PhotographyBoca Tapada / Laguna Lagarto
Boca Tapada – Full Day Bird Photography Tour
One of Costa Rica's best-kept birding secrets — King Vulture hide, toucan platform, hummingbird multi-flash and macro at dawn. Built entirely for photographers.
- Full day (~12 hrs)
- Boca Tapada / Laguna Lagarto
- Private departure
- From $466 · taxes included
Your card is authorized only, not charged. VIVO confirms availability before capturing payment.
- Duration
- Full day (~12 hrs)
- Start time
- 4:30am
- Group style
- Private departure
- Pickup
- Pickup can be coordinated
- Languages
- EN / ES
The experience
Boca Tapada – Full Day Bird Photography Tour
Private Full Day Bird Photography Expedition to Boca Tapada — one of Costa Rica's best-kept rainforest secrets. Early start at Laguna Lagarto Reserve with breakfast and access to a top toucan photography platform, ~2 hours at Edward's famous bird garden (tanagers, honeycreepers, oropendolas, euphonias), King Vulture hide for close-range vulture photography, traditional Costa Rican lunch, afternoon hummingbird photography session (multi-flash or natural light), and macro opportunities (2–3 frog species and snakes such as Eyelash Pit Viper, Fer-de-Lance, Jumping Pit Viper). Return to La Fortuna ~5:40–6:30 PM.
PRICING OPTIONS: • Without transport (drive yourself to Boca Tapada): $400 pp → $466 pp all-in (+ 13% IVA + 3% fee) • With private transport from La Fortuna hotel: $550 pp → $641 pp all-in (+ 13% IVA + 3% fee)
Drive yourself option: a VIVO Expeditions team member will arrange to meet you at Muelle de San Carlos and lead you in convoy to Boca Tapada — straightforward even on your first visit. Exact meeting point and coordinates sent after booking confirmation.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON (book at time of reservation): • Evening Bat Multi-Flash Photography (5:45pm–7:45pm or 8:15pm–9:30pm): +$80 pp + IVA + fee → +$93 pp total
Highlights
What makes this day different
Without transport: $466 pp all-in (base $400 + 13% IVA + 3% fee)
With private transport from La Fortuna: $641 pp all-in (base $550 + 13% IVA + 3% fee)
Drive yourself option: VIVO team member meets you at Muelle de San Carlos and leads convoy to Boca Tapada
Meeting point and coordinates sent after booking confirmation — never before
Optional add-on: Bat Multi-Flash +$93 pp
Best for serious bird and wildlife photographers — all levels welcome
La Fortuna departure ~5:30 AM · Return ~6:30–7:00 PM
Minimum 1 adult · Maximum 6 passengers
Itinerary
Your day, hour by hour
Indicative timings — we adapt to wildlife activity and weather.
4:00 AM
Hotel pickup
Private transport from your La Fortuna area hotel.
4:20 AM
Arrive at Boca Tapada / Laguna Lagarto
Briefing with your bilingual naturalist guide.
4:30 AM
Guided experience begins
Immersive interpretation at a boutique pace.
9:30 AM
Wildlife & photo stops
Curated stops for sightings and photography.
2:30 PM
Return to hotel
Comfortable transfer back to your accommodation.
Gallery
What you may see
Real photographs from our departures. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Included
What is included and what to bring
Included
- Private naturalist / photography-focused guide
- Breakfast at Laguna Lagarto Reserve
- Access to toucan photography platform (~2 hrs)
- Edward's bird garden session — tanagers, honeycreepers, hummingbirds (6+ species)
- Multi-flash hummingbird photography session (Edward's professional setup)
- King Vulture hide photography session
- Macro photography of frogs & snakes in natural environment
- Traditional Costa Rican lunch
- Entrance fees to all photography locations & hides
- Private transport from La Fortuna (with-transport option)
What to bring
- Camera with telephoto lens (400mm+)
- Macro lens (optional)
- Rain cover
- Binoculars
- Snacks
- Comfortable outdoor clothes
Logistics
Practical details before you book
Pickup can be coordinated
The exact meeting point is shared once the session is confirmed.
Share your hotel or Airbnb name during checkout and we confirm pickup time and any transport cost in writing.
Booking window
Requests close 240h before departure. Inside that window we still try, but availability is not confirmed.
This experience accepts a card authorization online: the amount is held, never charged, until VIVO confirms.
1 Adult · 8
Cancellation & changes
- 10+ days before tour → 100% refund to original payment method, minus 5% administrative fee
- 5–10 days before tour → 30% refund to original payment method (minus 5% admin fee) — lodge cabins and crew are reserved once the 10-day window starts
- Less than 5 days before tour → No refund (travel credit may be offered case-by-case)
- No-shows are non-refundable and non-rescheduleable
- Weather: 100% travel credit valid 12 months — no cash refund. Transport already executed on tour day is non-refundable.
- The 5% administrative fee is non-refundable and covers non-recoverable bank/processor fees (Stripe and PayPal retain ~3% on every transaction even when refunded) plus the cost of processing the cancellation. It is waived when we cancel for operational or weather reasons.
- All refunds are issued to the original payment method (card, PayPal, or bank transfer used at booking). We do not issue cash refunds under any circumstance.
Book
Secure your date
Authorize your card today; the charge only happens once VIVO confirms the operation.
How it works
- 1. Choose date, modality and travellers at checkout.
- 2. Your card is authorized (hold), not charged.
- 3. VIVO confirms in writing (email and WhatsApp) with the operational details.
You can also add this experience to your itinerary and book several together. View my itinerary
Price per person
From$466
Taxes and card fee included.
Small group from $466
Reserve My Experience
Your card is authorized only, not charged.
VIVO confirms availability before capturing payment.
Free cancellation 10 days+ (−5% fee)
Meeting point shared after booking
Secure payment · no hidden fees
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