Costa Rica | Nature Photography with Nick Leadley

Upon arrival into San José, proceed to clear Immigration & Customs and exit the airport secure area, where you will meet with your Holbrook representative for your transfer to the hotel. This afternoon, enjoy time on your own to photograph the famous gardens at Hotel Bougainvillea, which feature more than 600 species of plants, including 22 types of bromeliads. They are also a great place to see hummingbirds, motmots, tanagers, and more. Check-in starts at 3 pm. Tonight, attend an orientation to the program followed by dinner at the hotel.

Travel to Boca Tapada Lodge today. The town of Boca Tapada is located in the northernmost part of the lower basin of the San Carlos River and within the Maquenque Mixed Wildlife Refuge, a reserve aiming to protect endangered flora and fauna in one of the areas of Costa Rica most affected by deforestation and large-scale agriculture. Boca Tapada de San Carlos is home to a unique variety of tropical forests, rivers, lagoons, wetlands, and hundreds of species of plants and animals, like the endangered Great Green Macaws, manatees, jaguars, and much more. Boca Tapada is also a popular spot for birders in Costa Rica and hundreds of ornithologists visit it every year to photograph birds like the Scarlet Macaw, King Vulture, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, and Red-headed Manakin.

Spend a full day exploring the Boca Tapada area.

This morning, check out of the lodge and depart for Dave and Dave's Costa Rica Nature Park for a two-hour visit to photograph hummingbirds and other wildlife along the river trail. Dave and Dave are a father and son duo that created a private reserve to protect more than 11 acres of rainforest along the Sarapiquí River and allow people great opportunities to see and photograph birds from two viewing platforms. Then, head north to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important wetlands and biological areas of the country. This Ramsar wetland provides important habitat for thousands of migratory water birds including herons, storks, spoonbills, ibis, anhinga, ducks, and cormorants, as well as other wildlife like the emerald basilisk, giant anteaters, river turtles, and more. Arriving at the lodge, check in and then continue birding on a walk around the grounds. This is one of the best places to see the Nicaraguan Grackle, whose only Costa Rican habitat is Caño Negro and other marshy areas just south of Lake Nicaragua.

After a morning snack, head to the dock and board a boat for an early morning tour through the wetlands. An abundance of wildlife can be seen in this remote 22,000-acre tropical wetlands. Gliding along lagoons and canals, be on the lookout for some of the 350 species of birds found in the refuge, including a colony of Nicaraguan Grackle, egrets, anhingas, Roseate Spoonbills, and other waterfowl. It may also be possible to spot caimans, crocodiles, and monkeys. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast, and then head out on foot to photograph some more species around the lodge and surrounding areas. Have lunch at the lodge and rest for a little while before returning to the reserve for another boat safari. Caño Negro is also one of the nesting spots for the imposing Jabiru stork. Return to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Check out of the hotel and start your journey to Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve. Selva Verde Lodge is situated in the Caribbean lowlands, at elevations ranging from 180 to 220 feet. Established by the Holbrook family in 1985, the lodge is renowned for its commitment to ecological preservation and sustainability. This afternoon, enjoy free time for photography around the grounds, in search of some of the 300 bird species found here, including a variety of colorful hummingbirds, trogons and toucans. After dinner, venture out on a night walk to spot a variety of nocturnal life including the colorful red-eyed tree frog, a must in every photographer's collection.

Begin the day with optional birding around the Selva Verde grounds. Then visit Copearte - the home and gardens of the artist, photographer, birder, and nature-lover known as Cope - to photograph bats, owls, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Return to the lodge for lunch. This afternoon, get some great photographs and learn about native amphibians at Frog's Heaven before visiting the Macaw Farm, a private initiative stared by Don Alvaro Otoya that has turned into a successful breeding center for the two species of Costa Rican macaws: Scarlet and Great Green. Habitat loss and poaching have threatened these amazing birds, nearly bringing them to the point of extinction in some places. As a result, the need for reintroduction into the wild is high, in particular for Great Green Macaws. Projects like Don Alvaro's have allowed local authorities to bring the populations back in some areas, and now macaws can be seen flying high where they were absent for decades. The macaws at Don Alvaro's are not caged, and fly free through the surrounding rainforest. Take advantage of the opportunities to capture amazing images of macaws in flight, with more controlled light than in the forest, while contributing to the effort of protecting and reintroducing the macaws back to their habitat.

Your day is free to participate in optional activities such as whitewater rafting, horseback riding, a chocolate tour, or a guided hike in the rainforest reserve across the river (arranged at reception upon arrival and paid on-site). You can also spend time by the pool, look for avian visitors and butterflies in Selva Verde's botanical garden area, or take in the river views from the patio overlooking the Sarapiquí River.

Travel from the hotel to the airport or continue to Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa for the Cloud Forest Photography Extension.