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….

Day 1 (Nov. 8th)

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.  Gentle Nidra Yoga with Dee. Dee is a licensed Yoga Therapist. Trained in many types of yoga, Dee’s style of yoga is very inclusive so don’t be concerned if you have not done yoga before or have physical limitations. We will be concentrating on techniques to help you feel good, release stress and help you sleep.

Day 2 (Nov. 9th)

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. 10th)

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. Gentle Nidra Yoga with Dee.

Day 4 (Nov. 11th)

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. 12th)

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. Morning yoga with Dee.

Day 6 (Nov. 13th)

Morning yoga with Dee.  Visit to Manuel Antonio Park (optional). 

Day 7 – 8 (Nov. 14th – 15th)

On day 7 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.

Day 9 (N0v. 16th)

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