COSTA RICA RETREAT – 2026

NOV.14TH - 23RD, 2026

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Costa Rica - Women's Wellness Photography Retreat

COSTA RICA RETREAT – 2026

NOV.14TH - 23RD, 2026

Sold Out

Manuel Antonio

Details

Experience the Ultimate Women’s Wellness Photography Retreat in Costa Rica 2026

If you’re looking to slow down a bit, rejuvenate your body and mind, all the while engaging in your passion and connecting with other women wildlife photographers, this tour is for you.

Join us in the lush landscape of Costa Rica in a luxurious private home where your body and soul will be replenished, your creativity will be sparked, and you’ll leave with a sense of renewal and new friends.

Welcome to Manuel Antonio, a small coastal town located on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It’s renowned for its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and abundant wildlife. From our home base we will take excursions to photograph the exotic birds and wildlife Costa Rica is known for and balance each day with Yoga and some luxurious spa treatments.

Take time to read a book by the pool or take a stroll into the village, there will be plenty of time for relaxation in between photography sessions. At the end of the day you can retreat to your own private room and soak in the tub of your private bath.

The house is located in Manuel Antonio in very close vicinity to Manuel Antonio National park. From the house there is a spectacular view of sunset over the Pacific Ocean. You will be woken early by howler monkeys soon followed by scarlet macaws. In the afternoon you can expect squirrel monkeys and capuchin. Chestnut billed toucans love to call at sunset.

While most photography tours are go, go, go, this one takes it down a notch, the pace will be a little slower and gentler, giving you time to refresh and enjoy your surroundings.  We’ll end this luxurious retreat with two days at another site dedicated to Quetzal and Hummingbird photography

About your leader…

Emily J. Carter is an award-winning and published conservation photographer. Her work has been seen in solo artist exhibits, juried art shows, and in published print including magazines, books and newspapers.
She is a seasoned international traveler fluent in English and Spanish. With a corporate background in Human Resources and extensive years in the travel and hospitality industry, she holds a master’s degree in Global Management. Her photographic journey began when she was a teenager and has always enjoyed photography as a way of connecting to the world around her.
Emily’s passion for photography has been shared in a wide variety of nature photography classes in the Metro Washington D.C. area for the past decade. She has juried photography contests and offered presentations through camera clubs and Mid-Atlantic Photo Visions (formally Nature Visions.)
Through her work Nature as Art, she brings a creative interpretation of the natural world, and her images express a sense of serenity with profound stillness and ethereal attributes.
Discover more about Emily J. Carter ~ Nature as Art on these weblinks:
6 Participants
$8,150
Everyone will have their own private room.
To reserve your a space, please make a deposit by clicking on the reserve space tab above.
Payment schedule: May 1st and Aug. 1st 2026

Trip insurance with medical evacuation is required on all international tours.

ITINERARY

COSTA RICA RETREAT – 2026

NOV.14TH - 23RD, 2026

Manuel Antonio
Sold Out

Day 1 (Nov. 14th)

Arrive at San Jose (SJO) airport by noon. The group will be picked up and driven to our private home in Manuel Antonio. Welcome dinner.

Day 2 (Nov. 15th)

Spa day. Spa technicians will come to the home to pamper you.  Take your pick of a full body massage, full body wrap, or a manicure/pedicure. Free time to relax by the pool or there is plenty of wildlife around the property to photograph.

Day 3 (Nov. 16th)

We travel a short distance to Esquipulis for a photography escursion. Esquipulas is a beautiful private reserve that has been carefully landscaped to attract a huge variety of birds. The stars of the show are the croquet hummingbird with their beautiful crown, chestnut billed toucans, fire billed Aracari, red capped manakin who likes to show off his moon walk. The morning will start at the bird feeders having a traditional Costa Rican  breakfast with the birds while enjoying home grown coffee. Then we will take a walk through the property to the king vulture. From there it’s off to find other interesting species such as bats and many other birds and lizards that call the forest home. We will then return to the house for lunch and later enjoy a turtle release at sunset. Optional yoga session.

Day 4 (Nov. 17th)

Corcovado National Park. We start out by bus from the house to Sierpe where we will take a boat to Corcovado, look out for humpback whales on the way! Corcovado is nestled on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, a paradise for wildlife photographers due to its exceptional biodiversity. The park hosts over 140 species of mammals, including elusive jaguars, Baird’s tapirs, and four types of monkeys: the endangered geoffroy’s spider monkey, white-faced capuchin, mantled howler, and Central American squirrel monkey. Birdwatchers can seek out over 400 species, capturing images of the striking scarlet macaw, the secretive harpy eagle. We will spend the day exploring the park. Before returning home by boat.

Day 5 (Nov. 18th)

Spa day. Spa technicians will come to the home to pamper you.  Take your pick of a full body massage, full body wrap, or a manicure/pedicure. Optional yoga session.

There will be an evening lesson on Night Macro Photography.

Day 6 (Nov. 19th)

Optional yoga session.  Visit to Manuel Antonio Park (optional).

We have made Manuel Antonio an optional tour because we think the house is so amazing you may never want to leave. The park is located very close to the house there will be many cross overs in species seen at the house and in the park.
Manuel Antonio National Park, located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is a picturesque destination that combines lush rainforest with stunning white-sand beaches. This compact yet biodiverse park is a favorite for photographers due to its accessibility and the variety of wildlife it hosts. Bird enthusiasts will find over 180 bird species, including the fiery-billed aracari, the turquoise-browed motmot. The park’s scenic vistas are equally compelling, with panoramic ocean views, rugged cliffs, and lush forest canopies. Manuel Antonio’s smaller inhabitants, such as colorful crabs and unique insects, also offer fascinating subjects for macro photography, making it a well-rounded destination for capturing the beauty and diversity of Costa Rican wildlife.
Later, we will take a short drive to a local private location to photograph different species of frogs including red eyed green tree frogs, gladiator frogs, hopefully glass frogs, nocturnal lizards, bats and many other creatures that call the jungle home. Johan will be joining us and providing guidance as needed. When we are finished we will enjoy a beautiful Costa Rican style meal prepared by the owners wife.

Day 7 (Nov. 20th)

Today we embark on a whale watch tour and photograph Humpback Whales among other marine species.  More details to follow.

Day 8-9 (Nov. 21st, and 22nd)

We leave Manuel Antonio for our second location, San Gerardo De Dota (about a 3 hr drive). San Gerardo de Dota can encounter an astonishing variety of hummingbirds — over 50 species flutter through this area. Notable among them are the fiery-throated hummingbird, known for its brilliant throat plumage that glows like a jewel under the right light conditions, and the diminutive volcano hummingbird, which is adapted to the cooler mountain temperatures. These birds, along with the vibrant purple-throated mountain-gem, make for dynamic photography subjects as they dart and hover around the abundant flowers.

The quetzal, which is often the star attraction, can be seen here,  Its brilliant plumage and elegant tail feathers make it a coveted subject for photographers and birdwatchers alike. Capturing the elusive quetzal, particularly when it dives through the misty cloud forest, is a rewarding challenge that yields breathtaking images.
San Gerardo de Dota’s lush landscapes, characterized by dense oak forests and clear mountain streams, provide not only a picturesque setting for wildlife photography but also a peaceful escape into nature, making it a destination that combines both the beauty of the environment and the thrill of wildlife observation.
While in San Gerardo de Dotta we will venture out on several excursions in the early morning and afternoon in hopes of capturing the resplendent quetzal.  Johan Chaves will join us to explore flash hummingbird photography. We will break into smaller groups and while you are waiting for  your turn at the flash photography set up.
Everyone will have private accommodations in a cabin on the property.

Day 10 (Nov. 23rd)

After breakfast we will depart for the airport (about 2.5 hour drive). We plan to be at SJO airport between 12:00 – 1:00 for departing flights home.

End of tour

RESERVE SPACE

INCLUDED

  • Accommodations day 1-10
  • Two meals a day day 1-10 (snacks will be provided)
  • All ground transportation day 1-10
  • Yoga sessions
  • Two spa treatments
  • Macro night photography instruction

EXCLUDED

  • Flights to and from San José (SJO)
  • Gratuities for chef, driver, spa technicians, and guides.
  • Travel Insurance (required for international trips)

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Easy peasy.