Total workshop fee: $9,295 (single occupancy), which includes all lodging, breakfast, flights within Costa Rica, and gratuities for guides. Double occupancy and spouse/guest options are also available. A $3,000 deposit secures your spot. Download the workshop PDF for complete details, including what to bring and more.
You won’t find more bio-diverse places on Earth than Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula or the nearby cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota. It is that diversity that makes it such an amazing playground for a photo workshop. In this special, 12-person workshop, you will find no lack of subjects, from birds in flight (and at rest), to monkeys, crocodiles and other animals. And the rainforest itself, with its rivers, waterfalls, flowers and rugged coastline will provide a wealth of photographic opportunities.
During the workshop, we will be joined by my good friend David Archer and a fantastic local guide, Dennis Valverde (and his team). David is an amazing wildlife photographer who has explored and photographed the Osa and cloud forest extensively. Dennis knows Costa Rica and its wild inhabitants like the back of his hand and is a phenomenal wildlife photographer and teacher in his own right.
We are so fortunate to have this team leading our workshop. Together, we will teach you the ins and outs of wildlife, macro and landscape photography in one of the most incredible locations on Earth. If you are looking for unbelievable wildlife opportunities and the chance to hone your photographic skills, this workshop can’t be beat.
During the first part of the workshop, we will stay at the Savegre Lodge, photographing quetzals and hummingbirds in the cloud forest of the Talamanca mountain range. Then, we’ll travel to the luxurious Botanika Resort at Crocodile Bay, where we’ll photograph primates, birds, reptiles and amphibians from cars and on foot. All lodging, breakfasts and transportation within Costa Rica is included as part of the workshop fee, and if desired, we have options for non-photographer spouses or friends who wish to come along.
Costa Rica as a location and the workshop format
We will travel from location to location photographing wildlife, landscapes and local culture. The focus will be on putting ourselves in dramatic yet accessible locations with spectacular wildlife and exploring basic and advanced photographic techniques through in-the-field demonstration. For alumni of my prior workshops the format will be a bit different. We will still have a final image review, plus one more if time permits, but lessons will be primarily in the field instead of the classroom.
What differentiates these areas from other wildlife locations is the scale of biodiversity and wealth of wildlife subjects. There will be no lack of subjects to practice a variety of disciplines with from macro/flash photography to birds in flight. And the rainforest offers plenty of landscape options for you to explore. The locations we will focus on are accessible even for those with limited hiking stamina. The bulk of our work will be easily accessible from the road. Having three instructors lets us trade off, with some of us accompanying those who wish to take short hikes and others staying close for the participants who don’t wish to hike.
Tentative Course Schedule
April 15 – Arrive in Costa Rica
- Arrive in San Jose. You will be met at the airport for transportation to the hotel.
- Check into Marriott Alajuela for a one-night stay.
April 16
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Workshop participants will depart San Jose and drive to the cloud forest (with stops to photograph wildlife) and check in at the Savegre Lodge.
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Plus-one spouses/guests fly to Crocodile Bay, where they will check into Botanika and get a guided tour of the property. (All transportation will be provided.)
April 17–18
- We’ll spend the next two days photographing hummingbirds and quetzals in the cloud forest with instruction, leaving on the afternoon of the 18th for check in at Botanika.
April 19 – Safari in Matapalo & explore the grounds at Botanika
- We’ll drive deep into the Matapalo Rainforest safari-style, photographing the monkeys, sloths, birds, and other creatures on route to the waterfalls and spectacular beaches of Matapalo in the southern part of Corcovado National Park.
- Lunch at a fun local Matapalo restaurant.
- After lunch, we’ll return to Botanika, where we’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the resort grounds, which is full of abundant bird and animal life — and all just a short walk from our rooms.
April 20 – La Tarde Macro Exploration & Safari
- We will drive to photograph wildlife deep in the primary forest of Corcovado National Park, a place famous for its birds and reptiles. Our destination is La Tarde, a nature center where we’ll practice our macro techniques in both artificial and natural light, photographing tiny, colorful frogs, snakes, and lizards.
- We’ll have lunch at a lovely nearby restaurant. After lunch, we’ll take a safari-style drive, photographing the region’s abundant birds, monkeys, sloths and other creatures along the way.
- Return to Botanika for Q&A and image reviews (time permitting)
April 21 – Bosque del Cabo & Safari in Matapalo Rainforest
- We’ll drive deep into the Matapalo Rainforest to explore and photograph the Bosque del Cabo Rainforest Lodge. The grounds of this lodge include lush rainforest trails, spectacular gardens, ocean views, and an astounding abundance of wild birds and animals.
- Lunch at Bosque del Cabo
- We will spend the rest of the day driving and photographing safari-style once again through the spectacular Matapalo rainforest.
- Return to Botanika
April 22 – Sloth Sanctuary, Group Image Review
- We’ll visit a dedicated sloth sanctuary where we can photograph a variety of sloths and enjoy fabulous homemade food and drinks.
- Return to Botanika for Q&A, final image reviews and a farewell dinner.
April 23: Leave Osa (Travel Day)
- Fly to San Jose to catch return flights home.
Fees and Payment Terms
The pricing for the Costa Rica workshop is $9,295 (single occupancy); for photographers looking to share a room, the double occupancy fee is $8,495 (spaces are limited -- reach out to Rick immediately if you are interested). This includes all local travel and transportation during the workshop, lodging for 8 nights, breakfasts while at the resort, and all gratuities for our guides. You can secure your place with a $3,000 deposit. An invoice for the remaining balance will be sent approximately 120 days prior to the workshop. The balance must be paid in full 90 days prior to the workshop.
Our local wildlife guides and drivers are the lifeblood of this experience and gratuities for their contribution are included in the workshop fee. Additional tipping at meals and for hotel staff is at participants’ discretion.
Plus one option
Non-photographer spouses, friends or family members (‘plus ones’) can join you for an additional $2,025. This includes flights and ground transportation to and from San Jose to Crocodile Bay, and all hotel costs (including breakfasts). This does not include the cloud forest portion of the trip — plus ones will spend the first two nights at Botanika. It also does not include any tours or activities in Crocodile Bay; those may be added once on-site at Botanika and will be charged to you.
Workshop payments are fully refundable, minus a 10% service and handling fee, up to 120 days prior to the first day of the workshop. If you cancel anywhere from 120 to 90 days prior to the workshop, we will make every effort to find a replacement. If we can fill your spot, 90% of the workshop fee will be refunded; if we cannot find a replacement, we will refund 50% of the fee. Any cancellation within 90 days is non-refundable.
Download the workshop PDF for complete information on the workshop including logistics info, what to bring and more.
