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    4. Costa Rica Wildlife Photography Tour – Arenal

    Photography·Ecocentro Danaus + Bogarín Trail – La Fortuna

    Costa Rica Wildlife Photography Tour – Arenal

    High-impact birding and wildlife photography across two of La Fortuna's best sites — privately guided at your own pace.

    • ~6.5 hours
    • Ecocentro Danaus + Bogarín Trail – La Fortuna

    From $350.00USD · per person · Taxes included

    Private tour

    Do you need transport?

    Total · $700.00 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
    Photographer with tripod and spotting scope on the Arenal 1968 lava flowPhoto: VIVO ExpeditionsYellow Eyelash Viper coiled on a mossy branchPhoto: VIVO ExpeditionsSlaty-tailed Trogon perched in the rainforestPhoto: VIVO Expeditions

    1 of 3Photographer with tripod and spotting scope on the Arenal 1968 lava flowPhoto: VIVO Expeditions

    Photo credits: Photo: VIVO Expeditions

    Gallery

    Photographer with tripod and spotting scope on the Arenal 1968 lava flow
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions
    Yellow Eyelash Viper coiled on a mossy branch
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions
    Slaty-tailed Trogon perched in the rainforest
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions
    Great Curassow male portrait
    Photo: VIVO Expeditions

    Tour details

    Maximum group
    Private, or Small group · maximum 10 in Small group
    Camera level
    All levels · phone, bridge, DSLR or mirrorless
    Hides and feeders
    Feeders and trails in the Arenal area
    Guide
    VIVO local naturalist guide
    Target species
    Toucans, tanagers, manakins, hummingbirds and motmots

    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

    High-impact birding and wildlife photography across two of La Fortuna's best sites — privately guided at your own pace. ~6.5 hours · Ecocentro Danaus + Bogarín Trail – La Fortuna · From $350.00 USD.

    Includes: Private naturalist & photo guide · All entrance fees (Danaus + Bogarín) · Breakfast in La Fortuna · Professional spotting scope

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

    About+

    Explore Costa Rica Wildlife Photography Tour – Arenal. A compact, high-impact half-day designed for photographers and bird lovers based near La Fortuna — visiting the two most productive wildlife hotspots in the Arenal region back-to-back. You start at Ecocentro Danaus at first light: 5 hectares of wetlands, forest edges and fruit feeders where morning activity delivers keel-billed toucans, blue-crowned motmots, honeycreepers, Montezuma oropendolas, poison-dart frogs, caimans and reliable sloth sightings in soft, golden light. After a traditional Costa Rican breakfast at a local soda in town, you continue to the Bogarín Trail, world-famous for consistent close encounters with brown-throated three-toed and Hoffmann's two-toed sloths, plus rufous motmots, black-throated trogons, antbirds, boat-billed herons and pygmy kingfishers along its shaded lagoons and edge trails. Because the tour is fully private, your naturalist and photo guide adjusts the pace to your subjects — waiting for the right light, coaching exposure and composition, and running a professional spotting scope for digiscoping with your phone or mirrorless. Included: both park entrances, breakfast, guide and scope. Transport is not included — we quote it separately by hotel and zone. Ideal for serious wildlife photographers, birders new to the neotropics, and travelers who want maximum species diversity in a single morning without long drives.

    Itinerary+
    1. 6:30 AM · Hotel pickup

      Private transport from your La Fortuna area hotel.

    2. 6:50 AM · Arrive at Ecocentro Danaus + Bogarín Trail – La Fortuna

      Briefing with your bilingual naturalist guide.

    3. 7:00 AM · Guided experience begins

      Immersive interpretation at a boutique pace.

    4. 10:15 AM · Wildlife & photo stops

      Curated stops for sightings and photography.

    5. 1:30 PM · Return to hotel

      Comfortable transfer back to your accommodation.

    Included+
    • Private naturalist & photo guide
    • All entrance fees (Danaus + Bogarín)
    • Breakfast in La Fortuna
    • Professional spotting scope

    Not included

    • Camera equipment, hotel transportation unless stated, meals not listed, gratuities. Observers who start photographing pay the photographer rate.
    What to bring+
    • Camera
    • Binoculars
    • Light rain jacket
    • Closed shoes
    • Insect repellent
    • Water
    • 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: 7:00am

    Pickup can be coordinated

    Arenal — La Fortuna area

    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 about 6.5 hours. Start times: 7:00am.

    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 for photographers?

    Yes. The pace is built around light and clean angles, with time at each subject instead of covering distance.

    How far in advance must we book?

    At least 36 hours, so we can confirm the guide and the best locations for that week.

    What happens if it rains?

    Rain is part of the rainforest and the tour normally runs; we bring rain gear. If conditions become unsafe, we reschedule or refund according to our policy.

    Birding calendar by area
    Costa Rica Wildlife Photography ToursRainforest Macro Night Photography — Private ExperienceValle 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 · 4 verified reviews shownRead all verified reviews
    R

    Robert

    March 2026 · TripAdvisor

    I had an incredible experience on a bird photography tour with Elias at Ecocentro Danaus. We spotted around 40 different bird species, and Elias identified each one effortlessly, sharing details about behavior and habitat. He was knowledgeable, professional, always communicative and patient, making sure I got the most out of the experience. He also offered excellent photography tips on composition and ideal camera settings for the forest conditions.

    View original review
    E

    Erin P.

    July 2025 · TripAdvisor

    Luis was an amazing guide and we had a wonderful day birdwatching in La Fortuna and Arenal. We identified nearly 100 species. We would absolutely recommend Luis and the whole team — knowledgeable and helpful in identifying each bird. We certainly would have missed a lot without him!

    View original review
    U

    U. V.

    November 2025 · Google

    What a fantastic experience! Today we went on a private birdwatching tour with Elias. His passion for nature, birds and all other living creatures in his homeland of Costa Rica is truly inspiring. We had the opportunity to observe and photograph more than 40 different birds, and we also learned so much about ornithology and this wonderful country. A big thank you for this unforgettable event!

    View original review
    A

    Anal Dave

    January 2026 · Google

    I reached out to Elias 2 weeks ago for a photo tour during my stay at La Fortuna. He set up a birding tour, an amazing night photo tour in La Fortuna and a wildlife photo tour in Manuel Antonio National Park. Guides Gabriel, José "Chino" and Andrew were exceptionally knowledgeable — they suggested good compositions for photography (my first time at wildlife photo) and found specific species I wanted. Elias was prompt, pleasant and made sure each tour was reasonably priced with attention to detail. He even got us discounts on self-guided hikes. Communication was excellent in English throughout. I would highly recommend Elias Nature Tours for all guided tour needs in La Fortuna and beyond.

    View original review

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    Not sure yet? Send us a request

    Birdwatching & Bird Photography Tour – Arenal (6.5 h)

    📱 Mobile number only (for WhatsApp)

    Do you need transport?

    Birdwatching & Bird Photography Tour – Arenal (6.5 h)

    From $350.00 per person · taxes included

    VIVO Expeditions

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    In alliance with YH Photography

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