Costa Rica has long been a destination as one of the most exotic and unique locales on the planet. In regards 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.

This excursion 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! 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. During our stay we will be staying in two beautiful solar powered eco-lodges on the Osa Peninsula. The lodges are perched in the jungle on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They put you and your camera at eye level with a variety of Costa Rican wildlife that come to visit.

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!