famous whale-tail-shaped sandbar. After the boat session, we continue south toward Esquinas Lodge, near Piedras Blancas National Park.
Approximate driving time: 4 to 5 hours total, plus marine photography session.
Day 5 — Golfo Dulce Whale, Dolphin & Coastal Bird Safari
Boat safari in Golfo Dulce, focused on whales, dolphins, coastal birds, mangroves, rainforest-covered shorelines, and marine wildlife. Lunch at Dolphin Quest before returning to the hotel. Golfo Dulce is an exceptional marine and rainforest region where the ocean meets one of Costa Rica’s wildest southern landscapes.
Approximate driving time: Local road and boat transfers only.
Day 6 — Overland to San Vito de Coto Brus & Wilson Botanical Garden
Travel from the South Pacific lowlands toward San Vito de Coto Brus, with birding and photography stops along the way. In the afternoon, we photograph at Wilson Botanical Garden, part of Las Cruces Research Station, known for its remarkable tropical plant collection, gardens, and excellent birding opportunities. Overnight at Wilson Botanical Garden.
Approximate driving time: 3 to 4 hours, plus photography stops.
Day 7 — Wilson Botanical Garden & Las Cruces Reserve
Full day of photography in the reserve and gardens. This area offers opportunities for tropical birds, forest edges, gardens, flowers, macro subjects, and natural history photography in one of southern Costa Rica’s most important botanical and research locations.
Approximate driving time: Local walking and photography on site.
Day 8 — Aviva Organic Garden & Overland to San Gerardo de Rivas
Visit Aviva Organic Garden, a family sustainability project in Coto Brus, where we search for local birds and photograph the natural surroundings. Later, begin the journey toward San Gerardo de Rivas, located in the mountains near Chirripó National Park.
Approximate driving time: 3 to 4 hours, plus photography stop.
Day 9 — San Gerardo Birds & Aracari Bird Deck
Morning bird photography in the San Gerardo de Rivas area, a mountain region with excellent opportunities for mixed flocks, toucanets, tanagers, wrens, and other highland species. In the late morning, visit Aracari Bird Deck for close bird photography opportunities.
Approximate driving time: Local transfers only.
Day 10 — Quetzal Quest, Highland Hummingbirds & Return to San José
Early morning Quetzal Quest at Paraíso de Quetzal, focused on photographing the Resplendent Quetzal and highland cloud forest birds. We also photograph highland hummingbirds before traveling back to San José for our farewell dinner.
Approximate driving time: 4 to 5 hours total, plus photography stop.
Day 11 — Departure
Private transfer to San José International Airport for international flights back to the USA.
Explore Costa Rica’s South Pacific on a carefully designed photography journey focused on whales, dolphins, tropical birds, rainforest wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and the powerful beauty of the ocean meeting the jungle.
This September 2027 expedition will take us through some of the most spectacular regions of southern Costa Rica, beginning near Manuel Antonio National Park and continuing toward the rich waters of Golfo Dulce. This area offers exceptional opportunities to photograph humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, coastal wildlife, and the wild Pacific scenery that makes this region so unique.
From the coast, our journey continues into the mountains, forests, and highland habitats of southern Costa Rica, including San Vito de Coto Brus, San Gerardo de Rivas, and the beautiful Valle de Cachí. Along the way, we will focus on tropical birds, rainforest species, cloud forest landscapes, lush valleys, waterfalls, and the incredible biodiversity that makes Costa Rica one of the world’s most rewarding destinations for nature and wildlife photographers.
Designed for a small group, this journey combines outstanding photographic opportunities, personalized guidance in the field, and unforgettable encounters with Costa Rica’s wild South Pacific.
September 2027
11 Days / 10 Nights
Starting at $4,399 per person
Photography Expedition — Whales, Dolphins and Birds
ITINERARY
Day 1 — Arrival in San José
Arrival from the USA to San José International Airport and private transfer to the hotel. Welcome to Costa Rica and preparation for the photography expedition ahead.
Day 2 — Tárcoles River & Overland to Manuel Antonio Area
Travel toward the Central Pacific with a boat safari on the Tárcoles River, focused on American crocodiles, mangroves, shorebirds, water birds, reptiles, and coastal wildlife. Continue to the Manuel Antonio area for overnight.
Approximate driving time: 3 to 4 hours total, plus boat safari.
Day 3 — Manuel Antonio National Park & Night Photography
Morning visit to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most iconic protected areas. Photography opportunities may include monkeys, sloths, iguanas, birds, tropical forest, and beautiful coastal scenery. In the evening, we focus on nocturnal photography of amphibians, reptiles, insects, and other rainforest subjects.
Approximate driving time: Local transfers only.
Day 4 — Marino Ballena National Park & Overland to Esquinas Lodge
Morning visit to Marino Ballena National Park for our first whale and dolphin photography session along Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast. This marine park is known for humpback whales, dolphins, marine life, beaches, and the famous whale-tail-shaped sandbar. After the boat session, we continue south toward Esquinas Lodge, near Piedras Blancas National Park.
Approximate driving time: 4 to 5 hours total, plus marine photography session.
Day 5 — Golfo Dulce Whale, Dolphin & Coastal Bird Safari
Boat safari in Golfo Dulce, focused on whales, dolphins, coastal birds, mangroves, rainforest-covered shorelines, and marine wildlife. Lunch at Dolphin Quest before returning to the hotel. Golfo Dulce is an exceptional marine and rainforest region where the ocean meets one of Costa Rica’s wildest southern landscapes.
Approximate driving time: Local road and boat transfers only.
Day 6 — Overland to San Vito de Coto Brus & Wilson Botanical Garden
Travel from the South Pacific lowlands toward San Vito de Coto Brus, with birding and photography stops along the way. In the afternoon, we photograph at Wilson Botanical Garden, part of Las Cruces Research Station, known for its remarkable tropical plant collection, gardens, and excellent birding opportunities. Overnight at Wilson Botanical Garden.
Approximate driving time: 3 to 4 hours, plus photography stops.
Day 7 — Wilson Botanical Garden & Las Cruces Reserve
Full day of photography in the reserve and gardens. This area offers opportunities for tropical birds, forest edges, gardens, flowers, macro subjects, and natural history photography in one of southern Costa Rica’s most important botanical and research locations.
Approximate driving time: Local walking and photography on site.
Day 8 — Aviva Organic Garden & Overland to San Gerardo de Rivas
Visit Aviva Organic Garden, a family sustainability project in Coto Brus, where we search for local birds and photograph the natural surroundings. Later, begin the journey toward San Gerardo de Rivas, located in the mountains near Chirripó National Park.
Approximate driving time: 3 to 4 hours, plus photography stop.
Day 9 — San Gerardo Birds & Aracari Bird Deck
Morning bird photography in the San Gerardo de Rivas area, a mountain region with excellent opportunities for mixed flocks, toucanets, tanagers, wrens, and other highland species. In the late morning, visit Aracari Bird Deck for close bird photography opportunities.
Approximate driving time: Local transfers only.
Day 10 — Quetzal Quest, Highland Hummingbirds & Return to San José
Early morning Quetzal Quest at Paraíso de Quetzal, focused on photographing the Resplendent Quetzal and highland cloud forest birds. We also photograph highland hummingbirds before traveling back to San José for our farewell dinner.
Approximate driving time: 4 to 5 hours total, plus photography stop.
Day 11 — Departure
Private transfer to San José International Airport for international flights back to the USA.