Wildlife of Costa Rica - Backcountry Journeys€¦ · Costa Rica has long been a destination as one...

Backcountry Journeys – Wildlife of Costa Rica 1

Landscape & Wildlife Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris 928-478-1521 | [email protected] | www.backcountryjourneys.com

Wildlife of Costa Rica

"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:

I love not Man the less, but Nature more." —Lord Byron

Pricing, Dates & Booking

For current pricing, trip dates

& online reservations please

see our website.

Trip Packets

Our PDF Trip Packets are being

updated all the time. Ensure you

have the most recent version by

clicking here.

Last Published: April 9, 2020

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.backcountryjourneys.com/

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http://backcountryjourneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Wildlife-of-Costa-Rica-Trip-Packet.pdf



Trip Overview

Costa Rica has long been a destination as one of the most exotic and

unique locales on the planet. In regard to wildlife, Costa Rica is known

for its abundant diversity and home to a rich variety of plants and

animals. This small intriguing country lies sandwiched between the

Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean and has a generally tropical climate –

depending upon the elevation. It is home to a bewildering mix of wildlife

and although it only encompasses less than .01% of the world’s land

mass it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Flora and Fauna from

both North and South America can be found in Costa Rica as well as

species native only to Costa Rica and the Central American Isthmus.

Costa Rica as a country has one of the most progressive environmental

policies and has successfully managed to diminish deforestation from

some of the worst rates in the world from 1973 to 1989 to almost zero by

2005. Adopting and a national stand for conservation – Costa Rica is a

country with about 25% of its land mass protected as National Parks

and various protected areas – the highest percentage in the world.





The Costa Rica Photography Tour and Workshop takes us to the remote

and less visited Osa Peninsula. The Osa peninsula is regarded as one of

the best places in the world to photograph of wildlife and although it is

a seven-hour drive from Costa Rica’s capital city of San Jose – our trip

takes advantage of a short plane ride to maximum our time with the

wildlife! We take you deep into the Osa Peninsula as well as Corcovado

National Park – National Geographic has called it “the most biologically

intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity”.

The Osa is the only place in Costa Rica where you can photograph all

four Costa Rican monkey species including the white-headed Capuchin,

the Mantled Howler, the endangered Jeffries Spider Monkey and the

Central American Squirrel Monkey. Aside from monkeys we will also

have the opportunity to photograph an amazing variety of wildlife

including Coatis, Two and Three-Toed Sloths, Dart Frogs,

Hummingbirds, Tapirs, Crocodiles and possibly jungle cats such as





Pumas and ocelots. There is a possibility to photograph rare bird

species such as Toucans, Scarlet Macaws and the Resplendent Quetzal.

Costa Rica is an ever-changing landscape and you never know what you

might see or what might be around the next corner. Each day we will

set out to explore the wealth of Costa Rica and its wild inhabitants!

During our stay we will be staying in a beautiful solar powered eco-

lodge on the Osa Peninsula. The lodge is perched in the jungle on a hill

overlooking the Pacific Ocean and puts you and your camera at eye

level with a variety of Costa Rican wildlife that come to visit. It is also

adjacent to one of the most awe-inspiring black sand beaches in the

world!

We will learn how to shoot macro subjects, spot and photograph wildlife

in low-light jungle conditions and use both on and off-camera flash

techniques to capture the moment. You will walk away from this Costa

Rica experience with a wealth of new skills and experiences and be in

the best hands possible to maximize your time photographing Central

American wildlife. There is absolutely no experience equal to

photographing the strange and beautiful creatures found in the steamy

jungles of Costa Rica.

This trip was designed to take us to Costa Rica during their dry season

when wildlife is easier to spot and the relentless rains of the summer

monsoon are not as intrusive to our experience. Coincidentally it also

happens to be a great time to escape the frozen winter climates of the

northern hemisphere -wherever you may live! Join us in Costa Rica this

year for the photographic experience of a lifetime, get some fantastic

wildlife shots…and spend some time kicking back in a hammock and

enjoying the tropical breeze while you’re down there!





Highlights

• Explore & Photograph the most biologically intense place on Earth

• Stay in two beautifully secluded tropical eco-lodge in the remote

Osa Peninsula

• 25% of Costa Rica is protected land

• Photography Over 5% of the world’s biodiversity in a tiny country

• Small Groups

• Lead by a professional wildlife photographer

• Sloths, Four species of Monkey, Hummingbirds, Macaws,

Parakeets, Toucans, Coatis, Snakes, Dart Frogs, Butterflies,

Tapirs and more!





Noteworthy Travel Logistics • This trip begins & ends in San Jose, Costa Rica.

• The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel has a complimentary shuttle

from the airport from 4am to midnight daily

• You can arrive at any time on Day One of the tour as long as you

arrive in time for the 5pm orientation meeting that evening.

• Day Seven (the final day of the tour) you can arrange a flight

home at any time.





Specific Travel Logistics for Costa Rica • Cell Phones:

Costa Rica has pretty good cell coverage and there are several carriers.

You can purchase a pre-paid SIM card at the airport or any convenience

store. In my experience the two carriers with the best coverage are

MoviStar and ICE.

• Money:

The currency is the colon but US dollars are accepted everywhere as are

credit cards.

• Passport:

You must have a current passport to enter the country.

Immigration may deny entry if your passport is damaged. Visitors

are required to carry appropriate documentation at all times.

Tourists should carry their passports when taking domestic air

flights, driving, planning to use a credit card, traveling overnight

or a considerable distance from their hotel. You must have at least

one blank passport page when arriving in Costa Rica.





• Tourist Visa:

Not required for stays less than 90 days, but return ticket

required

• Exit Tax:

Depending on the airline, a departure tax of $29 USD may be

levied on departure. For more information, visit the Costa Rican

Immigration Agency website.

U.S. Embassy San José

Calle 98, Via 104

Pavas

San José, Costa Rica

Telephone: +(506) 2519-2000

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(506) 2220-3127

Fax: +(506) 2220-2455

[email protected]

For more information on international travel to Costa Rica refer to

the following link to the US Department of state site:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/costa-rica.html




https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/costa-rica.html



Address of our San Jose hotel:

The Courtyard by Marriott

San Jose Radial Francisco J. Orlich,

Plaza Los Mangos, Alajuela 20109

Costa Rica

011-506-2429-2700

Accommodation on the Osa Peninsula Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime! Located completely off the

beaten path, these will be OFF THE GRID SOLAR LODGES– they

have a charging station for your electronics, FREE 24/7 WIFI in the

Main Lodge (unless it’s down for some tropical reason ). Bring

flashlights as it is dark here and we go on wild night tours!



http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-rooms/sjoap-courtyard-san-jose-airport-alajuela/



The is NO A/C-- T.V. SETS or other electronics or outlets in the rooms,

and the showers use rainforest tropical water. It’s warm and tropical

here 88 degrees or 30 Celsius.





Bring bug & sun juice plus good walking shoes and flashlights. Both

lodges are perfectly suited for the adventure traveler looking for

comfortable eco-friendly accommodations deep in a rainforest jungle –

it’s like a Gilligan’s Island, so come meet the crew.

They have fantastic bars supplying fabulous cold tropical drinks, and a

variety of soft drinks. The meals are fantastic Costa Rican inspired

dishes prepared with many locally sourced organic ingredients!





Itinerary Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day One (Travel Day)(D)

Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. Tonight, we will be staying at the

Courtyard by Marriott in Alajuela, Costa Rica (right by the San Jose

airport – SJO). We will have a welcome dinner for everyone and a pre-

trip orientation. Please arrive by 5pm.

Day Two (B,L,D,)

Today we will hop on a small plane which will take us down to the

remote Osa Peninsula. The plane ride is less than an hour and it will

save us seven hours of driving over bumpy, jungle roads! Tonight, we

check into our first Eco-Lodge.

Day Three (B,L,D)

Hiking mileage: 2-4 miles/day. Minimal elevation gain

We will explore the rainforests of the Osa Peninsula on foot. Each day

we will have an opportunity to photograph different species of wildlife

be it monkeys, birds, sloths or doing some interesting night-time

photography with Dart Frogs and other nocturnal species.

Tonight, we will return to the comfort of our beautiful eco-lodge for

some excellent local cuisine, cocktails and some rest and relaxation in

your private bungalow!

Day Four (B,L,D)

This morning we depart early for a safari vehicle ride along the Osa

Peninsula photographing a plethora of wildlife as we head towards





our next eco-lodge. We will stop along the way & spend some time

photographing colorful dart frogs, amphibians, reptiles, birds and

snakes at a private wildlife refuge. Tonight, we check into our second

Eco-Lodge in Drake Bay.

Day Five (B,L,D)

Today we will head out by boat to Sirena Station in Corcovado

National Park to photograph wildlife – sloth, capuchin monkeys &

tayra can all be seen here. This evening, we will retire to our beautiful

eco-lodge and un-wind to the rhythm of the tropics!

Day Six (B,L,D)

We will spend our last morning on the Osa Peninsula photographing

wildlife & exploring the mangrove forests of the Rio Sierpe from our

private jungle boat. This afternoon we’ll board a flight back to San

Jose.

Enjoy your final night’s accommodation and celebrate the conclusion

of a fantastic journey with dinner at a great local restaurant in San

Jose!

Day Seven

Enjoy your last morning in Costa Rica with a leisurely breakfast by

the pool and some Costa Rican coffee if you want! After all it is

vacation.

Flights home can be booked for anytime today and there is a

complimentary 24-hour airport shuttle at the hotel – make sure you

are at the airport three hours prior to your scheduled flight time.





Please Note: Weather delays are possible, and we highly recommend travel insurance. Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and nature photography we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions regarding wildlife or natural phenomena.





Trip Details

Physical Requirements

All participants must be in good physical condition and have the ability

to hike with camera equipment and essential hiking gear. For example,

tripod, camera, lense(s), sunscreen, water (up to 2 liters person) and

snacks. The weight of your pack largely depends on what gear you

choose to bring on each hike. Typically backpacks weigh between 15 and

20 lbs - the choice is yours

Participants must also be able to hike between 2 and 4 miles per day for

several days in a row. These hikes will be on some trails with uneven

and potentially slippery terrain. One of our Eco-Lodges is situated on a

bluff in the jungle and has steep wooden stairs. Participants must be

able to walk up and down these several series of stairs each day of the

tour on sometimes slippery surfaces.





Group Size

We keep groups small to maximize your one on one time with the

guide/instructor.

Accommodation

Our first and last nights will be at a nice hotel in San Jose and we will

be spending four nights in two different solar powered, open air Eco-

Lodges overlooking the Pacific Ocean and right on one of the most awe

inspiring black sand beaches in the world – you can walk it for miles!

Trip length

7 days

Fitness level:

Mostly easy hikes from 2-4 miles per day on fairly easy terrain, but to

enjoy the maximum variety of hikes on tour there are two optional and

more adventurous hikes available that require about 300 feet of

elevation gain and loss on sometimes uneven or slippery terrain. We

will make multiple passes along wildlife rich areas for those who are

less adventurous. We will be navigating many steep stair cases

throughout the one of our Eco-lodges.

Meeting Time and Place

We will have an orientation / dinner at the Courtyard by Marriott near

the San Jose Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica at 5pm. Please make sure

to send your flight information to [email protected]

Trip Conclusion

The Courtyard by Marriott at San Jose Airport Alajuela.

Price/Start Dates

Please see the Wildlife of Costa Rica trip page on our website for the

most current dates and pricing.




wildlife%20of%20Costa%20Rica%20Trip%20Page



Meals

Most meals are included during the trip dates. Lunches will often be in

the field. Breakfasts and Dinner will be at our lodges which serve

incredible locally inspired meals.

Weather

We will be on the tropical Pacific Coast of Costa Rica during the dry

season. It is typically hot & humid during the day and absolutely

perfect in the mornings and evenings! You won’t need much in the way

of layering on this trip BUT make sure you and your camera are

prepared for rain!

Here is a link to the local weather Weather forecast Carate Beach,

Costa Rica

Be sure to check this weather link for current weather conditions before

you go!

Price Includes

Most meals, ground transportation, flights and transportation within

Costa Rica during trip dates, accommodation during the trip dates: from

the evening of Day One through the morning of Day Seven, professional

photography instruction, medically certified wilderness guide, &

gratuities for service personnel such as drivers, pilots, captains as well

as hotel & restaurant staff.

Price Does Not Include

Airfare, alcoholic beverages, accommodations before or after the trip

dates, souvenirs, & trip leader gratuities (industry standard is typically 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your experience)



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Weather%20forecast%20Carate%20Beach,%20Costa%20Rica



Conditioning for Photography Trips

We will be hiking between 2-4 miles a few times during this trip. The

better shape you’re in, the more you will enjoy the trip. Even if you are

very athletic, I recommend walking as often as possible with 15-20

pounds in your backpack, wearing the boots you plan to hike in. You

can alternate this with other cardiovascular & strength routines.

Balance is critical on rough ground. Whatever you can do to improve

your balance will pay big dividends.

Always consult your physician before commencing with a workout

program.





Training by Hiking

The absolute best way to train is by doing the activity you are training

for. If you live where there are trails with

1. Uneven, rocky surfaces

2. Steep terrain

3. And where you can hike multiple miles

Begin by training with a light backpack and hike 3 times/per week.

Make sure you have the ability to hike 2-4 miles in a row while carrying

your camera equipment! The most difficult part of hiking for most

beginners is the terrain with uneven footing, the next is the steepness

or incline of a trail or stairway, then the distance. Unless you are

already in good shape it is best to start training at least 6 weeks before

your trip. If where you live there are no hills, your next best bet would

be walking stairs; for example, hiking up and down stairs will work

muscles used in both uphill and downhill hiking activities. Find a

building with many stories, or a stadium with many steps for your

training ground. Make sure all the while that you use the boots you

plan to bring on the tour during your training. Funny as it sounds the

most difficult part of this tour is navigating one of the Eco-lodge’s many

floors. There are several series of steep stairs to climb to the various

rooms to and from the common area, these stairs can be slippery.

Additional Training activities include:

• Bike or walk to commute to work or run errands, carry your work

supplies in a backpack if you are walking. Make time for an afternoon

or morning bike ride. This will help increase your cardiovascular fitness

as well as increase strength and endurance in your legs.

• Join a gym to utilize their classes or equipment. Many gyms have

stair climbers, treadmills, elliptical, and stationary bike.

• Swimming is a great way to build endurance and cardiovascular

fitness and is easy on the joints.





Lodging & Meals

This trip includes most meals, lodging from Day One through the

morning of the last day of the tour, ground transportation while on the

tour, the flights between San Jose and the Osa Peninsula, National

Park entrance fees, staff gratuities (i.e. waitstaff and hotel staff) and

other items essential to a successful trip – meaning that once your there

all you will have to focus on is your photography. We can accommodate

most special diets so please let us know if you have any dietary

restrictions.

Gear List

This gear list should answer a lot of your gear questions so please read

through this carefully. If you still have questions, please give us a call.

A good footwear option when hiking is to wear a pair of good synthetic,

light-weight “Smartwool” type socks under sturdy boots. Clothing

should be light-weight nylon pants that convert into shorts, a sunhat,

and t-shirt depending on the weather. Also bring a pair of sport sandals

or flip flops for casual walks. Absolutely no jeans!





Photo & Field Gear Recommended Camera Gear:

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic etc.) • Telephoto Lenses (ranging from 100-600mm approximately)

• Wide-angle Lenses (10-20mm, 16-35mm or equivalent zoom) • Normal Lenses (ranging from approximately 35mm to 100mm)

• Sturdy but lightweight Tripod (must be able to carry this for hikes)

• Memory Cards

• Batteries & Chargers

• Lens cleaning pen & cloth

• Camera Day Pack (this should appropriately carry all your camera

& hiking gear and have a rain cover)

• Camera Rain Sleeve

Optional (but recommended) Camera Gear: • Back-Up Camera Body

• TTL Flash Unit

• Macro lense

• 1.4x tele converter

• Extension tubes

• Polarizing Filter

• Flash Extender (Better Beamer)

• Laptop Computer with Lightroom / Photoshop Pre-Installed (for

personal use in hotels for downloading images while on tour). Please note that there are limited charging and Wi-Fi capabilities at the eco-lodge on the Osa Peninsula but our hotel in San Jose has modern fast internet. • External Hard Drives

• Remote Shutter Trigger

• Camera’s Instruction Manual





Suggested Field Gear & Clothing: • Personal Field Clothing

• Warm top, such as a long-sleeved sweater or fleece jacket for the

evenings in San Jose.

• Convertible hiking pants, or lightweight trousers to block sun, and

protect from insects

• Shorts & T-Shirts for on the trail

• Hiking Socks (Smartwool, Darn Tough etc.)

• Brimmed Sun Hat

• Sunglasses

• Sturdy Hiking Boots

• Casual wear, for your evenings off the trail

• Sport sandals for the beach, and potential river crossings (if there

has been a lot of rain lately), sport sandals must have a heel strap,

flip flops will not be appropriate.

• Water Bottle or Hydration System (2 liters)

• Rain shell, waterproof/breathable jacket

• Rain pants (check the weather first!)

• Underwear

• Bathing Suit

• Headlamp (with EXTRA Batteries) the Eco-lodge is only partially

lit and has limited electricity

• Power strip (optional, or usb charging port for use at eco-lodge) • Binoculars (optional) • Trekking poles (optional, especially useful on more adventurous

hikes) • Prescription medication

• Hydrocortisone ointment or cream, and/or afterbite

• Sunscreen

• Bug spray

• Knee pads (for low-angle shooting)

• Personal toiletries

• Money, for tipping staff & guides (industry standard is generally 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your experience), and for any

personal expenses not included in the tour package such as alcoholic

beverages, souvenirs, etc.

This is a general list. Call with any questions!





Note on Packing for the tour: The domestic flight to the Osa peninsula from San Jose through Sansa airlines has a baggage allowance of 30 lbs for your checked bag and 10lbs for a carry-on, the carry-on is flexible and can weigh more than 10lbs but must be small and be able to easily fit into your lap. If there is extra room on the plane, they will allow extra baggage at the rate of $1/ lb. If there is no extra room, they will send overweight bags on the next available flight. If you think you will be over-weight you may want to pack extra items into an extra duffel that can arrive later.

Pro-Tip: Roller luggage is very heavy with nothing in it (typical roller luggage weighs 8-12 lbs. per suitcase!), if you think you may be overweight please purchase a lighter-weight appropriate hiking/camera bag, you will need this for the hikes anyway (typical backpack weighs 2.5-5 lbs per pack), or duffel (typical weight1-3 lbs per duffel) for the trip.

At the lodges: Please pack your extra clothing, toiletries, extra camera gear, and other travel items into a duffel or travel bag. You will not bring all your camera gear on every hike or outing. Each evening you will be briefed on which lenses, filters, etc. you will need to carry the following day on the scheduled tour or hike.



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Wildlife of Costa Rica - Backcountry Journeys€¦ · Costa Rica has long been a destination as one...

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