Horizontes Photo Safari

This is a journey of discovery that takes attendees to great photographic locations with wonderful opportunities for informal, hands-on learning. On this trip, anyone with an interest in photography, regardless of age, skill level, or equipment can learn and take pictures while traveling into inspiring locations in Costa Rica. They just need a sense of adventure and an eagerness to learn. Daily briefing with the photographic leader to review images and analyze next day’s activities, opportunities to shoot and possible challenges of the day is THE MUST in our program

Day 1:

Welcome to Costa Rica

Arrivals, Airport’s meet and greet. Private transfer to designated hotel

• Accommodation:   Corteza Amarilla Lodge

• Included Meals:   None

Day 2:

Introduction to the Tropics

 Make the way to La Ensenada with stops en route to take pictures of the landscape.  Pink Poui, Yellow Poui, and Pink Shower Cassia will be the trees blooming during this season, a special contrast to capture in your film with the dried grass. Ensenada is an ideal place for naturalists, so get your cameras ready to catch the essence of this ranch: cattle and horses, the production of salt and fruit, birds and beautiful sunsets. Lecture on photographic composition.

• Accommodation:  La Ensenada Lodge

  Included Meals:   Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3:

Mangroves and Sunsets

Start the day with a morning boat tour into the mangroves of the Gulf of Nicoya. This gulf, the mangroves offer those who love birds and photography many different species and variety of birds. By the afternoon, a tractor tour to explore the area will color the panorama of every passenger’s portfolio. The sunset will be a compliment when – at the top of the hill – all animals get ready to sleep and the views of the Gulf of Nicoya place the perfect setting. Lecture on macro photography.

• Accommodation:  La Ensenada Lodge

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4:

Snapping in a Hacienda

Start your day very early in the morning to see the sights of the Salt marshes offering nature photographers a variety of landscapes and bird species to picture. Visit another nearby lagoon area outside La Ensenada to search for more wildlife and take in the sunset.

• Accommodation:  La Ensenada Lodge

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5:

Discovering Costa Rica Micro Climates

We will make our way to Monteverde to capture the beauty of the cloud forests. Take pictures of Costa Rica micro-climates and ecosystems: from mangrove to cloud forests. Note that the roads are mostly unpaved. The afternoon is free to explore the area

• Accommodation: Hotel Fonda Vela

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6:

Beauties of the Cloud Forest

Free morning to explore the area. In the afternoon, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve offers well developed and easily negotiable trails access some of the most beautiful cloud forest, anywhere.  Often shrouded in cloud blown in from the Atlantic Ocean, the forests of Monteverde are laden with epiphytic growth such as mosses, lichens, ferns, bromeliads, orchids-even small trees!.  Lecture on night photography.

• Accommodation: Hotel Fonda Vela

  Included Meals:  Breakfast and dinner

Day 7:

Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Skywalk is unforgettable experience, allowing visitors to feel the sensation of walking among the clouds, while shooting toucans, trogons, howler monkeys and other tree-dwelling mammals and reptiles, if lucky. At the butterfly garden enjoy different groups of them, according to their habitat nutrition and behavior, showcases a wide range of insects and arachnids in live exhibits. Finally, imagine yourself in a beautiful garden among over 100 beautiful hummingbirds flying cheerfully around you! That is what the incredible Hummingbird Garden has to offer you. More than 14 species of hummingbirds will amaze you with their incredible aerial maneuvers and bright lively colors. Definitively a photography fan's treat! Lecture on photo essay and photo journalism.

• Accommodation:  Hotel Fonda Vela

  Included Meals:  Breakfast and dinner

Day 8:

Photographing a Day of the “Sabanero”

Morning land transfer to Guanacaste. Stop en route at the Corobici River for ample opportunities about observing wildlife along the shore - particularly monkeys, iguanas and colorful birds - as it reaches the mangrove forests nearer the coast. After this, we will take the Liberia city tour by walk. Our guide will take us to the city’s points of interest: its churches, the Culture House, the Spanish colonial old town, hand-craft stores and schools. All this will reflect the buildings’ design of a city still living most of the Costa Rican traditions: a perfect folkloric photograph of the everyday-life-and work of the Sabanero

• Accommodation:  Hacienda Guachipelín

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9:

Mountains and Waterfalls

Very early in the morning, and near the reception area, you will find the corrals, where real “Sabaneros” (cowboys) begin working in the early hours every day.  A nice way to start capturing the Sabaneros farm work. Natural hot springs, rivers, natural pools, virgin forests, jungle waterfalls, thermal waters, vapor vents, sulfur springs, a volcanic crater and a lake on the mountain summit and volcanic mud pots are just some of the many natural attractions you will be able to photograph during your stay at the Hacienda. Free afternoon to explore the area

• Accommodation:  Hacienda Guachipelín

  Included Meals:  Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10:

Flying Away From Beautiful Costa Rica

Transfer to Liberia International Airport for flight home

• Included Meals:  Breakfast

Prices include:

  Airport meet & greet at the San Jose International Airport (SJO code)
  A/C motor coach from day 2 to day 9
  English-speaking Naturalist Guide and his/her expenses from day 2 to day 9
  1 NT at Hotel Corteza Amarilla, Junior Suite room 
  3 NT at La Ensenada Lodge, Standard room
  3 NT at Hotel Fonda Vela, Standard room  
  2 NT at Hacienda Guachipelin Lodge, Superior room  
  Meals included: 23 (9 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 8 dinners)
  Taxes on lodging (16.39%) and meals (23%) included in this program
  Visit to the San Ramon village including the central park, farmers market and the Catholic Church on day 2
  Boat tour in Mangrove area at La Ensenada Lodge
  Tractor tour at La Ensenada Lodge
  Tractor tour at Solimar farm while at La Ensenada on day 4
  Entrance fee and visit to Monteverde’s Hanging Bridges at Selvatura
  Entrance fee and visit to Monteverde’s Hummingbird Garden at Selvatura
  Entrance fee and visit to Monteverde’s Butterfly Farm at Selvatura
  Entrance fee and visit to Monteverde Biological Reserve
  Floating tour at Corobici River
  Liberia City Tour
  Tour to the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and Oropendula Waterfall
  Full operational support services by Horizontes Nature Tours
  Radio communication with the motor coach
  Cooler with ice, water and refreshments in the motor coach
  First aid kit

Price does not include:

  Personal expenses such as laundry service, liquor, phone calls
  Alcoholic beverages of any kind
  Airport departure tax (currently US$ 26.00 per person)
  Photographic leader and driver gratuities
  Meals, snacks and others not specified