Wild Costa Rica Photography Workshop
JOIN THIS ALL-INCLUSIVE, SMALL-GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURE THROUGH COSTA RICA'S MOST PHOTOGENIC AND UNTAMED LANDSCAPES - LED BY A LOCAL NATURALIST AND PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Venture deep into the wild beauty and unmatched biodiversity of Costa Rica on this all-inclusive photography workshop through some of the country’s most breathtaking and untamed locations. While most photographers know Costa Rica for its sensational wildlife, this unforgettable journey reveals how much more the country has to offer. You'll photograph towering waterfalls, dramatic coastlines, vibrant jungle rivers, lush rainforests, misty mountains, vivid tropical sunsets, and hundreds of species of tropical birds - including the elusive resplendent quetzal - as well as frogs, monkeys, crocodiles, and other remarkable wildlife.
Created for photographers who want to experience Costa Rica on a deeper level, this workshop includes personalized photography and post processing instruction, with the insight of a professional Costa Rican naturalist whose immense knowledge of the country’s ecosystems, wildlife, history, and culture adds incredible depth to the journey. You will enjoy gourmet cuisine each day, relax in beautiful, award-winning, 4-star boutique hotels surrounded by rainforest and ocean scenery, and explore Costa Rica in comfortable private transportation while embracing the adventure of this extraordinary country.
WORKSHOP DATES, PRICES & REGISTRATION
Early Bird Discount: Save $500 by Registering before July 15, 2026
Previous Workshop Dates:
January 4-10, 2026 - SOLD OUT
January 5-11, 2025 - SOLD OUT
January 22-28, 2024 - SOLD OUT
Availability
Workshop Price: $8,475.00 (Online Payment) / $8,275.00 (Cashier's Check)
Photography workshop price is based on double occupancy. Price includes professional photography and post processing instruction, professional local naturalist, location expertise, all lodging and meals in Costa Rica during the workshop, all ground transportation in Costa Rica during the workshop including to and from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), snacks and water, and all park entrance fees.
Photography workshop price does NOT include airfare to and from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), airport departure tax (currently $29.00 and may be included in the price of your airfare), travel insurance, gratuities to instructor and naturalist, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service.
Single Supplement: $1,500.00 (Online Payment) / $1,450.00 (Cashier's Check)
Single supplement applies to participants that are traveling alone and prefer their own hotel rooms rather than sharing rooms with another guest or when sharing rooms is not available.
Deposit / Payments
For participants requesting private hotel rooms or when sharing is not available.
Early Bird Details
Register before July 15, 2026 and save $500.00. Enter EARLYBIRD in the registration form message field. 👉
Workshop Minimum Participation Policy
If only one participant registers, the workshop may proceed privately for an additional $3,000.00 fee, be rescheduled to a different workshop within 365 days, or canceled with a full refund of payments, minus the deposit.
Cancellations & Refunds
Written cancellations received 60+ days before the workshop may qualify for partial refunds depending on whether the space can be refilled. No refunds within 60 days. See our complete Liability & Cancellation Policy.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS - BOUTIQUE COMFORT IN THE HEART OF WILD COSTA RICA
After unforgettable days photographing waterfalls, tropical coastlines, rainforest rivers, dramatic sunsets, and incredible wildlife, unwind in carefully selected award-winning 4-star, boutique hotels surrounded by lush rainforest, ocean scenery, and the natural beauty of Costa Rica. Chosen for their atmosphere, comfort, location, and immersive experience, these beautiful properties provide the perfect balance of relaxation, authenticity, and tropical adventure.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned shooter, you’ll receive personalized, professional instruction to elevate your photography skills. The only requirement is a basic understanding of your DSLR or mirrorless camera. You'll dive into...
• Exposure Techniques
• Mastering Filters
• Creative Composition Techniques
• Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) Processing
• One-on-One Post Processing Sessions
• Image Reviews
Awesome Amenities
• Luxurious, Award-Winning, 4-Star, Boutique Hotels
• Delicious Gourmet Cuisine
• Comfortable Private Transportation
• Small Group of Photography Enthusiasts
• Fun-Filled Creative Atmosphere
Fitness Level - Moderate
Participants should be able to walk unassisted for two miles (roundtrip) on uneven and potentially muddy trails with moderate inclines, and navigate a variety of terrains including pavement, gravel, dirt, and sand, with large rocks, tree roots, and stairs. Heat and humidity will be high in all locations, and daily excursions can be more challenging during inclement weather.
Locations
• San Jose, Tarcoles, Dominical, Barú, Peréz Zeledón, Uvita, Talamanca Mountains, San Gerardo de Dota, Los Quetzales National Park
Expert Instructor and Nature Guide
Your instructor and naturalist bring unmatched local expertise and photography experience, and together they will immerse you in Costa Rica's rich biodiversity, ecosystems, flora and fauna, and fascinating history.
Scott Setterberg
• 35 Years of Nature Photography Experience
• Lived in Costa Rica for the Last 10 Years
• Knows Locations Extremely Well
• Professional Naturalist
• Credentialed and Licensed with the
Costa Rica Institute of Tourism
• 20 Years of Experience
TESTIMONIALS
"I recently spent a week on a private landscape photography trip in Costa Rica with Scott and his local guide Jason. This was my second photo tour with Scott and it was even better than the first. Frankly, I don't know why more photographers don't go to Costa Rica for landscape photography as it is a country with many different climatic zones and many different types of unspoiled forests, lakes, streams and waterfalls. Scott's trips are in fact the only ones I know of that treat Costa Rica as a destination for landscape rather than only wildlife photography. Since Scott lives in Costa Rica six months out of the year and has many local contacts, he is very familiar with the areas and can get you to both well-known as well as off-the-beaten-track locations and he packs a lot of shooting into each day. Scott and Jason bent over backwards to make my days productive, they were great traveling companions, and we had a lot of fun traveling between locations."
~ Jonathan S. | Massachusetts
"I've been back a week from my Costa Rica photography adventure and it was fantastic fun! It was every bit as fabulous as I’d hoped it would be and Scott’s easy going manner was so nice. His assistance and sense of humor made everything from food to lush accommodations awesome! Thank you for the marvelous experience."
~ Kathleen C. | Washington
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrive in Costa Rica
Welcome to Costa Rica! A representative from ColorTexturePhotoTours will meet you at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and transfer you to our first luxurious hotel. As you settle into the warm tropical atmosphere and lush scenery of Costa Rica, you'll begin to understand why this remarkable country captures the hearts of so many photographers and travelers. Once all workshop participants have arrived, we will gather for a delicious welcome dinner at one of the finest restaurants in San José, get to know one another, and begin preparing for the unforgettable adventure ahead.
Day 2 - Tarcoles / Cascada Elysiana / Playa Dominicalito / Dominical
After breakfast, we will begin our journey toward Costa Rica's spectacular South Pacific coast, one of the most beautiful and biodiverse regions in the country. Along the way, we will stop at the famous Tarcoles River Bridge to photograph enormous American crocodiles basking on the riverbanks below. After lunch in Dominical, we will continue to Cascada Elysiana, a beautiful jungle waterfall hidden within lush rainforest. Surrounded by vibrant tropical vegetation and the sounds of the jungle, we'll spend the afternoon photographing the falls before heading to Playa Dominicalito. As the day draws to a close, we'll photograph a spectacular Pacific sunset before checking into our award-winning boutique hotel and enjoying another exceptional dinner.
Day 3 - Rancho Rana Roja / Dominical
After breakfast, post processing instruction, and image reviews, we will travel to Rancho Rana Roja, a lush tropical property tucked deep within the hills near Dominical. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch before exploring the beautiful grounds and photographing jungle rivers, vibrant tropical flowers, colorful poison dart frogs, and two stunning waterfalls hidden within the rainforest. The atmosphere at Rancho Rana Roja feels wonderfully wild and immersive, surrounded by dense jungle, flowing water, and the sounds of tropical birds echoing through the forest. After an unforgettable afternoon of photography, we will return to our boutique hotel and enjoy another outstanding dinner.
Day 4 - Eco Chontales / Dominical
After breakfast, post processing instruction, and image reviews, we will travel into the lush Costa Rican countryside to Eco Chontales, home to one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the region. Along the way, we will stop for another excellent lunch before arriving at the towering 180-foot waterfall surrounded by a jagged rock wall, rainforest, and dramatic mountain scenery. We will spend the afternoon photographing the powerful cascade and breathtaking landscapes before returning to our hotel to relax, clean up, and enjoy another memorable dinner along the South Pacific coast.
Day 5 - Nauyaca Falls / Playa Ventanas / Dominical
After an early breakfast, we will travel to the legendary Nauyaca Falls, widely considered one of the most spectacular waterfalls in all of Costa Rica. Surrounded by lush rainforest and massive jungle cliffs, Nauyaca is an extraordinary two-tier sensation featuring multiple towering cascades plunging into vibrant tropical pools before merging into a stream and falling over another rocky ledge. We will spend the morning immersed in the beauty and power of the falls before enjoying lunch on location. Later, we will return to the hotel for post processing instruction and image reviews before heading to Playa Ventanas for another breathtaking Pacific sunset along Costa Rica’s dramatic coastline. After photographing sunset, we will return to the hotel for another exceptional dinner.
Day 6 - Talamanca Reserve / San Gerardo de Rivas
After an early breakfast, we will travel into the lush mountains surrounding Talamanca Reserve, one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful and biodiverse cloud forest regions. After enjoying a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch, we will spend the afternoon photographing vibrant jungle streams, misty rainforest scenery, and hundreds of species of tropical birds surrounded by the peaceful atmosphere of the cloud forest. As the light fades through the mountains, we will check into our beautiful boutique hotel, and enjoy another wonderful dinner surrounded by the incredible beauty of Costa Rica’s southern highlands.
Day 7 - Talamanca Reserve / San Gerardo de Dota
After breakfast, we will continue photographing the extraordinary birdlife and rainforest scenery of Talamanca Reserve before traveling deeper into the mountains to San Gerardo de Dota, one of Costa Rica’s most famous cloud forest destinations and home of the resplendent quetzal. After checking into our beautiful final boutique hotel, we will spend the afternoon photographing the lush property, mountain streams, waterfalls, hummingbirds, and cloud forest scenery surrounding the lodge before enjoying another fantastic dinner in the cool mountain air.
Day 8 - Los Quetzales National Park / San Gerardo de Dota
After breakfast, we will travel to Los Quetzales National Park in search of one of the most iconic and sought-after birds in the world - the magnificent resplendent quetzal. Surrounded by misty cloud forest, moss-covered trees, and cool mountain air, this magical region offers an entirely different atmosphere from the tropical lowlands of Costa Rica. We will spend the day photographing quetzals, hummingbirds, and the extraordinary cloud forest scenery of the national park before breaking for lunch and continuing our exploration throughout the afternoon. Later that evening, we will gather together for our final dinner and celebrate an unforgettable journey through the wild beauty and biodiversity of Costa Rica.
Day 9 - Depart Costa Rica
After breakfast, we will depart by private transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) for your flight home. While the workshop may be ending, the memories, friendships, and incredible experiences shared throughout Costa Rica will stay with you long after you return home.
INSPIRED BY YEARS OF SOLD OUT COSTA RICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
While the Wild Costa Rica Photography Workshop is a newly redesigned experience for 2027, it is built on years of successful Costa Rica workshops, trusted logistics, and locations refined over countless scouting trips and client experiences.
January 4-10, 2026
January 5-11, 2025
January 22-28, 2024
What Most Photographers Miss in Costa Rica
Costa Rica looks like an easy place to photograph. Lush jungles. Waterfalls everywhere. Incredible landscapes. But once you’re there, it’s not so easy. Most photographers arrive expecting one thing and leave realizing they missed opportunities they didn’t even know were there.
This free guide breaks down the best locations and what actually matters so you can avoid the most common mistakes and make the most of your time in Costa Rica.
GET THE GUIDE
