Pura Vida Costa Rica Photo Tour
Costa Rica is an incredibly diverse country and this all-inclusive photography tour features Costa Rica’s Gold Coast and inland regions in the province of Guanacaste, as well as the lush rainforests of the northern region. We explore three amazing national parks and photograph beautiful beaches, colorful jungle rivers and streams, stunning Costa Rica waterfalls, glassy lakes, breathtaking tropical sunsets, and a splash of Costa Rica wildlife.
With only 4 spots available, you will improve your photo skills with personalized, professional photography instruction, and enhance your digital workflow and editing skills with one-on-one post processing instruction. You will use various exposure techniques and filters and learn ways to improve your compositions. You will do some focus stacking, Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), HDR processing, and image reviews, as well. You will also rest well in award-winning hotels, enjoy delicious gourmet cuisine, and travel comfortably in private transportation.
I have lived in and explored Costa Rica extensively for the last 11 years and know the country and locations extremely well. Joining us is my good friend and professional Costa Rican nature guide who is licensed with the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism. He speaks perfect English, and you will learn about Costa Rica's biodiversity, ecosystems, flora and fauna, and history of the country from him.
Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. The only requirement is a basic understanding of your DSLR, SLR, or mirrorless camera.
What's Included
Professional photography and post processing instruction, professional nature guide, location expertise, all hotels, all meals, private transportation including to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) and from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), and all location fees.
What's Not Included
Airfare to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) and from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), travel insurance, gratuities to instructor and guide, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service.
Physical Requirements
Participation requires that travelers be able to walk unassisted for four miles over uneven, potentially muddy and slippery trails, and up-and-down inclines with moderate altitude gain. There are hikes over a variety of terrain including pavement, gravel, and dirt trails with large roots, rocks, and stairs. Heat and humidity could be high in some locations and daily excursions can be more difficult during inclement weather.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrive in Costa Rica
A representative from ColorTexturePhotoTours will meet you at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia and transfer you to our first luxurious hotel in Playa Hermosa. At the hotel, our tour leader will greet you and get you settled comfortably into your room. Once all tour participants have arrived at the hotel, we will have a delicious welcome dinner.
Note: Please schedule your flight arrival between 1P - 5P CST.
Day 2 - Llanos de Cortez / Playa Hermosa
After an early breakfast, we will travel by private transfer and photograph Llanos de Cortez, a premier waterfall that's on every list of best waterfalls in Costa Rica. For more information about Llanos de Cortez, read this blog post. After shooting (and swimming if you'd like), we will return to Playa Hermosa for lunch, edit images and work on post processing, relax at the beach, capture an incredible sunset, and have another wonderful dinner. 
Day 3 - Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park
After breakfast, we travel by private transfer to Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park and photograph Las Chorreras, a unique waterfall with two cascades flowing into a colorful pool below. Afterwards, we will have lunch and check into our next wonderful hotel before traveling to and photographing Oropendola, a powerful cascade that drops 80' into the lush canyon of Rio Blanco. We end the day at Rio Negro Hot Springs, where you can take a volcanic ash mud bath and wash off in the river before relaxing in several natural hot springs with different temperatures. After the hot springs we will get cleaned up and enjoy another fantastic dinner.
Day 4 - Rio Celeste / Lake Arenal
After breakfast, we travel by private transfer to Tenorio Volcano National Park and photograph the magnificent turquoise waters of the Rio Celeste Waterfall (Catarata Rio Celeste), which is Costa Rica's most iconic waterfall. We will spend the morning shooting, then have an excellent lunch, and travel to Lake Arenal for a beautiful tropical sunset. Afterwards, we will travel to our next fantastic hotel in La Fortuna and have time to edit images before enjoying another great dinner. For more information about Rio Celeste, read this blog post.
Day 5 - La Fortuna / Lake Arenal
After breakfast, we will depart by private transfer to Catarata La Fortuna, one of the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica. After shooting away the morning and having lunch at an excellent restaurant, we will travel to a private farm and photograph vibrant poison dart frogs and sloths. Afterwards, we will travel towards Lake Arenal, photograph a few tropical streams and another gorgeous sunset before returning to our hotel for our final delicious dinner. Check out this blog post for more information about La Fortuna.
Day 6 - Depart Costa Rica
After an early breakfast, we will travel by private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajeula, where you will catch your flight home or continue exploring Costa Rica on your own.
Note: Please schedule your flight departure no earlier than 1P.
