Costa Rica I
Overview
Exotic Birds – Monkeys – Colorful Dart Frogs – Sloths – Waterfalls – Wild Pacific Beach
All of this and more is to be found in one of the most biologically exciting places on Earth – Coast Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula – and we’d like to share the best of it with you. Envision original primary rainforest rising up a low ridge from a pristine and entirely undeveloped Pacific beach, stretching as far as the eye can see. Native toucans, scarlet macaws, two- and three-toed sloths, and four species of New World monkeys cruise through the trees, while dramatic waterfalls roar in the jungle. Numerous species of visually striking frogs inhabit the area, including three species of colorful poison dart frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, masked tree frogs, and golden-eyed cane toads in their native habitat. Hundreds of exotic bird species abound. Several hummingbird species, elegant and violaceous trogons, blue-capped manakins, crested caracaras, ibis, spoonbills, various raptors, and myriad other species are readily photographed. The forest itself is stunning, with old-growth trees and vegetation full of character and beautiful graphic designs just waiting to be photographed.
Expedition leaders Frans Lanting and Christine Eckstrom will share their creative approaches to photographing tropical fauna and flora, as well as the dramatic landscape. Hands-on in the field, they will cover long-lens and macro wildlife techniques, control of composition and light, fill-flash, and other techniques that can be used to great effect in this amazing place.
The staff at El Remanso, our base camp, take great care of us – providing a delicious mix of international and local Tico cuisine, fresh tropical fruits and juices, not to mention the refreshing tropical cocktails and a nice wine list – all on an inviting and spacious covered dining deck perched at the top of a canyon, at eye-level with the forest canopy. We’ll bring our long lenses to breakfast to photograph monkeys, macaws and toucans feeding in the trees. The opportunities to explore don’t end with the setting sun. A stroll with our naturalist guides around El Remanso just after dark reveals all manner of nocturnal species.
Itinerary
December 1: ARRIVAL DAY
You will be met at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) by a trusted English-speaking driver we have used numerous times before. He will transfer you and your luggage by van to beautiful Hotel Bougainvillea – the lush tropical gardens are worth the stay on their own. Our favorite guide from El Remanso will greet you and other guests at the hotel and share a welcome dinner together that night.
Overnight at Bougainvillea (D)
December 2: SAN JOSE TO OSA PENINSULA
Our driver will meet us at Hotel Bougainvillea at 6:30am to drive us to the airport. There, we will facilitate your check-in for the 50-minute flight on a modern thirteen-seat Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to Puerto Jimenez. The flight over the mountains and Pacific coast is incredibly scenic – a great opportunity to do some aerial photography. In Puerto Jimenez, El Remanso staff will meet you at the airstrip before jumping into 4WD Land Rovers for the 45-minute scenic drive to El Remanso. Upon arrival at the lodge, we’ll enjoy a welcome orientation and staff introductions, and you’ll have time to get settled in before lunch. We begin photographing that afternoon, followed by dinner and overnight at El Remanso (B,L,D)
Overnight at El Remanso (B,L,D)
December 3 – 7: OSA PENINSULA
For five full days, we’ll make the most of the endless photographic opportunities to be found on El Remanso’s 185 acres, as well as at locations in the rainforest, wetlands, rivers, and coastline nearby. Most instruction will be carried out through hands-on demonstrations, and discussion in the field. Meal times will provide another great opportunity to have questions asked and answered. In the evenings, we will gather to download, edit, go over digital workflow techniques, and constructively critique participant images to ensure that everyone has ample opportunity to learn from the personal visions of participants and instructors alike.
Overnight at El Remanso (B,L,D)
December 8: RETURN TO SAN JOSE, DEPART FOR HOME
After breakfast, we will say goodbye to El Remanso and transfer to Puerto Jimenez to catch the morning SANSA flight back to San Jose (landing at SJO at 11:00am) so participants can catch international flights that afternoon. (B)
Instructors
Frans Lanting
- FRANS LANTING has been hailed as one of the great nature photographers of our time. His influential work appears in books, magazines, and exhibitions around the world. Born in ...
Chris Eckstrom
- Christine Eckstrom is a writer, editor, and videographer whose ...
Gallery
Pricing
Classic Bungalow
Superior
Standard
All costs are per person.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Classic Bungalow: Private one-bedroom bungalows with rainforest canyon and ocean views, sun deck, and indoor and outdoor showers with views of the forest. Sold out
Superior Room: Rooms on the upper level of the west-facing Casa Poniente, with ocean views, private terrace, and indoor showers and bathrooms with views of the forest. Sold out
Standard Room: Rooms on the garden level of Casa Poniente, with ocean or garden views, a covered terrace, and indoor shower and bathroom. Sold out
All of the accommodations at El Remanso meet an excellent standard. They also offer three Deluxe Villas with private plunge pools, which may be available for those who wish to upgrade. If you are interested in upgrading to this higher level of accommodation, please contact us and we would be happy to help arrange for this. Upgrades are based on availability and additional costs apply. Click here for a detailed description of accommodation options at El Remanso.
OCCUPANCY
Please note that all lodging options at El Remanso have one king-sized bed. Double occupancy on this expedition is available for couples traveling together and sharing one bed. If you are an individual traveler or if you are traveling with a companion and require two beds, please book at the single occupancy rate. It is not possible to pair individual travelers in accommodations with two beds.
REVISED PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Given current uncertainties around international travel, we are offering a temporary revised payment schedule for this expedition. A 5% initial deposit is required to register. This deposit is non-refundable and not transferable to another program unless the expedition is cancelled by Visionary Wild. The following payment schedule will then apply:
- 45% deposit due June 11, 2021
- 50% final payment due August 10, 2021
This payment schedule may be extended if necessary depending on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of payment due dates. Visionary Wild reserves the right to revert to the standard 30% deposit at any time, which would apply to all new bookings from the date the policy was reverted.
All other terms and conditions apply. Please review our terms and conditions even if you have participated in previous Visionary Wild trips so that you are aware of current policies
INCLUDED
- Photographic instruction throughout by Frans Lanting with support by Christine Eckstrom.
- In-country flights: San Jose – Puerto Jimenez – San Jose
- All ground transfers
- Seven nights’ lodging – One night lodging at Hotel Bougainvillea in San Jose, six nights at El Remanso
- All meals and beverages (including wine, beer, cocktails with dinner) from dinner on December 1 to breakfast on December 8
- 4WD group transportation to field locations
- Expert naturalist guides
NOT INCLUDED
- R/T airfare to and from our starting and ending point in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Additional hotel nights, meals or other costs for arrivals prior to the start date or departures after the end date
- Cost of passports, any necessary entry visas or reciprocity fees, vaccinations, or other personal travel expenses
- Travel insurance, emergency medical insurance and evacuation insurance/coverage (Strongly recommended)
- Alcoholic beverages other than those offered at dinner
- Telephone or internet charges
- Any private excursions, massages, activities, or services not included in the itinerary
- Personal purchases, souvenirs, additional activities, and anything else not listed as included
- Gratuities for the naturalist guides and lodge staff
Highlights
- Explore this private rainforest preserve, featuring primary old-growth forest, waterfalls, and wild Pacific beach
- Amazing wildlife: Exotic native birds, New World monkeys, colorful frogs, and other tropical fauna
- Generous photographic instruction throughout by Frans Lanting with support by Christine Eckstrom and experienced naturalist guides
- Your photo instructors and guides ensure excellent participant support and a rich learning experience
- Group size limited to only 8 participating photographers
- Superb and ecologically responsible and sustainable accommodations at El Remanso Lodge
- Package includes your choice of single-occupancy or double-occupancy lodging, all meals, beverages, daily naturalist guiding, round-trip in-country air charter from San Jose, Costa Rica to Puerto Jimenez, 4WD ground transfers from Puerto Jimenez to El Remanso, group 4WD ground transportation to field sessions to areas beyond the El Remanso conservancy, and gratuities
Accommodations
This expedition includes one night’s lodging at Hotel Bougainvillea near San Jose, Costa Rica, and six nights at El Remanso Lodge.
Hotel Bougainvillea is conveniently located just 10 minutes from downtown San Jose, nestled within an award-winning, 10-acre tropical botanical garden that attracts many of the birds and butterflies for which Costa Rica is famous.
A part of the Osa Peninsula National Refuge, El Remanso is owned and operated by Daniel Gehring and Adriana Domenech Momeñe, originally from Spain. Dani and Adri are close personal friends of Visionary Wild founder Justin Black, and they are truly gracious and enthusiastic hosts who love sharing the wonders of the Osa. The small-scale character of their lodge enables a highly personalized service, and they are proud that most of their guests are enthusiastically referred to El Remanso by friends and family who have stayed there themselves.
The property includes an extensive trail system, which lets you discover the magic of a primary rainforest and observe the abundant wildlife surrounding the lodge. Within a fifteen-minute walk from the lodge, one can explore secluded waterfalls, take a stroll on a deserted beach with tide pools and a lagoon, or look for colorful poison dart frogs next to creeks deep in rainforest canyons. Or, simply relax in the pool or on the mahogany deck of the restaurant while watching colorful toucans, scarlet macaws, and four species of monkeys in the surrounding trees!
El Remanso has been a pioneer in sustainable practices in the Osa Peninsula since its establishment in 1999. Thanks to these efforts, in 2011 the Costa Rican Tourism Board awarded the lodge with the highest rating of the Certification For Sustainable Tourism (CST – level 5) in the lodge’s first certification process, and it has been consistently ranked of one of the very finest eco-lodges in Costa Rica and Latin America ever since.
Travel
