Costa Rica

[gary_c4]

<p>I will shortly (next week) be going to Costa Rica and hope to see and photograph as much as possible, floral, birds and animal. I have read all the available guide books, but I am going for two weeks not two years. I am therefore looking for the must visit places for a photographer. I will be based at Flamingo Beach, any help would be gratefully appreciated. </p>

[stemked]

<p>You will be a lot further north than I was. But certainly you should go up to Monteverde Cloud forest area for Quetzel, hummingbirds, and other Cloud forest specialists. I would imagine most of the Pacific parks should have good wildlife, just get a well-recommended naturalist guide (the parks tend to have EXCELLENT guides).<br>

We were based in Joco (further south) and saw a lot of wildlife. A virgin forest/Park just north of Joco called Carara was full of incredible bird life and the tiny Manuel Antonio park further south still had sloths, 4 species of monkeys, hundreds of bird species, numerous amphibians, reptiles, etc.and its a very small national park<br>

Not having been there you will be close to Guanacasta, I've heard good things about that park.</p>

[greg s]

<p>Manuel Antonio may give you the best opportunity to photograph capuchin and squirrel monkeys at close range. Near Carara (bring boots if you go in there, it is the rainy season) is Villa Lapas... a hotel/resort. They have a really cool trail going down the ridge for a couple kms criss-crossing the ravine over suspension bridges.<br>

As mentioned Monteverde is very nice and in your vicinity. Boots or junk shoes recommended... it's very wet there.<br>

I imagine that Guanacaste should be nice and green this time of year. We've been there a few times just before Xmas when it dries out quite rapidly. If perchance you find yourself with a bit of time on your hands and a desire to photograph Aracaris, jays, oropendolas, tangers, etc at close range (fruit feeder), try Hacienda Los Innocentes. You could combine that in with a trip to Santa Rosa, etc.<br>

There is a lot more, but seeing as how you be based north, those are some places I would visit.<br>

Have fun! -Greg-</p>

[stemked]

<p>Oh there is also a 'Jungle Cruise' north of Joco (not sure where). It's a great trip for birds and Crocodiles as it heads up a small river.</p>

[benbangerter]

<p>Have you done a photo.net search for "Costa Rica?" There are a bunch of Costa Rica forums hosted on this site that are not listed on the Forums page, and must be discovered via a search.</p>

[gary_c4]

<p>Thanks all for the information which is extreemly helpful. I have looked at some of the Costa Rica forums on the site now and they have proved very helpful, I will check out the rest later. Hope to bring back some nice photo's on my return that I can share</p>

[images_in_light_north_west]

<p>Here are some articals I wrote on CR, I have spent a lot of time there, get some guide books, you already know where your staying so concentrate on that area, but the best for wildlife would be the Osa and Corcavado.<br /> Ross<br /> <a href="http://imagesinlightnw.blogspot.com/2009/07/arenal-costa-rica.html">Vulcan Arenal</a> <br /> <a href="http://imagesinlightnw.blogspot.com/2009/03/aviarios-del-caribe.html">Aviarios</a> <br /> <a href="http://imagesinlightnw.blogspot.com/2009/03/monteverde.html">Monteverde</a></p>

[greg s]

<p>"Oh there is also a 'Jungle Cruise' north of Joco (not sure where). "<br>

The river I'm aware of for this (and by far the most well known) is the Tarcoles river near Carara and Villa Lapas. There is a bridge over the river where people take pics of the crocs basking along the banks, and a variety of river cruises to take people up the river. Some concentrate of the wildlife in general and others are more 'feed the crocs' oriented. It's a beautiful area in general.<br>

Also in the area is Punta Leona. They have their own beaches and trails. You have to be staying there to get in I believe (we always did), but you could give a call and see if a day visit is possible (probably not). The trail behind the hotel rooms going up the slope is a nice birding spot, and it's great habitat for BC Motmots and CM Toucans.<br>

While we're on the subject, the Carara/Tacoles/Villa Lapas/Punta Leona area is prime Scarlet Macaw habitat. They are literally common arounf there. Even if you don't get a photo, just to see them is part of the essence of a Costa Rica nature experience. :) -g-</p>

[greg s]

<p>double entered message, so will fill in 1 more item... beware of chiggers. Best bet is to wear long lightweight pants, pull the top of long socks over the pants bottoms, and spray a bit on the shoes.<br />Also, do not walk around on grass after a rain shower. Gaunacaste has more chiggers than other areas, so be a bit cautious. You can roam around and have plenty of fun, but you do not want to find out the hard way. On our 2nd trip to CR we were in Guanacaste and I walked around in shorts on a large lawn... and my legs ended up looking like a mess. A bit of knowledge/prevention on my part would have saved me the ordeal. I became a true believer after that. -g-</p>

[brian_chambers2]

<p>I want to strongly second the hiring of a guide. I have been to several parks and natural areas in Costa Rica. Everyone has been great in one way or another but every time I hired a guide I saw a ton more stuff. It sounds funny but many times I was walking with in 10 to 20 feet of some wildlife and never would have known it was there with out a guide and I have always considered my self good at seeing stuff. As far as where to go get a newer guide book and read up on what is close to you and what sounds good. Have fun</p>

[peter_popp1]

<p>I second the guide recommendation. And I normally hate guided trips/tour groups (unless I'm fly fishing). My wife and I were in Monteverde in May, and there was a guide available for a private trip when we arrived at the entrance to the cloud forest. My wife wanted to hire him and I agreed (hesitantly) and it turned out to be a great idea. We would have walked right by all kinds of wildlife (tarantulas, birds nesting beside the trail, sloth, etc) without him. Other people were walking right past us. If you explain you are a photographer and will want to pause for longer than usual, they will accomodate.</p>

[greg s]

<p>I guess I'm one of the last holdouts on guides... always like to explore and find things in my own. :) Also, I don't like people talking to me when I'm in the field, prefer the quiet.</p>

[stemked]

<p>Greg,<br>

I am like you (generally). I don't really like to into the field with anyone. I've never felt the need for guides in North America. However when you go to a new place like this for a limited time the guide is usually the best option. Further many of the parks actually require guides. If you have time though I agree its more fun to go without a guide.</p>

[greg s]

<p>Douglas, I can see some of the benefits of guides in places like CR and I have seen them at work. No doubt they know where to find wildlife. Also, it is a good source of employment for them and I like the idea of ecotourism paying off for the locals. My own independent spirit most always has me roaming alone. We did get a guide to see the quetzals (needed to) down the hwy south of SJ.<br>

Ah, here it is... Savegre. This place has lots of quetzals in some avacado trees nearby. We were there in late Nov and could see/photograph males and females from close range. I needed to use a 300mm to get the male's tails in the frame.<br>

<a href="http://www.savegre.co.cr/tourseng.html">http://www.savegre.co.cr/tourseng.html</a></p>

[stemked]

<p>I was hauling along 45 college students and one guide through the Cloud Forest. we got skunked in the Quetzel search )I'm pretty sure every Quetzel within 10 flew off to Panama). Oh well, next time, sans College students. And yes, I hope to have free roaming time too.</p>

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