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.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Rupicola peruvianus
Andean cloud forest · Mindo · 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
Crowned Treefrog
Anotheca spinosa
Caribbean foothills · May–Nov
Eyelash Viper
Bothriechis schlegelii
Sarapiquí · Caribbean lowlands · Apr–Oct
Gorgeted Woodstar
Chaetocercus heliodor
Andean foothills · Year-round
Green Anaconda
Eunectes murinus
Llanos · Dec–Mar
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
Puma
Puma concolor
Torres del Paine · Apr–Sep
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
Three-Wattled Bellbird
Procnias tricarunculatus
Monteverde · Mar–Jun
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 · Black-crested Coquette · Crowned Treefrog
- Bat IslandsBull Shark
- Santa RosaCapuchin Monkey
- PoásVolcano Hummingbird
- Caribbean foothillsCrowned Treefrog
- ArenalBlack-crested Coquette · Black Hawk-Eagle · Eyelash Viper
- Boca TapadaKing Vulture · Black-crested Coquette