Wildlife Photography in Costa Rica
Costa Rica packs cloud forest, dry forest, and two coastlines into a country the size of a small US state, which is why it is one of the world’s best places to photograph wildlife. The headline species — the resplendent quetzal, scarlet macaw, three-wattled bellbird, and snowcap — each have a most-reliable site and season. Below: a field guide to every one, and the guides whose verified track records prove they deliver it.
Species field guides
How and where to photograph each species, with verified guides.
Agami Heron
Agamia agami
Boca Tapada · Caribbean lowlands · Year-round · colony May–Aug
Andean (Spectacled) Bear
Tremarctos ornatus
Chingaza · eastern Andes · Year-round · fruiting Oct–Dec
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Rupicola peruvianus
Andean cloud forest · Mindo · Year-round
Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus
Antisana · high Andes · Year-round
Andean Motmot
Momotus aequatorialis
Western & Central Andes · Year-round
Baird's Tapir
Tapirus bairdii
Corcovado · Osa Peninsula · Year-round
Black Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus tyrannus
Caribbean lowlands · Year-round
Black-crested Coquette
Lophornis helenae
Caribbean foothills · Year-round
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
Bat Islands · Guanacaste · May–Nov
Capuchin Monkey
Cebus imitator
Guanacaste · Santa Rosa · Year-round
Caribbean Reef Shark
Carcharhinus perezi
Bahamas reefs · Year-round
Central American Bushmaster
Lachesis stenophrys
Caribbean foothills · May–Nov
Central American Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri oerstedii
Osa Peninsula · South Pacific · Year-round
Crowned Treefrog
Anotheca spinosa
Caribbean foothills · May–Nov
Emerald Glass Frog
Espadarana prosoblepon
Caribbean foothills · Sarapiquí · May–Nov
Eyelash Viper
Bothriechis schlegelii
Sarapiquí · Caribbean lowlands · Apr–Oct
Fer-de-lance (Terciopelo)
Bothrops asper
Sarapiquí · Caribbean lowlands · May–Nov
Fiery-billed Aracari
Pteroglossus frantzii
Osa Peninsula · South Pacific · Year-round
Geoffroy's Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyi
Corcovado · Osa Peninsula · Year-round
Gorgeted Woodstar
Chaetocercus heliodor
Andean foothills · Year-round
Great Green Macaw
Ara ambiguus
Boca Tapada · Maquenque · Year-round
Green Anaconda
Eunectes murinus
Llanos · Dec–Mar
Harpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
Chocó · Darién lowlands · Year-round · nest-dependent
Hyacinth Macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
Pantanal · Jun–Sep
Iberian Ibex
Capra pyrenaica
Sierra de Gredos · Nov–Dec
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Pantanal · Jul–Oct
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
Boca Tapada · Maquenque · Year-round
Multicolored Tanager
Chlorochrysa nitidissima
Valle del Cauca · Western Andes · Year-round
Northern Tamandua
Tamandua mexicana
Osa & Caribbean lowlands · Year-round
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan
Andigena laminirostris
Bellavista · Mindo · NW Andes · Year-round
Puma
Puma concolor
Torres del Paine · Apr–Sep
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
Chalcostigma herrani
Central Andes páramo · Year-round
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Agalychnis callidryas
Sarapiquí · Caribbean lowlands · May–Nov
Resplendent Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno
San Gerardo de Dota · Talamanca · Jan–Jun
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
Carara · Osa Peninsula · Year-round · Dec–Apr prime
Strawberry Poison Frog
Oophaga pumilio
Bocas del Toro · Year-round
Sunbittern
Eurypyga helias
Sarapiquí · forest rivers · Year-round
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Ensifera ensifera
Guango · Papallacta · East Andes · Year-round
Three-Wattled Bellbird
Procnias tricarunculatus
Monteverde · Mar–Jun
Toucan Barbet
Semnornis ramphastinus
Mindo · Chocó Andes · Year-round
Volcano Hummingbird
Selasphorus flammula
Talamanca highlands · Year-round
Top photography sites
Where to base a trip, and what each delivers.
- San Gerardo de DotaResplendent Quetzal
- MonteverdeThree-Wattled Bellbird · Resplendent Quetzal
- Carara National ParkScarlet Macaw
- SarapiquíBlack Hawk-Eagle · Eyelash Viper · Fer-de-lance (Terciopelo) · Red-eyed Tree Frog · Sunbittern · Black-crested Coquette · Crowned Treefrog
- Bat IslandsBull Shark
- Santa RosaCapuchin Monkey
- PoásVolcano Hummingbird
- Caribbean foothillsCentral American Bushmaster · Crowned Treefrog
- ArenalBlack-crested Coquette · Black Hawk-Eagle · Eyelash Viper
- Boca TapadaAgami Heron · Great Green Macaw · King Vulture · Black-crested Coquette
- Sirena – CorcovadoBaird's Tapir
- Osa PeninsulaCentral American Squirrel Monkey · Fiery-billed Aracari · Northern Tamandua · Baird's Tapir · Black Hawk-Eagle · Capuchin Monkey · Geoffroy's Spider Monkey · King Vulture · Scarlet Macaw
- CorcovadoGeoffroy's Spider Monkey · King Vulture · Northern Tamandua · Scarlet Macaw
- Sarapiquí foothillsEmerald Glass Frog