COSTA RICA
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
8 Nights & 9 Day Tours
COME JOIN US
Do you want to capture amazing tropical bird photos and become a better photographer in the incredible rainforests of Costa Rica? If your answer is YES, then these workshops are for you!
TOUR DATE
Oct 20th - Oct 28th
2023
TROPICAL FORESTS
I will teach you tips and tricks on how to shoot in a tropical setting while enhancing your skills. You will also learn important techniques to get outstanding photos like me! We will be staying at one the top photography lodges in Costa Rica! During your stay you will be capturing tropical birds like the yellow throated toucans, brown headed parrots, keel billed toucans, montezuma oropendola, aracari, several species of tanagers and many more amazing tropical birds’ species! There are also chances to see other rainforest wildlife like sloths, monkeys, and coati!
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Early bird gets the worm! We will start our day by photographing the early morning bird activity while the sunrise provides us different elements of light to play with. We will continue to shoot and explore throughout the day and have discussions on aperture, shutter speed, iOS, shutter priority, shooting in raw and answers questions that come up throughout the day. You will experience hands on photo sessions that include, macro photography, field photography, shooting from a hide and multi-flash. In the evenings we will concentrate sharpening your post processing skills on your favorite captures of the day. Post processing is my specialty and where most photographers tend to struggle.
Costa Rica Workshops 2023
Itinerary
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 1
Upon arrival, you will meet our representative at the San Juan Santamaria airport and transfer to your hotel near the capital city of San Jose. The hotel is situated in the city center and early arrivals can enjoy the local streets and sightseeing for the day.
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Overnight at hotel in San Jose, meals are not included this day.
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Elevation: 1161 m
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 2
We meet at 7 am for an early breakfast and head to our first rainforest lodge, north of Costa Rica which hosts several rainforest specialties and unparalleled opportunities to photograph Toucans, Oropendolas, Tanagers, Honeycreepers, and Parrots among many other birds. We arrive at the lodge for lunch and settle in to start our photography session at the lodge deck right away.
LODGING
Laguna Lagarto night 1 of 2
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 3
Today we meet at the deck at 5.30 am to start our photography session. Early visitors like chestnut-colored woodpecker, black-cheeked woodpeckers and many other species visit the feeder for their early morning meal.
After breakfast, we divide our time to photograph the mighty King Vulture from a specialized hide at just a 5-minute walk from the lodge and deck photography session.
Targets include King Vulture, Black Vulture, Crested caracara in the hide and toucans, parrots, honeycreepers, and tanagers at the lodge, and we’ll also get a chance to photograph the coatis and curassows, the regular visitors at the feeders.
LODGING
Laguna Lagarto night 2 of 2
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 4
Today we meet again at 5:30 am on deck to start our photography session that will last throughout the morning. We depart for our second destination late morning and have lunch along the way to Tico's a private and quaint feeder to photograph several local species. This afternoon we will have a great opportunity to walk around the wrap-around porch and explore several species. Our target species will cover several Tanagers, Masked Tityra, Jacamars, and many more.
LODGING
Selva Verde night 1 of 1
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 5
After breakfast, you will head to Cope’s Place. You will spend the full day here photographing birds at feeders. Additionally, there is an optional walk in the forest to look for owls and the Honduran White Bats. At this location, you can also do a macro session for frogs.
LODGING
Selva Verde night 2 of 2
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 6
Today we have breakfast and head to our next destination, Suenos del Bosque. Along the way we will stop at Paraiso de Quetzal deck where we will be photographing different species of hummingbirds, tanagers, and with luck Emerald Toucanet.
LODGING
Suenos del Bosque 1 of 2
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 7
Today we will head out with the resident expert guide to look for Resplendent Quetzal, the most surreal experience for any bird photographer. The lodge owner and his family have started a project to work with local farmers in the area to monitor and protect the quetzal, and this network exponentially raises our probability of getting a good photographic look at this beautiful species.
After breakfast, depending on the activity, we indulge in some multi-flash hummingbird photography and also photograph local birds such as flame-colored tanager, rufous-collared sparrow, large-footed finch, and black and yellow silky flycatcher at our feeder setups.
In the afternoon, post-lunch, we visit a private farm to photograph the Acorn woodpeckers, Chlorophonia, Tanagers, and many more.
LODGING
Suenos del Bosque 2 of 2
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 8
Today we head back to Cabinas Quetzal feeders in the am and then pack up and head for San Jose where you will be staying at the Park Inn for the night.
LODGING Park Inn
COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Day 9
International departures. Our transport partner will drop you off for your flight at the airport.
End of tour.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
The cost of the workshop cover’s all meals, lodging, local guides, a professional driver in a spacious tour bus, photography skipper services, airport pick up and transfer, entrance fees, and taxes for all described activities. All activities are easy to moderate and suited for intermediate to advanced photographers. The group size will be a maximum of 8 people.
● Lodging as specified.
● All breakfast except for first and last day are included
● All dinners except for first and last day are included
● Airport Transfers
● Private transportation during the tour and professional driver
● Professional Guide throughout the tour
● Entrance fees for all described activities.
● Taxes on all services listed above.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
● Non-mealtime snacks
● Dinner and or breakfast on first and last day
● Lunches
● Non-mealtime soft drinks and bottled water.
● International/personal airfare
● Travel Insurance
● Covid test if necessary
● Phone calls
● Laundry
● Guide tips are not included and can be handed to the tour leader upon arrival
(USD10/day)
● Cost of hospitalization and evacuation, if necessary
WHAT TO BRING
It is recommended that each participant bring the following equipment:
A digital SLR and your longest telephoto lens preferably 300mm or more.
A macro lens.
A sturdy tripod or monopod.
You may also bring your flash with a flash bracket.
Pack a ton of memory cards and laptop.
Cost: $3,580.00 USD per person single accommodations.
$3,230.00 per person if sharing accommodations.
Medical
Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations and check the CDC website for more information.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Internet Access
Most lodges have free WIFI in the reception/dining area.
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Costa Rica’s San Juan Santamaria Airport. Our representative will be waiting to provide your private transfer to a hotel near the capital city of San Jose.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.
BASIC INFORMATION
Cancellation Policy
To Register: $1000 non-refundable deposit required at time of registration and please contact us with questions and concerns at jpkarnesphotography@gmail.com
More than 60 days before the start of the tour: Refund of workshop payment (not including deposit)
• 60 - 45 days before the start of the tour: Refund of 50% of workshop payment (not including deposit)
• Less than 45 days before the start of the tour: No refunds will be given, and all payments will be forfeited. Full payment is required no later than 45 days prior to departure. If full payment is not received by this date you will be notified by email. If you do not respond within 3 business days, your spot will be forfeited and offered to participants on the waiting list.
Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for the calculation of the cancellation fees.
CANCELLED WORKSHOPS: If we are forced to cancel a workshop for any reason, your entire payment will be transferred to another comparable workshop within one calendar year.
COVID-19
As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to affect us all, we understand you have concerns about how your upcoming workshops will be impacted.
The health and safety of our workshop participants and instructors is our priority and will inform all of our decisions during this pandemic. We are monitoring the situation closely, and we are adjusting our workshop schedule as necessary. We will continue to make cancellation decisions as soon as it is possible and practical. And at that time, we will have appropriate health, hygiene, and social distancing protocols in place for the workshops that we are running.