South Pacific Costa Rica
While I was in Costa Rica earlier this year, I scouted many locations, hotels, and restaurants, and created the new South Pacific Costa Rica Photo Tour. Originally, I was planning on doing this tour in January 2025, but the incredible boutique hotel where we are staying was already sold out for January and the first half of February. Because of the climate in the South Pacific region, pushing the tour later in the year would mean that most of the streams and waterfalls would have very little flow, so I moved the tour up to December 15-21, 2024. What an awesome way to end the year!
This all-inclusive photo tour begins and ends in San Jose and focuses on gorgeous tropical scenery in rural mountain communities and beaches along the Pacific Ocean. Once all guests have arrived on Day 1, we will enjoy a gourmet welcome dinner at one of the best restaurants in San Jose, get to know one another, and discuss all things Costa Rica.
Day 2 begins with a delicious breakfast before setting out to explore the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Along the way, we will stop and photograph dozens of crocodiles at the famous Tarcoles Bridge. Many years ago, locals began feeding the crocodiles from the bridge, and created a parking area so people can leave their cars and walk out onto the bridge to see the crocodiles in the river below. Afterwards, we will continue to Dominical for an excellent lunch, then move on to a peaceful private rainforest to shoot lovely Cascada Elysiana. We will then return to Dominical and get checked into our fantastic hotel, which will be home for the remainder of the tour. Once settled, we will have another savory dinner.
We will start Day 3 with breakfast, followed by post processing instruction and editing images. We will then travel to rustic Rancho Rana Roja in Pérez Zeledón. The family that owns the property is amazing, and they will prepare a delicious, typical Costa Rican lunch for us upon arrival. After eating, we will spend the afternoon photographing two beautiful cascades, a jagged jungle river, tiny poison dart frogs, and lots of tropical flowers. We will then return to our hotel in Dominical, get cleaned up, and enjoy another wonderful dinner.
The following day, we will have an early breakfast and travel to stunning Catarata San Gabriel. We will spend the morning photographing the unique waterfall that spans the width of the river leading to it, then enjoy another great lunch. We will then return to the hotel and have time for post processing or relaxing in the refreshing pool. Afterwards, we will travel towards Uvita, and capture a spectacular tropical sunset at Playa Ventanas.
On Day 5, we will have breakfast, process images from the day before, and make our way to Eco Chontales. Along the way, we will stop for a lunch before photographing the towering 180-foot-tall waterfall that's surrounded by rugged rocky scenery. This location is filled with photo opportunities, and after shooting for a couple hours, we will make our way towards Dominical and photograph the stunning Costa Rica countryside. Once at our hotel, we will have another delicious dinner.
For Day 6, we will head out early to photograph my personal number one waterfall in Costa Rica, Nauyaca Falls. We will spend a few hours shooting the jaw-dropping, two-tiered, 200-foot-tall jungle cascade, and have a tasty typical Costa Rican lunch at the on-site restaurant. After Nauyaca Falls, we will return to the hotel for post processing and image reviews, before closing out the day with another sensational sunset at fantastic Playa Domincalito. After shooting, we will return to the hotel and enjoy our final dinner together.
This all-inclusive photo tour begins and ends in San Jose and focuses on gorgeous tropical scenery in rural mountain communities and beaches along the Pacific Ocean. Once all guests have arrived on Day 1, we will enjoy a gourmet welcome dinner at one of the best restaurants in San Jose, get to know one another, and discuss all things Costa Rica.
Day 2 begins with a delicious breakfast before setting out to explore the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. Along the way, we will stop and photograph dozens of crocodiles at the famous Tarcoles Bridge. Many years ago, locals began feeding the crocodiles from the bridge, and created a parking area so people can leave their cars and walk out onto the bridge to see the crocodiles in the river below. Afterwards, we will continue to Dominical for an excellent lunch, then move on to a peaceful private rainforest to shoot lovely Cascada Elysiana. We will then return to Dominical and get checked into our fantastic hotel, which will be home for the remainder of the tour. Once settled, we will have another savory dinner.
After another delicious breakfast on Day 7, we will travel to Juan Santamaría International Airport, where you will catch your flight home and reflect on your incredible experience.
I am super excited about this fantastic all-inclusive photo tour, and guarantee you will have a great time! I share my 30+ years of landscape photography experience to help you improve your photo skills, and you will enhance your digital workflow and editing skills with one-on-one post processing instruction. As always, my professional Costa Rican Nature Guide will join us, and share his extensive knowledge of Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity, ecosystems, climate zones, flora and fauna, and the history of the country. For more details and booking information, click the button below and come join us!
Scott Setterberg
Author