• Home
    • Destinations
    • Transfers
    • My trip
    Skip to content
    VIVOExpeditions
    Private toursSmall groupDestinationsPackagesExpeditionsWorkshopsSchool groupsTransfers
    Plan my trip
    1. Home
    2. Arenal & La Fortuna
    3. Rainforest Macro Night Photography

    Photography·Private Rainforest Reserve – Arenal Area

    Rainforest Macro Night Photography — Private Experience

    Private Experience

    Exclusively for your party. A dedicated photography guide follows your pace; no other guests join your rainforest session.

    • 2.5–3 hours
    • Private Rainforest Reserve – Arenal Area

    From $145.00USD · per person · Taxes included

    Private tour

    Do you need transport?

    Total · $290.00 USD Taxes included

    Book Now

    24 h+: book online · 6–<24 h: request without payment · <6 h: WhatsApp.

    More than 8 travelers or a special request? Ask us
    Yellow Eyelash Viper photographed during a macro sessionPhoto: VIVO ExpeditionsMacro of a red-eyed tree frog eyePhoto: VIVO ExpeditionsGlass frog on a leaf, night macroPhoto: VIVO Expeditions

    1 of 3Yellow Eyelash Viper photographed during a macro sessionPhoto: VIVO Expeditions

    Photo credits: Photo: VIVO Expeditions

    Gallery

    Yellow Eyelash Viper photographed during a macro session
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions
    Macro of a red-eyed tree frog eye
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions
    Glass frog on a leaf, night macro
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions
    Strawberry poison dart frog
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions

    Tour details

    Maximum group
    Private · up to 4 photographers
    Camera level
    All levels · phone, bridge, DSLR or mirrorless
    Hides and feeders
    No hides; illuminated night trail
    Guide
    VIVO local naturalist guide
    Target species
    Red-eyed and glass frogs, snakes, insects and spiders

    No professional equipment required. Recommended: 300 mm or longer for birds; 100 mm macro and flash at night.

    Every guide carries a telescope and helps with phone-scoping.

    January–March; operated year-round.

    Book at least 24 hours ahead. Hotel transport quoted separately.

    Tour at a glance

    Exclusively for your party. A dedicated photography guide follows your pace; no other guests join your rainforest session. 2.5–3 hours · Private Rainforest Reserve – Arenal Area · From $145.00 USD.

    Includes: Private naturalist photography guide · Entrance fees · Flashlights · Wildlife spotting assistance · Flexible photography pacing · Personalized guidance

    Book now · Free cancellation up to 48 h before your tour

    About+

    This private rainforest macro photography experience is designed for photographers and serious nature enthusiasts pursuing Costa Rica's most fascinating nocturnal wildlife with time, technique and ethics in mind. Guided by experienced local naturalists who know exactly where individual frogs, snakes and insects tend to appear each night, the 2.5–3 hour session focuses on amphibians, reptiles, arthropods and other rainforest species that emerge after dark. Unlike a standard night walk, the pace is deliberate: you stop long enough at each subject to work composition, angle, backlighting and diffusion — with real-time technical guidance on flash power, focus stacking, aperture and background separation in humid forest conditions. Possible subjects include red-eyed tree frogs, glass frogs, hourglass tree frogs, gliding tree frogs, eyelash pit vipers, jumping pit vipers, cat-eyed snakes, blunt-headed tree snakes, tree boas, katydids, orb-weaver spiders, whip spiders, stick insects, praying mantis, tarantulas and rainforest scorpions. Rainy, humid nights consistently produce the highest activity levels, so the tour runs year-round. Wildlife is photographed strictly in situ — no handling, no baiting, no manipulation — a policy that protects the ecosystem and produces more natural, publishable images. Suitable for smartphones through full-frame macro rigs; the guide can lend a diffuser and coach beginners through their first serious macro session.

    Itinerary+
    1. 5:30 PM · Hotel pickup

      Private transport from your La Fortuna area hotel.

    2. 5:50 PM · Arrive at Private Rainforest Reserve – Arenal Area

      Briefing with your bilingual naturalist guide.

    3. 6:00 PM · Guided experience begins

      Immersive interpretation at a boutique pace.

    4. 7:15 PM · Wildlife & photo stops

      Curated stops for sightings and photography.

    5. 8:30 PM · Return to hotel

      Comfortable transfer back to your accommodation.

    Included+
    • Private naturalist photography guide
    • Entrance fees
    • Flashlights
    • Wildlife spotting assistance
    • Flexible photography pacing
    • Personalized guidance

    Not included

    • Camera equipment, hotel transportation unless stated, meals not listed, gratuities. Observers who start photographing pay the photographer rate.
    What to bring+
    • Camera equipment
    • Macro lens recommended
    • Flashlight or headlamp (optional)
    • Closed-toed shoes (mandatory)
    • Rain jacket or poncho
    • Insect repellent
    • Extra batteries
    • Lens cloth for humidity
    • Neutral, dark or camouflage-friendly clothing
    • long pants
    • closed-toe shoes or rubber boots for wet ground
    • rain cover for you and your gear
    Pickup & times+

    Start time: 6:00pm

    Pickup can be coordinated

    La Fortuna — Sendero Nocturno

    Share your hotel or Airbnb name during checkout and we confirm pickup time and any transport cost in writing.

    Frequently asked questions+

    How long does this tour last?

    It lasts 2.5–3 hours. Start times: 6:00pm.

    Is transport or pickup included?

    Transport is never included in the tour price. We quote it separately by hotel and zone, so you only pay for the route you actually need.

    Is this tour designed for photographers?

    Yes. The pace follows the light and clean angles, with real time at each subject instead of covering distance. Non-photographers are welcome too.

    What is the minimum age?

    8 years old. For younger travelers we can suggest other experiences.

    What happens if it rains?

    Rain is part of the rainforest and the activity normally runs; bring a light rain jacket. If conditions become unsafe we reschedule or refund according to our policy.

    Birding calendar by area
    Birdwatching & Bird Photography Tour – Arenal (6.5 h)Valle de los Quetzales – Full Day Birding & Photography TourCinchona – Colibri Cafe Birding & PhotographyAll toursMulti-day packages

    Verified reviews

    What travellers said about this experience

    5.0 · 1 verified reviews shownRead all verified reviews
    W

    Wei P.

    🌎 International · April 2026 · TripAdvisor

    I had two private night tours with Jose. He was very professional and helpful, tried hard to find my targeted animals and the perfect photography angles. I learned a lot about the creatures here. I told him I wanted to see more snakes, and he made it happen. Elias is also very helpful and understanding with all my needs. Can't wait to come back!

    View original review

    Travelers also loved

    Travelers who booked this also loved these Arenal & La Fortuna experiences

    Explore Arenal & La Fortuna

    More experiences in Arenal & La Fortuna

    Photographer with tripod and spotting scope on the Arenal 1968 lava flowPhoto: VIVO Expeditions

    Arenal · La Fortuna

    Birdwatching & Bird Photography Tour – Arenal (6.5 h)

    ~6.5 hours

    From · private · per person

    $350.00

    Taxes included

    Book
    Resplendent Quetzal male at Valle de los Quetzales, San RamónPhoto: VIVO Expeditions

    Arenal · La Fortuna

    Valle de los Quetzales – Full Day Birding & Photography Tour

    Full day (~10–11 hrs)

    From · private · per person

    $350.00

    Taxes included

    Book
    Violet sabrewing hummingbird feeding at a red beehive ginger at Colibrí Café, Cinchona

    Arenal · La Fortuna

    Cinchona – Colibri Cafe Birding & Photography

    Full day (~8–9 hours door-to-door; 6 hours dedicated at the feeders)

    From · private · per person

    $350.00

    Taxes included

    Book

    Not sure yet? Send us a request

    Rainforest Macro Night Photography — Private Experience

    📱 Mobile number only (for WhatsApp)

    Do you need transport?

    Rainforest Macro Night Photography — Private Experience

    From $145.00 per person · taxes included

    VIVO Expeditions

    your Costa Rican partner

    In alliance with YH Photography

    Explore

    • Tours
    • Arenal Volcano Hikes & Tours in La Fortuna
    • Sloth Tours in La Fortuna – Wild Sloths with Expert Guides
    • Night Walks & Night Tours in La Fortuna
    • Wildlife Photography Tours in Costa Rica
    • Monteverde Cloud Forest Tours
    • Tours with pickup from Tabacón hotels
    • SJO → La Fortuna transfer
    • Arenal / La Fortuna
    • Manuel Antonio
    • Boca Tapada
    • Photography Tours

    Plan

    • Packages
    • Plan My Trip
    • Custom tours
    • Birding calendar
    • Transfers & Logistics
    • Educational & Large Groups (15+)
    • My Trips

    VIVO

    • About VIVO
    • Elías Peña
    • Gallery
    • Workshops & Expeditions
    • Our Guides
    • Reviews
    • Travel Guides
    • FAQ
    • Contact

    Contact Info

    • La Fortuna de San Carlos, Alajuela
      Costa Rica
    • +506 6005-9862
    • info@vivoexpeditions.com
    • Online office · WhatsApp & email · no physical office.
    PYME Costa RicaPYME Costa Rica — Certified local operator
    Private and Group ToursSecure paymentsFlexible scheduling

    Contact us via WhatsApp or our booking form to check availability.

    © 2026 VIVO EXPEDITIONS LLC. All rights reserved.

    Designed by @Elias Peña — info@vivoexpeditions.com

    • Policies
    • Privacy
    • Terms
    • Sitemap