Costa Rica Bird Photography 2026 – Itinerary and comments
I am writing this introduction in San Jose airport, Costa Rica, at the end of an epic 3-week bird photography trip. Along the way I met many extremely nice and interesting people, and exchanged tips and information with them. These included birding locations, travel tips and places to eat. Below I show my full itinerary for the trip along with a commentary on my experience at each place.
I will update this, correct the formatting, and add photos at a later date, but in the meantime, this is a repository of info for those people who expressed interest in places I had been or eaten. I hope it’s useful. The itinerary is in normal text, and the comments are in italics.
If you would rather head straight to a concise summary, the TL;DR is at the foot of the page — or jump directly to the FAQ.
Costa Rica Bird Photography
Dates: March 13 – April 3, 2026
Flight Details
San Jose (SJO) to London Gatwick: Iberia IB6094, depart 4:50am, arrive 9:25am+1. The flight arrived on time. Iberia is a reliable carrier with decent business class and good on-board catering.
Return flight: Iberia IB6093, depart San Jose 5:15pm April 3, arrive London Gatwick 9:40am April 4. Direct flight. Worked out to be fairly economical and convenient, although early morning departures are never fun.
Itinerary Summary
The trip was organised as a sequence of 7 locations over 3 weeks, each specialising in different bird habitats and photography opportunities:
- Days 1-3: San Jose + La Selva – Introduction to tropical rainforest birding
- Days 4-5: Arenal region – Volcano area with cloud forest and open habitats
- Days 6-8: Monteverde – Cloud forest specialization
- Days 9-11: Guanacaste Province – Dry forest and beach habitats
- Days 12-14: Osa Peninsula – Remote rainforest and marine birds
- Days 15-17: San Isidro de El General – Mountain habitat transition
- Days 18-20: Central Valley return – Final locations and relaxation
Accommodation & Travel
Accommodation was a mix of lodge stays and boutique hotels, most with good birding opportunities nearby. Ground transport was via rental car for flexibility, with occasional local guides for specialized locations. The driving was generally good, though mountain roads required care.
Photography Highlights
The trip yielded excellent opportunities for birds in flight, perched species, and environmental portraits. Over 70,000 images were captured across all locations, with particular success in:
- Macaws and parrots in flight
- Trogons and quetzals in cloud forest
- Raptors and vultures over open areas
- Waterbirds and herons in wetlands
- Hummingbirds and small passerines
TL;DR
- Trip Duration: 3 weeks (13 March – 3 April 2026)
- Locations: 7 distinct birding zones across Costa Rica, from rainforest to cloud forest to dry forest habitats
- Images Captured: Over 70,000 photographs taken across all habitats
- Transport: Iberia direct flights; rental car for ground travel with local guides at specialised locations
- Key Species: Macaws, quetzals, raptors, waterbirds, hummingbirds, and diverse small passerines
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica for bird photography?
March to May (dry season transition) offers excellent weather and high activity levels. April is particularly productive as migration patterns bring diverse species.
What camera gear was used?
The trip utilised OM System cameras (OM-1 Mk II) with Pro zoom lenses, specifically the 50-200mm f2.8 and 150-400mm f4.5 TC, chosen for their compact size and exceptional focus accuracy in tropical conditions.
How many images were captured during the trip?
Over 70,000 photographs were taken across all seven locations, requiring extensive culling and selective processing.
What were the most challenging birding conditions?
Cloud forest environments presented the biggest challenge due to dense vegetation, poor light, and fast-moving canopy species. Humidity and occasional rain required careful equipment protection.
Were local guides essential?
Yes. Local guides provided invaluable knowledge of species locations, behaviour patterns, and the best times to photograph each bird type at specific locations.
How long does the photo culling process typically take?
With 70,000 images, culling took weeks using tools like FastRawViewer. Initial triage reduced the set to around 7,500 selectable images, with further refinement during post-processing.
