2–3 hours
Flexible · best 6:00 or 15:00
Year-round
Up to 6 photographers
Easy · no walking
The experience
Edward's private garden hosts a stable community of Northern Caribbean lowland hummingbirds visiting sugar feeders and Porterweed, Firebush and Heliconia. Perfect first session of the day to warm up gear, calibrate flash, and get sharp portraits of Rufous-tailed, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Crowned Woodnymph, and (with luck) Long-billed Hermit.
Target species
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Chalybura urochrysia
Crowned Woodnymph
Thalurania colombica
Long-billed Hermit
Phaethornis longirostris
Stripe-throated Hermit
Phaethornis striigularis
Black-crested Coquette (occasional)
Lophornis helenae
Edward's field tips
Early morning (6:00–8:30) and late afternoon (15:30–17:30) are peak activity. Overcast skies actually help — softer light and less contrast on iridescent throats.
Plan around early starts
Where to stay in Boca Tapada
Sessions start early — staying in the zone is strongly recommended. Transport is coordinated by VIVO inside the booking flow.
Other Boca Tapada sessions
Hummingbird Multi-Flash Workshop
Professional multi-flash setup for wing-frozen hummingbird portraits — a fully configured session.
King Vulture Photography Hide
Purpose-built ground hide with baited perch. Costa Rica's most reliable King Vulture site.
Boca Tapada Photography and Wildlife Boat Tour
Slow riverboat along Río San Carlos and Río Tres Amigos, birding at eye level from the water.