8-Day Costa Rica Wildlife Photography Itinerary
Experience six unforgettable nights immersed in the wild beauty of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, where wildlife isn’t simply something you go out searching for—it’s part of your everyday surroundings.
This 8-day journey is designed specifically with wildlife enthusiasts and photographers in mind. You’ll hike through primitive rainforest, looking for wildlife around every corner. From photographing toucans and hummingbirds to encountering monkeys, sloths, and countless other species, each day offers opportunities to experience and capture Costa Rica’s extraordinary beauty.
We’ll also explore the incredible biodiversity and ecological importance of the region surrounding Corcovado National Park, learning more about the wildlife and the rainforest they depend on.
Most importantly, a portion of the proceeds from this trip will go to the White Hawk Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving land and protecting the rich biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula. By joining us, you’re not only experiencing this remarkable ecosystem—you’re also helping contribute to its protection for generations to come.
Take your wildlife photography to the next level by learning our editing process directly from your photography guides. You’ll have dedicated editing time during your stay to work through your own images, ask questions, and learn techniques you can continue using long after the workshop.
At the end of the workshop, we’ll bring everything together by creating a beautiful book featuring the images you selected and edited during your stay — giving you a lasting keepsake of your wildlife photography adventure.
Day 1 — Arrive in San José
You’ll drive in San Jose and settle into your hotel taking the evening to relax, refresh, and get ready for the journey ahead. Your hotel and transportation are included, so everything is taken care of from the moment you arrive.
Enjoy a comfortable evening in San José before you head toward the Osa Peninsula the following morning, where the rainforest, wildlife, and photography adventure truly begin.
Day 2 — Travel to the Osa Peninsula & Arrive at the Lodge
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transported to the airport in San José for your flight to Puerto Jiménez.
Once you arrive in Puerto Jiménez, our team will meet you at the airport and take you on the approximately two-hour drive to the lodge. As we travel deeper into the Osa Peninsula, you’ll get your first glimpse of the remote landscapes and wild surroundings that make this region so special.
Once everyone has arrived at the lodge, we’ll enjoy lunch together, meet the group, and get settled into our accommodations. Take some time to relax, explore your surroundings, and get your camera gear ready.
That evening, we’ll head out for our first wildlife photography adventure. We’ll make our way to the beach to catch the sunset and explore the coastline, keeping our eyes open for whatever wildlife may be roaming the shore as the day comes to an end.
The adventure officially begins.
Day 3 — Wildlife from Your Doorstep
After breakfast, we’ll start the day with a hike around the property, exploring the trails in search of toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, and other wildlife. This will also serve as an orientation to the property, giving you a better idea of the trails, wildlife hotspots, and places you can explore during your free time.
After our morning hike, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch and a discussion about the following day’s adventure in Corcovado National Park. We’ll go over what to expect and make sure everyone is prepared for our day in one of the most incredible wildlife environments in Costa Rica.
After lunch, you’ll have some downtime to relax, explore, edit or work on your photography. We will also be available to meet with anyone who has questions or would like help with their photography before we head out for another evening wildlife shoot.
Day 4 — An early morning adventure into Corcovado National Park
We’ll start the day early and make our way into Corcovado National Park, spending the morning exploring the rainforest and searching for the incredible wildlife that calls this area home. With the forest coming alive in the early hours, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph a variety of species as well as unique plants and trees and experience one of the most remarkable ecosystems on the planet.
We’ll return to the lodge in the early afternoon for lunch, followed by an editing session where we can work through some of the images we’ve captured so far. Afterward, there will be some downtime to relax, review your images, or simply enjoy the lodge before dinner.
As the afternoon begins to fade, we’ll head out to the lagoon for a sunset photography session. We’ll keep an eye out for kingfishers, egrets, herons, crocodiles, and whatever else may appear along the water as the sun goes down.
Day 5 — Morning lagoon kayak & evening landscape photography
Start the morning with a kayak adventure on the lagoon, giving us a unique perspective of the surrounding rainforest and opportunities to photograph wildlife along and on the water.
After returning to the lodge, enjoy some downtime before we head out later in the day for a landscape and sunset photography session, capturing the beauty of the Osa Peninsula as the light begins to fade.
Day 6 — A deeper journey into Corcovado National Park
Today we’ll venture deeper into Corcovado National Park, hiking through the rainforest in search of one of the area’s most fascinating residents an endemic poison dart frog. The deeper we travel, the more opportunities we’ll have to discover wildlife and experience the untouched beauty of this incredible ecosystem.
We’ll enjoy a packed lunch along the way, taking time to appreciate the surroundings before continuing our hike. Our journey will take us along the beautiful coastline, combining incredible rainforest scenery with stunning ocean views.
After a full day of hiking and exploring, we’ll make our way back to the lodge in the late afternoon, with plenty of new experiences and photographs to look through.
Day 7 — Final Day at the Lodge
Make the most of your final full day in the Osa Peninsula.
Whether you choose to participate in another activity, explore more of the surrounding area, or spend time photographing from the lodge, today is yours to enjoy the environment at your own pace.
Take one last opportunity to capture the wildlife, landscapes, and moments that made this experience unique.
Day 8 — Departure
After breakfast, you’ll begin your journey back to Puerto Jiménez for your flight to San José.
A hotel in San José is included for your final night to accommodate your travel schedule and provide a comfortable place to rest after your journey from the Osa Peninsula.
If your departing international flight schedule aligns better with your arrival from Puerto Jiménez, you may be able to travel directly onward without using the hotel. In that case, a small refund will be provided.
Your Osa Peninsula wildlife adventure comes to an end, leaving you with photographs, memories, and an experience immersed in one of the most wildlife-rich environments on earth.
Can I bring a spouse, partner, or friend who isn’t participating in the photography workshop?
Absolutely! We know that for some guests, this may be the perfect opportunity to bring a spouse or friend along to enjoy Costa Rica together. Because space on the trip is limited, we can accommodate 1 additional guests per person for an additional $4,000. This includes their transportation, accommodations, and meals during the trip.
While you’re out with the photography group, your guest will have plenty of ways to enjoy their own Costa Rican adventure. They can relax around the pool, explore the lodge’s private rainforest trails and waterfalls, participate in yoga, book a massage or other spa treatment, enjoy the beach, or arrange additional activities such as kayaking or guided rainforest excursions directly through the lodge.
8-Day Costa Rica Wildlife Photography Itinerary
Experience six unforgettable nights immersed in the wild beauty of Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, where wildlife isn’t simply something you go out searching for—it’s part of your everyday surroundings.
This 8-day journey is designed specifically with wildlife enthusiasts and photographers in mind. You’ll hike through primitive rainforest, looking for wildlife around every corner. From photographing toucans and hummingbirds to encountering monkeys, sloths, and countless other species, each day offers opportunities to experience and capture Costa Rica’s extraordinary beauty.
We’ll also explore the incredible biodiversity and ecological importance of the region surrounding Corcovado National Park, learning more about the wildlife and the rainforest they depend on.
Most importantly, a portion of the proceeds from this trip will go to the White Hawk Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving land and protecting the rich biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula. By joining us, you’re not only experiencing this remarkable ecosystem—you’re also helping contribute to its protection for generations to come.
Take your wildlife photography to the next level by learning our editing process directly from your photography guides. You’ll have dedicated editing time during your stay to work through your own images, ask questions, and learn techniques you can continue using long after the workshop.
At the end of the workshop, we’ll bring everything together by creating a beautiful book featuring the images you selected and edited during your stay — giving you a lasting keepsake of your wildlife photography adventure.
Day 1 — Arrive in San José
You’ll drive in San Jose and settle into your hotel taking the evening to relax, refresh, and get ready for the journey ahead. Your hotel and transportation are included, so everything is taken care of from the moment you arrive.
Enjoy a comfortable evening in San José before you head toward the Osa Peninsula the following morning, where the rainforest, wildlife, and photography adventure truly begin.
Day 2 — Travel to the Osa Peninsula & Arrive at the Lodge
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transported to the airport in San José for your flight to Puerto Jiménez.
Once you arrive in Puerto Jiménez, our team will meet you at the airport and take you on the approximately two-hour drive to the lodge. As we travel deeper into the Osa Peninsula, you’ll get your first glimpse of the remote landscapes and wild surroundings that make this region so special.
Once everyone has arrived at the lodge, we’ll enjoy lunch together, meet the group, and get settled into our accommodations. Take some time to relax, explore your surroundings, and get your camera gear ready.
That evening, we’ll head out for our first wildlife photography adventure. We’ll make our way to the beach to catch the sunset and explore the coastline, keeping our eyes open for whatever wildlife may be roaming the shore as the day comes to an end.
The adventure officially begins.
Day 3 — Wildlife from Your Doorstep
After breakfast, we’ll start the day with a hike around the property, exploring the trails in search of toucans, hummingbirds, monkeys, and other wildlife. This will also serve as an orientation to the property, giving you a better idea of the trails, wildlife hotspots, and places you can explore during your free time.
After our morning hike, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch and a discussion about the following day’s adventure in Corcovado National Park. We’ll go over what to expect and make sure everyone is prepared for our day in one of the most incredible wildlife environments in Costa Rica.
After lunch, you’ll have some downtime to relax, explore, edit or work on your photography. We will also be available to meet with anyone who has questions or would like help with their photography before we head out for another evening wildlife shoot.
Day 4 — An early morning adventure into Corcovado National Park
We’ll start the day early and make our way into Corcovado National Park, spending the morning exploring the rainforest and searching for the incredible wildlife that calls this area home. With the forest coming alive in the early hours, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph a variety of species as well as unique plants and trees and experience one of the most remarkable ecosystems on the planet.
We’ll return to the lodge in the early afternoon for lunch, followed by an editing session where we can work through some of the images we’ve captured so far. Afterward, there will be some downtime to relax, review your images, or simply enjoy the lodge before dinner.
As the afternoon begins to fade, we’ll head out to the lagoon for a sunset photography session. We’ll keep an eye out for kingfishers, egrets, herons, crocodiles, and whatever else may appear along the water as the sun goes down.
Day 5 — Morning lagoon kayak & evening landscape photography
Start the morning with a kayak adventure on the lagoon, giving us a unique perspective of the surrounding rainforest and opportunities to photograph wildlife along and on the water.
After returning to the lodge, enjoy some downtime before we head out later in the day for a landscape and sunset photography session, capturing the beauty of the Osa Peninsula as the light begins to fade.
Day 6 — A deeper journey into Corcovado National Park
Today we’ll venture deeper into Corcovado National Park, hiking through the rainforest in search of one of the area’s most fascinating residents an endemic poison dart frog. The deeper we travel, the more opportunities we’ll have to discover wildlife and experience the untouched beauty of this incredible ecosystem.
We’ll enjoy a packed lunch along the way, taking time to appreciate the surroundings before continuing our hike. Our journey will take us along the beautiful coastline, combining incredible rainforest scenery with stunning ocean views.
After a full day of hiking and exploring, we’ll make our way back to the lodge in the late afternoon, with plenty of new experiences and photographs to look through.
Day 7 — Final Day at the Lodge
Make the most of your final full day in the Osa Peninsula.
Whether you choose to participate in another activity, explore more of the surrounding area, or spend time photographing from the lodge, today is yours to enjoy the environment at your own pace.
Take one last opportunity to capture the wildlife, landscapes, and moments that made this experience unique.
Day 8 — Departure
After breakfast, you’ll begin your journey back to Puerto Jiménez for your flight to San José.
A hotel in San José is included for your final night to accommodate your travel schedule and provide a comfortable place to rest after your journey from the Osa Peninsula.
If your departing international flight schedule aligns better with your arrival from Puerto Jiménez, you may be able to travel directly onward without using the hotel. In that case, a small refund will be provided.
Your Osa Peninsula wildlife adventure comes to an end, leaving you with photographs, memories, and an experience immersed in one of the most wildlife-rich environments on earth.
Can I bring a spouse, partner, or friend who isn’t participating in the photography workshop?
Absolutely! We know that for some guests, this may be the perfect opportunity to bring a spouse or friend along to enjoy Costa Rica together. Because space on the trip is limited, we can accommodate 1 additional guests per person for an additional $4,000. This includes their transportation, accommodations, and meals during the trip.
While you’re out with the photography group, your guest will have plenty of ways to enjoy their own Costa Rican adventure. They can relax around the pool, explore the lodge’s private rainforest trails and waterfalls, participate in yoga, book a massage or other spa treatment, enjoy the beach, or arrange additional activities such as kayaking or guided rainforest excursions directly through the lodge.
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